Business Context and Reporting Period
Company: BLACK HILLS CORPORATION
Filing Type: Form 8-K (Current Report)
Date of Report: November 9, 2005
Reporting Period: Third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2005.
Key Financial Metrics
| Metric | Q3 2005 | Q3 2004 | YTD 9 Months 2005 | YTD 9 Months 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net Income (Loss) | $(23.9) million | $17.1 million | $6.6 million | $38.2 million |
| Earnings Per Share | $(0.73) | $0.52 | $0.20 | $1.17 |
Note: The filing text does not provide specific values for revenue, operating margins, cash flow, debt levels, or liquidity ratios.
Material Changes
- Q3 Performance: The company reported a net loss of $23.9 million for the third quarter of 2005, a significant reversal from the net income of $17.1 million reported in the same period in 2004.
- YTD Performance: Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, was $6.6 million, representing a substantial decrease from the $38.2 million net income recorded in the prior year period.
- Per Share Impact: Earnings per share declined from $0.52 to a loss of $0.73 in Q3, and from $1.17 to $0.20 on a year-to-date basis.
Outlook, Risks, and Commentary
The filing serves as a notification of the press release issued on November 9, 2005, detailing these results. The text explicitly states that this information is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The filing does not contain specific management commentary, forward-looking guidance, risk factors, or details regarding unusual items causing the loss beyond the financial figures themselves.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Review the attached Press Release (Exhibit 99) for the specific operational or non-operational causes of the $23.9 million Q3 net loss.
- Verify the impact of the Q3 loss on the company's full-year 2005 earnings guidance.
- Examine the full 10-Q filing for details on revenue trends, cash flow, and liquidity not included in this 8-K summary.
- Confirm if the loss was driven by one-time charges, regulatory changes, or operational inefficiencies.