MECHANICSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $AWK #WeKeepLifeFlowing--The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation's leading small business advocacy organization, is urging its members to take advantage of financial assistance offered by Pennsylvania American Water, the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the state. The company's recently launched commercial payment plans help qualifying businesses pay back past-due account balances. "We encourage NFIB members that are Pe ...

Core Insights - Dividend stocks are crucial for total returns, contributing nearly 31% to the S&P 500 index's total returns since 1926 [1] Group 1: Realty Income - Realty Income pays a monthly dividend and has a current yield of 5.4%, trading nearly 28% below its all-time highs [3][4] - The company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% [4] - Realty Income's diversified portfolio includes over 15,600 properties across 91 countries, primarily in non-discretionary businesses [6][7] Group 2: Chevron - Chevron has expanded its asset base significantly through the acquisition of Hess, projecting an incremental free cash flow of $12.5 billion from 2024 to 2026 [8][10] - The company has increased its dividend payout for 37 consecutive years and offers a reliable dividend yield of 4.4% [9][10] - Chevron's upcoming investor day on Nov. 12 is expected to provide updates on long-term financial goals and cash-flow projections [10] Group 3: American Water Works - American Water Works is a regulated water utility serving over 14 million people and has increased its dividend for 17 consecutive years [11][12] - The company is targeting a capital spending of $40 billion to $42 billion, with a rate base CAGR of 8% to 9% and earnings per share CAGR of 7% to 9% [15] - The stock is trading almost 25% off all-time highs, indicating potential for share-price appreciation [14]

Camden, New Jersey-based American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) provides water and wastewater services in the United States. Valued at $27.5 billion by market cap, the company operates approximately 80+ surface water treatment plants, 520+ groundwater treatment plants, and 190+ wastewater treatment plants. The utilities giant is set to announce its third-quarter results after the markets close on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Ahead of the event, analysts expect AWK to deliver a profit of $1.89 per share, up 5% fr ...

Core Points - Pennsylvania American Water is urging customers to voluntarily reduce water consumption due to a drought watch declared by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection [1] - The company recommends a reduction of nonessential water use by 10-15% [1]

Company Highlights - American Water Works Company's subsidiary, New Jersey American Water, has acquired the water system of South Orange Village for $19.7 million, adding 5,000 consumers to its customer base [1][10] - New Jersey American Water plans to invest $50 million in upgrades to the South Orange Village's water system over the next 10 years [1][10] - American Water has completed six acquisitions and has 20 pending deals that will add another 40,650 consumers to its customer base [4][10] Industry Overview - The U.S. water industry is highly fragmented, with over 50,000 community water systems and 14,000 wastewater treatment systems, many of which are struggling with aging infrastructure [2] - The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that water main breaks occur every two minutes, highlighting the deteriorating state of U.S. water infrastructure [3] - The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $1.25 trillion will be needed over the next 20 years to maintain and expand water services [3] Strategic Acquisitions - California Water Service Group is actively pursuing strategic acquisitions to expand operations and upgrade assets for high-quality service [5][6] - Essential Utilities is also pursuing acquisitions, with agreements signed for additional water and wastewater systems in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Ohio, expected to serve over 200,000 equivalent retail customers [7][8]

Core Insights - American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., has completed its 2025 Future Wavemakers Internship Program aimed at developing future leaders in the water and wastewater industry [1] Company Initiatives - The 2025 Future Wavemakers Internship Program welcomed 33 college interns from across the country, providing them with hands-on experience in various fields including engineering, water quality, operations, health and safety, and communications [1]

Core Insights - New Jersey American Water has completed the acquisition of South Orange Village's water system for $19.7 million, adding approximately 5,000 new customer connections [1][2] - The acquisition was approved by 62% of South Orange voters in a referendum held in November 2024, highlighting community support for the sale [2] - The company plans to invest $50 million in infrastructure improvements over the first 10 years of ownership, focusing on modernizing the system and enhancing service reliability [3][5] Company Strategy - The acquisition aligns with New Jersey American Water's commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water services, as well as improving operational efficiency [2][5] - The company aims to replace lead and galvanized service lines, upgrade aging water mains and fire hydrants, and rehabilitate key infrastructure components [3][4] - New Jersey American Water has a proven track record of infrastructure investment, having completed eight acquisitions in the last five years, which added over 26,000 new water and/or wastewater customers [5] Community Engagement - Residents of South Orange Village will receive information about the transition and can access customer service benefits, including an online account management portal [4] - The partnership is expected to deliver long-term benefits and peace of mind for the community, as emphasized by local officials [4]

Core Insights - American Water has been recognized on Forbes America's Best Employers for Company Culture 2025 list, highlighting its strong company culture as perceived by employees [1] Company Recognition - The ranking is based on an independent survey of employees, indicating a positive internal perception of the company's culture [1] - Lori Sutton, EVP and Chief Human Resources Officer of American Water, expressed honor in being included in this inaugural list [1]

Group 1 - California American Water, in collaboration with the American Water Charitable Foundation, awarded a $30,000 State Strategic Impact grant to Wayfinder Family Services [1] - The funding will support children and youth Foster Care, Adoption, and Post-Adoption programs [1] - The initiative aims to ensure access to high-quality services for children and youth in these programs [1]

Core Insights - American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) is recognized as one of the 11 Best Value Dividend Stocks to buy currently [1] - The company serves over 14 million people across 14 states, with 92% of its operating revenue derived from regulated utility operations in 2024 [2] Company Strategy - The company's strategy focuses on obtaining regulatory approval for rate changes, investing in infrastructure modernization, and pursuing selective acquisitions [3] - Regulatory approval is crucial as it impacts customer pricing and infrastructure cost recovery, which are vital for the company's performance [3] - Ensuring efficiency while adhering to environmental and health standards is essential for long-term stability and growth [3] Dividend Policy - American Water Works has consistently raised its dividends since 2008, currently offering a quarterly dividend of $0.8275 per share [4] - The company has a dividend yield of 2.43% as of September 26 [4]