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Southwest Gas (SWX) Risk Analysis

Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning. Southwest Gas disclosed 29 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Southwest Gas reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q1, 2026

Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Mar 31, 2026, filed May 05, 2026

Risk Distribution
29Risks
Sector Avg.Finance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Risk Change Over Time

Southwest Gas disclosed risks per quarterNo. of Risks28303234363840Q4Q3Q4Q3Q4Q12025Q2Q4Q12026Showing: Q4, 2025
Risks removedRisks addedRisks changedSouthwest Gas Risk Factors
  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
    If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports or publish unfavorable research or reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

    The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. We currently have limited research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If securities or industry analysts do not continue coverage of our Company, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. In the event one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrades our stock, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to regularly publish reports on us, interest in our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

  • Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
    The Company identified a material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, which could impact the Company's ability to report its results of operations and financial condition accurately and in a timely manner.

    In January 2026, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to a management review control to assess the impact on estimated future state apportionment rates following a major change in the business related to deferred taxes and the calculation of income tax expense. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. This material weakness resulted in the misstatement of our income tax expense and net deferred income tax liabilities, and in the restatement of the Company's unaudited quarterly financial information for the Restated Periods. For additional information, see "Item 9A. Controls and Procedures - Remediation of Prior Material Weakness in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting." Although we are implementing remediation measures, we will not be able to conclude whether the steps the Company has taken will remediate the material weakness until a sufficient period of time has passed to allow management to test the design and operational effectiveness of the new and enhanced controls. If we fail to remediate the material weakness, or if additional material weaknesses are identified, we may be required to restate our financial statements again, which could further adversely affect our stock price, liquidity, access to capital markets, and compliance with listing and debt covenant requirements. The Company may be unable to remediate this material weakness in a timely manner, which could adversely impact the accuracy and timeliness of future reports and filings the Company makes with the SEC. Further, additional errors may be identified as a result of the Company's remediation efforts, or additional material weaknesses could be identified; any of which could result in additional corrections or adjustments, which may be material or could impact the Company's ability to report its results of operations and financial condition in an accurate and timely manner.

  • Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 3
    We may pursue acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic opportunities which, if not successful, may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

    As part of our strategic objectives, we may pursue acquisitions to complement or expand our business, as well as divestitures and other strategic opportunities. We may not be able to successfully negotiate, finance, or receive regulatory approval for future acquisitions or integrate the acquired businesses with our existing business and services. These efforts may also distract our management and employees from day-to-day operations and require substantial commitments of time and resources. Future acquisitions could result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, a decrease in our liquidity as a result of our using a significant portion of our available cash or borrowing capacity to finance the acquisition, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities and amortization expenses and substantial goodwill. The effects of these strategic decisions may have long-term implications that are not likely to be known to us in the short-term. We may be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to successfully integrate businesses that we acquire. In addition, business acquisitions are expected to result in various benefits, including among other things, being accretive to earnings in future periods. The achievement of the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions is subject to a number of uncertainties, including whether the businesses are integrated efficiently and effectively. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of acquisitions could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenues generated, and the potential diversion of management's time and energy, all of which could have an adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows, credit ratings, or market price of our common stock. Acquisitions may also cause us to issue debt which would increase our liabilities and borrowing cost, or to issue equity securities, which would dilute our existing stockholders' percentage of ownership.

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Risk Highlights Q1, 2026

Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 8 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
29
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Mar 2026
Number of Risk Changed
0
-10
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 1

Risk Word Cloud

limited availability of contract labor and critical materials could delay or increase the cost of the great basin expansion projectgreat basin expansion projectthe concentration of our operations in the states of arizona, nevada and california exposes our operations and financial results to economic conditions, weather patterns, and regulatory decisions in arizona, nevada, and california.financial results to economic conditionsfailure to attract and retain an appropriately qualified employee workforce, including executives and other management, could adversely affect our collective operations and ability to timely deploy on our plans.adversely affect our collective operationslimited availability of contract labor and critical materials could delay or increase the cost of the great basin expansion projectlimited availability of contract laborsouthwest gas relies on having access to interstate pipelines' transportation capacity, including extractive-sector supply paths and midstream pipeline infrastructure. if these pipelines and related transportation capacity were not available, it could impact southwest gas' ability to meet customers' full requirements.including extractive-sector supply pathssouthwest gas' delivery and related systems require numerous permits and other approvals from various federal, state, and local governmental agencies, and others, including for pipeline expansion or infrastructure development; any failure to obtain or maintain required permits or approvals, or other factors that could prevent or delay planned development, could negatively affect our business and results of operations.related systems require numerous permitsuncertain economic conditions may affect southwest gas' ability to finance capital expenditures, including the great basin expansion project.ability to finance capital expendituressouthwest gas' earnings may be materially impacted due to volatility in the cash surrender value of our coli policies during periods in which stock market changes are significant.materially impacted due to volatilitysouthwest gas may be subject to increased costs related to the operation of natural gas pipelines under regulations concerning natural gas pipeline safety, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, and/or cash flows.operation of natural gas pipelinessouthwest gas relies on having access to interstate pipelines' transportation capacity, including extractive-sector supply paths and midstream pipeline infrastructure. if these pipelines and related transportation capacity were not available, it could impact southwest gas' ability to meet customers' full requirements.ability to meet customers

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 29

Share Price & Shareholder Rights3 | 10.3%
  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
    Southwest Gas' earnings may be materially impacted due to volatility in the cash surrender value of our COLI policies during periods in which stock market changes are significant.

    Southwest Gas has life insurance policies on members of management and other key employees to indemnify against the loss of talent, expertise, and knowledge, as well as to provide indirect funding for certain nonqualified benefit plans. Cash surrender values are directly influenced by the investment portfolio underlying the insurance policies. This portfolio includes both equity and fixed income investments (mutual funds). As a result, the cash surrender value (but not the net death benefits) moves up and down consistent with the movements in the broader stock and bond markets. Current tax regulations provide for tax-free treatment of life insurance proceeds (death benefit). Therefore, changes in the cash surrender value components of COLI policies, as they progress towards the ultimate death benefits, are also recorded without tax consequences. Currently, we intend to hold the COLI policies for their duration. Changes in the cash surrender value of COLI policies, except as related to the purchase of additional policies, affect our earnings but not our cash flows.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
    Our business could be negatively affected as a result of actions of activist stockholders.

    We have in the past, and may again in the future, be the subject of actions by activist stockholders. Following the initiation of a tender offer to purchase shares of our common stock and the initiation of a proxy contest in 2021, we entered into a cooperation agreement with Icahn Partners LP and Icahn Partners Master Fund LP, investment entities affiliated with Carl C. Icahn, which was subsequently amended and restated and, on February 11, 2026, was ultimately terminated by mutual agreement of the parties thereto. Following such termination, there can be no assurances that the Icahn Group, if the Amended and Restated Cooperation Agreement expires, or other activist stockholders will not pursue similar actions with respect to us in the future. Responding to actions by activist stockholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations, and divert the attention of management and our employees. Perceived uncertainties among current and potential customers, employees, and other parties as to our future direction may result in the loss of potential business opportunities and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners. These actions could also cause our stock price to experience periods of volatility, which could disrupt our plans to access the capital markets for financing purposes.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
    If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports or publish unfavorable research or reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

    The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market, or our competitors. We currently have limited research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If securities or industry analysts do not continue coverage of our Company, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. In the event one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrades our stock, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases to cover us or fails to regularly publish reports on us, interest in our stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment. They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result. It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process. Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”. Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report. According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing. You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector. Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements. A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below. 1. Financial & Corporate Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results. Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing. Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments. Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances. 2. Legal & Regulatory Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company. Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation. Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy. Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives. 3. Production Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory. Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers. Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls. Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation. 4. Technology & Innovation Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development. Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology. Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks. Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying. 5. Ability to Sell Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers. Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes. Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration. Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation. 6. Macro & Political Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions. Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19. International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company. Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.