Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: Black Hills Corporation
Filing Type: Form 8-K (Current Report)
Date of Report: November 3, 2011
Reporting Period: Third quarter ended September 30, 2011
Key Financial Metrics
The filing reports the following results for the three months ended September 30, 2011:
- Net Income/Loss: Net loss of $10.5 million
- Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.27 loss per share
- Revenue, Cash Flow, Margins, Debt, Liquidity: The filing text does not provide clear values for these specific metrics.
Material Changes Versus Prior Period
There was a significant deterioration in profitability compared to the same period in the prior year:
- 2010 Third Quarter: Net income of $12.4 million ($0.32 per share).
- 2011 Third Quarter: Net loss of $10.5 million ($0.27 per share).
- Change: A swing from profit to loss totaling approximately $22.9 million.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
The filing serves as a notification of the press release attached as Exhibit 99. The text of the 8-K itself does not contain specific management commentary, forward-looking guidance, risk factors, or explanations for the unusual loss. It explicitly states that the information is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and is not deemed "filed" for liability purposes under Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Review the attached Press Release (Exhibit 99) for the specific drivers of the $22.9 million swing from profit to loss.
- Verify if the loss was due to one-time charges, regulatory changes, or operational issues.
- Check subsequent filings for updated revenue, cash flow, and liquidity data not included in this summary.
- Confirm if the company has issued updated guidance following this unexpected quarterly loss.