Entergy 4Q results top Wall Street's view

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Entergy said Tuesday that its fourth-quarter net income dropped 50 percent, hampered in part by some higher expenses and a comparison to year-ago results that included income tax benefits.

But its adjusted earnings and revenue beat Wall Street's view.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, the power company earned $146.9 million, or 82 cents per share. That compares with $296.3 million, or $1.66 per share, a year earlier.

Taking out certain items, earnings were $1 per share. Analysts predicted earnings of 83 cents per share, according to a FactSet poll.

Total operating expenses climbed to $2.51 billion from $2.11 billion. Interest expense increased to $163.1 million from $154.4 million.

Revenue rose 10 percent to $2.69 billion from $2.44 billion. Wall Street expected $2.49 billion.

Full-year net income dropped 16 percent to $711.9 million, or $3.99 per share, from $846.7 million, or $4.76 per share, in the previous year. Annual revenue increased 11 percent to $11.39 billion from $10.3 billion.

Entergy reaffirmed its guidance for 2014 earnings of $4.60 to $5.40 per share. The New Orleans-based company said that based on assumptions as of Dec. 31, there are indications results will be near the upper end of the projected range.

Analysts expect earnings of $5.08 per share.

Entergy Corp.'s stock rose 20 cents to $62.97 in midday trading. Its shares are down just over 2 percent from a year ago.