SSE plc (SSE) Ordinary 50p

SSE's renewable energy output was 15% lower than planned at 1.3TWh over the nine months to 31 Dec 2023. This reflects "exceptionally still and dry weather" as well as short-term plant outages.

Energy output from SSE's gas-fired plants was down 24% compared to the same period last year, largely due to an increase in planned and unplanned outages as a result of lower gas prices.

Full-year guidance has been reiterated. Underlying earnings per share (EPS) is expected to come in at more than 150p and the group is on track to deliver underlying investment and capital expenditure of £2.5bn.

The shares fell 1.7% following the announcement.

Our view

SSE confirmed its full-year profit outlook remains on track, despite some areas of the business underperforming. Efforts to transition to a renewable energy powerhouse are continuing at pace regardless, as the group budgets a mammoth £20.5bn over five years, with 90% of that set to be invested in electricity networks and renewables.

Turbo-charging efforts to renewables is a bold and admirable move. But the shift comes with a hefty dose of risk - they're not always reliable. To some degree, it's at the mercy of mother nature.

That point continued to hit home over the third quarter, as more unfavourable weather conditions have left the group's renewable output 15% lower than planned. Fortunately, the Thermal division's flexible gas-fired plants helped to plug some of the energy shortfall. But lower gas prices mean the division's unlikely to be as profitable this year.

On the regulated networks side of things, SSE delivers electricity across Scotland and Southern England. This is classic utility territory - with revenues predictable and profits closely regulated. A portion of these regulated revenues are positively related to investment levels, and are also protected against inflation. However the additional return isn't received until sometime after the service and investment has been made, which can cause a drag on cash flows in the meantime.

So, in a bid to free up cash for growth and further investment, the group rebased its dividend to 60p, down from 96.7p last year. This is a stark reminder that dividends are variable and not guaranteed.

These investment plans look achievable in our eyes but they're set to stretch the balance sheet, with the ratio of net debt to cash profits (EBITDA) likely to rise from 2.7x to between 3.5-4x in the medium term. While a moderate amount of debt isn't a bad thing, especially for a business with such reliable revenues, it does add pressure to keep delivering.

There are external threats as well. Regulatory challenges loom, particularly as high energy prices compound the cost-of-living squeeze. Many areas of SSE's business benefit from these high prices, as well as increased price volatility. But with market conditions seemingly less turbulent this year, other areas of the business will have to step up to pay the investment bill.

We don't think the ambitious growth plans are fully reflected in the current valuation, suggesting that investors still need some assurance that SSE can deliver on its promises. Long term, we're optimistic about the group's prospects, but in the near-to-medium term, volatility should be expected as SSE makes these transitions.

This article is original Hargreaves Lansdown content, published by Hargreaves Lansdown. It was correct as at the date of publication, and our views may have changed since then. Unless otherwise stated estimates, including prospective yields, are a consensus of analyst forecasts provided by Refinitiv. These estimates are not a reliable indicator of future performance. Yields are variable and not guaranteed. Investments rise and fall in value so investors could make a loss.

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