Earning Preview: TC Energy revenue expected to increase by 29.54%, institutional views are bullish

Earnings Agent
Apr 24

Abstract

TC Energy Corporation will report fiscal results on May 1, 2026 Pre-Market, with current-quarter projections indicating higher revenue and stable profitability metrics, while analysts lean positive on the setup into the print.

Market Forecast

Based on the company’s latest guidance set and market tracking data, TC Energy Corporation’s current-quarter revenue is estimated at 4.36 billion Canadian dollars, implying a 29.54% year-over-year increase; estimated EBIT is 2.17 billion Canadian dollars, up 15.15% year over year; forecast EPS rounds to 1.00 Canadian dollar, rising 2.16% year over year. Forecast gross margin and net profit margin for the quarter are not disclosed in the compiled estimate set.

The company’s core operations are expected to benefit from resilient tariff frameworks and seasonal throughput support across its network, anchoring stable margins despite cost and financing headwinds. Within its portfolio, Natural Gas Pipelines remains the most promising earnings contributor by mix, reflecting 94.36% of last quarter’s revenue composition; the Energy segment represented 5.55%.

Last Quarter Review

In the prior quarter, TC Energy Corporation reported revenue of 4.17 billion Canadian dollars, with a gross profit margin of 68.07%, net profit attributable to the parent company of approximately 1.02 billion Canadian dollars, a net profit margin of 24.35%, and EPS of 0.98 Canadian dollars; revenue grew 206.47% year over year and EPS increased 88.46% year over year. Net profit improved quarter on quarter by 59.34%, underscoring stronger operating leverage into the seasonal shoulder despite stable tariff mechanics. By revenue mix, Natural Gas Pipelines accounted for 94.36% of the quarter’s revenue base, the Energy segment contributed 5.55%, and corporate and other items represented 0.09%.

A noteworthy financial highlight was EBIT of 2.25 billion Canadian dollars, which exceeded the prior consensus by 0.17 billion Canadian dollars, reflecting disciplined execution and favorable volume-tariff dynamics. The business composition continued to skew toward pipeline earnings stability, with operating margins preserved by cost control and predictable fee structures across core assets.

Current Quarter Outlook

Main business: earnings resilience anchored by predictable tariffs and seasonal throughput

For the current quarter, TC Energy Corporation’s primary revenue and earnings base is expected to remain concentrated in its core network operations, where contracted and regulated tariff structures support visibility. The forecast calls for revenue of 4.36 billion Canadian dollars with year-over-year growth of 29.54%, an outcome that is consistent with a run-rate of robust fee-based income and a disciplined cost framework observed last quarter. EBIT is projected at 2.17 billion Canadian dollars, up 15.15% year over year, which suggests normalization from the prior quarter’s outperformance while maintaining margin integrity in line with historical ranges.

While the company does not provide a formal gross margin forecast within the consolidated estimate set, last quarter’s 68.07% gross margin provides a reference point for what the business can sustain when throughput and tolls track as planned. The net income pathway is helped by operating efficiency and a measured approach to maintenance spending, which together mitigate variability from seasonal demand swings. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, investors will watch whether the 59.34% sequential net profit increase in the prior quarter signals continued momentum or a seasonal peak; nevertheless, the year-over-year trajectory embedded in the revenue and EBIT estimates implies a constructive base case for stable-to-improving profitability.

Most promising business: Natural Gas Pipelines remain the key earnings engine

Natural Gas Pipelines, representing 94.36% of the last quarter’s revenue mix, remains the business with the most apparent earnings contribution and visibility in the current quarter. The segment’s scale and tariff frameworks anchor predictability in cash flows and provide a buffer against commodity volatility, which in turn supports the consolidated EPS forecast increase of 2.16% year over year. While segment-level year-over-year growth is not explicitly disclosed, the consolidated revenue estimate growth of 29.54% year over year and EBIT growth of 15.15% year over year imply that the core pipeline business is expected to remain the central driver of both top-line and operating income.

Operationally, key watch items this quarter include the cadence of scheduled maintenance, seasonal volume patterns, and the pass-through of cost inflation within regulated frameworks. Given last quarter’s margin profile and EBIT beat, a modest step down toward the current-quarter EBIT estimate would still be consistent with healthy run-rate economics for the segment. The focus for investors is less on directional surprises and more on the sustainability of cash generation that supports EPS and dividend coverage, particularly following the recent increase in the quarterly dividend announced earlier this year.

Factors most impacting the stock price this quarter

This quarter’s stock performance is likely to be most sensitive to three elements: delivery versus the consolidated revenue and EBIT estimates, updates to capital allocation and deleveraging plans, and any commentary on cost trends that may influence medium-term margins. First, with revenue projected at 4.36 billion Canadian dollars and EBIT at 2.17 billion Canadian dollars, a result in line with the year-over-year growth embedded in consensus would reinforce the stability investors have priced into the shares; conversely, a miss on EBIT would raise questions about incremental operating costs or timing of maintenance. Second, balance-sheet progress and capital recycling remain central to the equity narrative; specific disclosures around asset optimization, funding mix, and expected interest expense trajectory will shape how investors underwrite forward EPS and dividend sustainability.

Third, the cost environment—particularly operations, maintenance, and financing costs—will influence the margin outlook in the back half of the year. Last quarter’s 68.07% gross margin and 24.35% net margin provide a strong baseline; if the company can demonstrate that inflationary pressures are being offset by tariff structures and efficiency measures, the street’s sensitivity to cost risk should ease. Additionally, any incremental color on forward-looking capital spending schedules and in-service milestones can affect expectations for future EBIT growth, while currency translation against the Canadian dollar may modestly influence reported results in multi-currency contexts.

Analyst Opinions

The balance of institutional commentary this year skews positive, with bullish views outweighing negative takes over the January to April window. Among named institutions, RBC Capital Markets has maintained an Outperform rating while indicating continued confidence after hosting management interactions in March, and Tudor, Pickering, Holt reiterated a Buy rating in February and later raised its price target to 90.00 Canadian dollars in March as it updated its models. These positive stances are contrasted mainly by neutral ratings from other houses rather than outright negative calls, while a recent upgrade by Goldman Sachs from Sell to Neutral in April indicates a reduction in bearish conviction rather than an increase, further tilting the broader tone to the constructive side.

The dominant bullish perspective centers on two planks that align with the current-quarter setup. First, analysts highlight stability in fee-based cash flows and visibility in EBIT progression, which is reinforced by the present quarter’s 15.15% year-over-year EBIT growth estimate and last quarter’s EBIT beat of 0.17 billion Canadian dollars. Second, institutions emphasize the consistency of EPS delivery, with the current-quarter EPS estimate rounding to 1.00 Canadian dollar and implying a 2.16% year-over-year increase, consistent with a disciplined cost and capital approach. Within this framework, RBC’s Outperform suggests the quarter is likely to validate ongoing earnings resiliency, while Tudor, Pickering, Holt’s Buy and increased price target reflect confidence in model updates that assume steady operating performance and improved financial flexibility.

From a risk-calibrated standpoint, the bullish cohort acknowledges that cost inflation and financing expenses remain watch items. However, the quarter’s revenue estimate of 4.36 billion Canadian dollars, alongside margin benchmarks implied by last quarter’s 68.07% gross margin and 24.35% net margin, provides a cushion for meeting projected EPS. The recent dividend increase to 0.8775 Canadian dollars per share announced earlier in the year is also being interpreted as a signal of confidence in cash flow durability, which underpins the positive stance heading into the print.

In sum, bullish opinions constitute the clear majority view relative to bearish takes over the period, anchored by expectations of stable fee-based revenue, manageable cost dynamics, and incremental balance-sheet progress. Should the company deliver revenue growth near 29.54% year over year and EBIT near 2.17 billion Canadian dollars, the case for continued earnings resilience—and by extension a supportive outlook on the shares—would be reinforced according to institutions expressing positive ratings this quarter.

Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.

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