tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Southwest Gas Corp. (SWX)
NYSE:SWX

Southwest Gas (SWX) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
232 Followers

Top Page

SW

Southwest Gas

(NYSE:SWX)

Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
$79.00
▲(6.86%Upside)
Southwest Gas's overall score reflects its operational efficiency and strategic growth plans, tempered by high leverage and valuation concerns. Positive developments in regulatory outcomes and expansion projects support future growth potential.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
SWX delivered net income growth of ~8% through the execution of their regulatory strategy, effective cost management, and strong customer growth.
Regulatory Environment
The ongoing improvements to Arizona's regulatory environment serve as an important factor, with Arizona making up ~55% of SWX's rate base.
Negative Factors
Business Separation
Low visibility to conclusion of a prolonged separation of its weakening utility infrastructure services business continues to place a meaningful overhang on the stock.
Divestiture Challenges
Monetizing 81% of a spin will be tricky, and if SWX is unable to sell its CTRI stake efficiently or is forced to do so at lower prices, there is potential for additional financing needs to weigh on EPS growth.

Southwest Gas (SWX) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Southwest Gas Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSouthwest Gas Holdings, Inc., through its subsidiaries, distributes and transports natural gas in Arizona, Nevada, and California. The company operates through Natural Gas Distribution, Utility Infrastructure Services, and Pipeline and Storage segments. It also provides trenching, installation, and replacement of underground pipes, as well as maintenance services for energy distribution systems. As of December 31, 2021, it had 2,159,000 residential, commercial, industrial, and other natural gas customers. Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1931 and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
How the Company Makes MoneySouthwest Gas generates revenue primarily through its natural gas operations and utility infrastructure services. The natural gas operations segment involves the sale and distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Revenue in this segment is largely driven by regulated rates approved by state utility commissions, which consider factors such as operating costs and a return on investment. Additionally, Southwest Gas benefits from infrastructure investments that enhance service reliability and efficiency, leading to potential rate adjustments and increased earnings. The utility infrastructure services segment, conducted through its subsidiary Centuri Group, provides construction and maintenance services for energy distribution systems. This segment earns revenue by securing contracts with utility companies to install, repair, and maintain pipelines and related infrastructure. Strategic partnerships with municipalities and utility companies, as well as a focus on expanding infrastructure capabilities, further bolster the company's revenue streams.

Southwest Gas Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 12, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -1.41%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 12, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Southwest Gas Holdings' earnings call presented a positive outlook with record net income, regulatory successes, and strong customer growth. However, challenges such as delayed earnings announcements and higher expenses were noted. The company's commitment to strategic growth and regulatory collaboration remains strong.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Net Income
Southwest Gas finished the quarter with record net income and slightly lower quarter-over-quarter O&M expenses, reaffirming a net income range of $265 million to $275 million for the full year.
Regulatory Success in Arizona and Great Basin
Received constructive outcomes in Arizona and Great Basin rate cases, including a $600 million increase in authorized rate base for Arizona, resulting in an $80 million revenue increase.
Strong Economic and Customer Growth
Added approximately 40,000 new meter sets over the past 12 months due to strong economic activity in service areas. Population growth in Arizona and Nevada is expected to outpace the national average over the next five years.
Robust Capital Liquidity
More than $400 million of cash on hand and over $1 billion of liquidity, enabling the company to honor commitments and execute 2025 strategy.
Negative Updates
Delay in Earnings Announcement
The timing of the earnings announcement and call was delayed due to an issue at Centuri, a consolidated subsidiary, causing a corresponding delay for Southwest Gas.
Higher Interest and Depreciation Expenses
Higher interest and depreciation expenses offset some of the financial gains, driven by changes in regulatory balances and increased investment in the system.
Regulatory and Market Uncertainities
The separation strategy for Centuri remains uncertain, with market conditions continuing to impact the execution timing and form of separation options.
Company Guidance
During the first quarter of 2025 earnings call, Southwest Gas Holdings reaffirmed its confidence in its financial guidance and strategic priorities. The company projected a net income range of $265 million to $275 million for the year, supported by strong economic activity in its service territories and constructive regulatory outcomes. With a trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) of 8.2%, Southwest Gas Holdings highlighted robust customer growth, evidenced by 40,000 new meter sets over the past year, and emphasized its commitment to maintaining a strong balance sheet with over $400 million of cash on hand and more than $1 billion of liquidity. The company also reiterated its long-term plan to invest approximately $4.3 billion over the next five years, translating to a compound annual growth rate in rate base of 6% to 8%, while continuing to work towards the separation of its subsidiary, Centuri.

Southwest Gas Financial Statement Overview

Summary
The company shows strengths in operational efficiency and cash generation, but faces challenges with growth and leverage. Revenue growth has declined by 11.25%, and a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41 indicates significant financial leverage. However, strong operational cash flow suggests robust cash earnings.
Income Statement
65
Positive
Southwest Gas shows a mixed performance in its income statement. The gross profit margin is robust at around 22% for TTM, indicating efficient cost control relative to revenue. However, the net profit margin is relatively low at approximately 4.66%, suggesting limited profitability after expenses. The revenue growth rate has declined by 11.25% from the previous year, reflecting challenges in maintaining sales momentum. EBIT and EBITDA margins are stable, with TTM figures of 10.9% and 21.1% respectively, indicating consistent operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
The balance sheet reflects some concerns over leverage and equity strength. Southwest Gas has a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, indicating significant reliance on debt financing, which could pose risks in a rising interest rate environment. The return on equity is relatively low at 6.29%, suggesting modest returns generated from shareholders' equity. The equity ratio stands at 29.63%, pointing to a moderate proportion of assets financed by equity, which is reasonable for the industry but leaves room for improvement in financial stability.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
The cash flow statement presents a positive picture with strong operational cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is high at 4.91, indicating robust cash earnings compared to reported profits. However, free cash flow has shown volatility with a notable decline in the TTM. The free cash flow to net income ratio stands at 0.85, suggesting that the company is generating sufficient cash to cover net income but needs to strengthen its free cash flow position for greater financial flexibility.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
4.83B5.11B5.43B4.96B3.68B3.30B
Gross Profit
1.06B1.01B1.02B994.87M820.93M818.49M
EBIT
526.07M483.77M418.33M1.15B1.09B423.00M
EBITDA
1.02B976.78M930.54M439.87M726.57M735.01M
Net Income Common Stockholders
224.95M198.81M150.89M-1.62B200.78M232.32M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
406.30M363.79M106.54M123.08M222.70M83.35M
Total Assets
12.08B12.02B11.87B13.20B12.77B8.74B
Total Debt
5.05B5.06B5.44B5.99B6.32B2.88B
Net Debt
4.64B4.69B5.33B5.87B6.10B2.80B
Total Liabilities
8.32B8.33B8.46B9.98B9.61B5.90B
Stockholders Equity
3.58B3.50B3.31B3.06B2.95B2.67B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
191.12M409.86M-363.31M-451.96M-604.24M-199.03M
Operating Cash Flow
1.10B1.36B509.21M407.46M111.38M626.08M
Investing Cash Flow
-908.42M-921.57M150.97M-838.90M-3.04B-802.07M
Financing Cash Flow
-246.16M-176.34M-700.79M356.48M3.06B209.57M

Southwest Gas Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price73.93
Price Trends
50DMA
71.57
Positive
100DMA
72.66
Positive
200DMA
72.24
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.45
Negative
RSI
58.15
Neutral
STOCH
83.44
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SWX, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 73.93 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 71.78, above the 50-day MA of 71.57, and above the 200-day MA of 72.24, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.45 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 58.15 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 83.44 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SWX.

Southwest Gas Risk Analysis

Southwest Gas disclosed 39 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Southwest Gas reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Southwest Gas Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
UGUGI
76
Outperform
$7.70B14.7810.84%4.14%-4.30%
SRSR
73
Outperform
$4.26B17.827.30%4.35%-7.10%2.54%
NJNJR
71
Outperform
$4.46B10.7617.83%4.07%20.30%63.69%
SWSWX
68
Neutral
$5.30B23.656.49%3.36%-10.78%16.27%
CPCPK
67
Neutral
$2.78B22.039.04%2.30%20.41%13.64%
OGOGS
65
Neutral
$4.30B17.338.08%3.73%7.73%2.36%
64
Neutral
$8.51B10.304.25%5.64%4.06%-12.76%
* Utilities Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SWX
Southwest Gas
73.93
2.18
3.04%
CPK
Chesapeake Utilities
120.85
19.38
19.10%
SR
Spire
72.41
16.32
29.10%
NJR
New Jersey Resources
44.23
3.72
9.18%
UGI
UGI
36.37
14.65
67.45%
OGS
ONE Gas
71.75
13.26
22.67%

Southwest Gas Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Southwest Gas Completes Major Stock Offering
Neutral
Jun 18, 2025

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. announced the completion of an underwritten offering on June 18, 2025, where it sold 11,212,500 shares of Centuri Holdings, Inc. common stock, generating net proceeds of approximately $225 million. The company plans to use these proceeds to repay outstanding debt, while maintaining a majority stake in Centuri. Additionally, a concurrent private placement with Icahn Partners LP is expected to raise approximately $22 million, contingent upon regulatory approval.

The most recent analyst rating on (SWX) stock is a Hold with a $76.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Southwest Gas stock, see the SWX Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
Southwest Gas Closes 2028 Expansion Project Season
Positive
Jun 6, 2025

On June 5, 2025, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Great Basin Gas Transmission Company, successfully closed its 2028 Expansion Project Binding Open Season. This development is significant for the company’s operations as it reflects progress in their expansion efforts, potentially enhancing their market positioning in the gas transmission industry.

The most recent analyst rating on (SWX) stock is a Hold with a $76.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Southwest Gas stock, see the SWX Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board Changes
Southwest Gas Announces Leadership Changes with Colvin’s Retirement
Neutral
Jun 3, 2025

Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. and Southwest Gas Corporation announced that Lori L. Colvin, Vice President/Controller/Chief Accounting Officer, will retire effective June 1, 2025. Consequently, Robert J. Stefani, currently the Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as the interim Controller and principal accounting officer starting the same date, while the company continues its search for a permanent replacement.

The most recent analyst rating on (SWX) stock is a Hold with a $76.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Southwest Gas stock, see the SWX Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Southwest Gas Completes Share Offering and Private Placement
Neutral
May 22, 2025

On May 20, 2025, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. entered into an underwriting agreement to sell 9,000,000 shares of its Centuri Holdings, Inc. common stock, with an option for underwriters to purchase an additional 1,350,000 shares. The offering closed on May 22, 2025, generating net proceeds of approximately $175 million, which the company intends to use for debt repayment. Concurrently, Southwest Gas also completed a private placement of 2,857,142 shares to Icahn Partners, raising an additional $50 million. Furthermore, the company decided not to pursue a tax-free spin-off of Centuri, leading to the expiration of related rights on May 20, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (SWX) stock is a Hold with a $76.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Southwest Gas stock, see the SWX Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.