Flourish

Aquila Inc., whose initial public offering opened with a flourish on Wall Street last spring, is essentially one year ahead in its earnings per share (EPS) forecast, and is on track to continue to deliver 25% growth into 2002, according to executives presenting third quarter earnings on Monday. The Kansas City, MO-based company, a subsidiary of UtiliCorp United Inc., reported net income of $37.2 million, or $.37 per share, an increase of 37% over the third quarter a year ago, when earnings posted were $.27 per share, or $23 million of net income. UtiliCorp offered Aquila as an IPO last April (see Daily GPI, April 25).