Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), a major U.S. utility company, reported strong fourth-quarter 2024 financial results that beat analysts' expectations, driving its stock up 5.08% in pre-market trading. The company's success was fueled by lower operating expenses and higher electricity demand.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2024, Entergy posted an adjusted earnings per share of $0.66, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.64. The company's total retail electricity sales climbed to 29,497 gigawatt-hours (GWh), an 8% increase compared to 27,320 GWh in the same period last year.

Entergy's operating expenses for the quarter came in at $2.07 billion, significantly lower than the $2.47 billion reported a year ago. This reduction in costs, coupled with higher electricity demand, primarily from industrial customers, contributed to the company's strong financial performance.

The New Orleans-based utility serves nearly 3 million customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. It has been benefiting from the surge in power consumption, including the growing demand from energy-intensive data centers needed to support the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Looking ahead, Entergy provided guidance for its full-year 2025 adjusted earnings per share, forecasting a range of $3.75 to $3.95. This is slightly above analysts' average estimate of $3.91 per share, indicating the company's confidence in continued growth and operational efficiency.