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Core Insights - York Water (YORW) reported quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.38 per share, and showing an increase from $0.41 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +13.16% [1] - The company posted revenues of $20.36 million for the quarter ended September 2025, which was 3.04% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, but an increase from $19.72 million year-over-year [2] - York Water shares have underperformed the market, losing about 0.9% since the beginning of the year compared to the S&P 500's gain of 15.6% [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.36 on revenues of $20 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.35 on revenues of $78 million [7] - The estimate revisions trend for York Water was mixed ahead of the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Utility - Water Supply industry, to which York Water belongs, is currently ranked in the top 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Financial Performance - Net income for Q3 2025 was $6,201, an increase of $338 or 5.8% from $5,863 in Q3 2024, driven by higher operating revenues and lower income taxes [81]. - For the first nine months of 2025, net income was $14,891, a decrease of $292 or 1.9% from $15,183 in the same period of 2024, impacted by higher operating expenses and interest on debt [87]. Revenue Growth - Operating revenues for Q3 2025 increased by $646 or 3.3% to $20,361, primarily due to customer base growth and a $673 increase from the distribution system improvement charge (DSIC) approved by PPUC [82]. - Operating revenues for the first nine months of 2025 increased by $1,923 or 3.4% to $58,016, driven by customer base growth and $1,590 from the DSIC [89]. Customer Base Expansion - The average number of water customers served increased by 1,101 to 73,684 in 2025, while wastewater customers rose by 530 to 7,115, mainly due to acquisitions [82]. - The Company signed agreements to acquire wastewater and water assets, expected to add approximately 100 and 140 customers respectively, with closings anticipated in Q2 2026 [98][99]. Operating Expenses - Operating expenses for Q3 2025 rose by $787 or 6.7% to $12,447, attributed to higher distribution system maintenance, depreciation, and wages [83]. - Interest on debt for the first nine months of 2025 rose by $1,006 or 15.4% to $7,555, due to increased long-term debt and higher interest rates [91]. Debt and Capitalization - Interest on debt increased by $372 or 16.6% to $2,615 in Q3 2025, primarily due to an increase in long-term debt outstanding [84]. - Common stockholders' equity as a percentage of total capitalization decreased to 50.9% as of September 30, 2025, from 52.6% as of December 31, 2024 [109]. - The Company's total long-term debt as a percentage of total capitalization was 49.1% as of September 30, 2025, up from 47.4% at the end of 2024 [115]. - The Company has a committed line of credit of $50,000, with $37,430 borrowed as of September 30, 2025, and an interest rate of 5.45% [111]. Investments and Expenditures - The Company invested $37,102 in construction expenditures for main extensions and upgrades for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 [103]. - Anticipated construction expenditures for the remainder of 2025 are approximately $10,000, primarily funded through internally-generated funds [104]. - Internally-generated funds from operations increased to $21,432 during the first nine months of 2025, compared to $20,391 in the same period of 2024 [108]. Regulatory and Environmental Factors - Effective October 1, 2025, the Company's tariff included a DSIC on revenues of 4.89% [96]. - A drought watch was declared for 29 counties in Pennsylvania, which may impact future revenues and operating expenses [129]. - The Company maintains a substantial deferred income tax asset due to accelerated depreciation from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 [118]. Credit Rating - Standard & Poor's affirmed the Company's credit rating at A- with a stable outlook as of July 30, 2025 [121].

Financial Results Announcement - The York Water Company announced its third quarter and first nine months 2025 financial results on November 6, 2025[5] - The press release detailing the financial results is incorporated by reference in the Current Report on Form 8-K[5] Financial Metrics - The report does not include specific financial metrics or performance indicators in the provided content[5]

Financial Performance - The York Water Company reported third quarter operating revenues of $20,361,000, an increase of $646,000 compared to Q3 2024 [2] - Net income for the third quarter was $6,201,000, up by $338,000 from the same period last year [2] - Basic and diluted earnings per share for the third quarter were $0.43, an increase of $0.02 year-over-year [2] - For the first nine months of 2025, operating revenues reached $58,016,000, a rise of $1,923,000 compared to the same period in 2024 [3] - Net income for the first nine months was $14,891,000, a decrease of $292,000 from the previous year [3] - Basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine-month period were $1.03, down by $0.03 compared to 2024 [3] Revenue Drivers - Revenue growth was primarily driven by an increase in the customer base and revenues from the Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) [2][3] - The DSIC is a charge allowed by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for the replacement of aging infrastructure [2] Expenses and Taxation - Income taxes decreased due to higher deductions from IRS tangible property regulations [2][3] - Increased revenues and lower income taxes were offset by higher operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation, higher interest on debt, and lower allowance for funds used during construction (AFUDC) [2][3] Capital Investments - The company invested $37.1 million in capital projects during the first nine months of 2025, focusing on main extensions, software upgrades, and infrastructure improvements [4] - An additional investment of $10.0 million is estimated for 2025, excluding acquisitions, for further main extensions and routine improvements [4]

Group 1 - The York Water Company (NASDAQ:YORW) is recognized as one of the Best Dividend Stocks and is included in the Dividend Champions List [1][2] - The company operates in the utility sector, providing water and wastewater services in Pennsylvania, specifically in 57 municipalities across four counties [2][3] - The nature of the utility business creates a monopoly effect, leading to predictable cash flow and reduced competition concerns [3] Group 2 - The York Water Company has a long-standing history of dividend payments, having paid uninterrupted dividends since 1816, making it the oldest continuously paying dividend stock in the US [4] - The company has increased its dividend payout for 28 consecutive years, with the current quarterly dividend at $0.2192 per share, resulting in a yield of approximately 2.9% as of October 2 [4]

Core Insights - The article discusses the best dividend stocks for a dividend champions list, focusing on companies that have consistently increased their dividends for 25 years or more [2][5]. Dividend Champions Overview - Dividend champions are distinguished from dividend aristocrats by not needing to be part of the S&P Index, but they share a commitment to increasing dividend payouts [2]. - The ability to grow dividends through challenging times, such as the pandemic, highlights the resilience of these companies [3]. Market Trends - There is a growing interest in dividend stocks among younger investors, particularly Gen Z, who are seeking financial independence and early retirement [4]. - Income-focused ETFs have gained significant traction, capturing about one in every six dollars flowing into equity ETFs, with the sector reaching approximately $750 billion by 2025 [5]. Methodology for Stock Selection - The selection process involved analyzing over 150 dividend champions and identifying those with the highest dividend yields as of October 2 [7]. Company Highlights - **The York Water Company (NASDAQ:YORW)**: - Offers a dividend yield of 2.91% and has paid dividends since 1816, increasing payouts for 28 consecutive years [9][12]. - Operates in a monopoly-like environment, providing stable cash flow due to the high costs of establishing utility services [11]. - **The Southern Company (NYSE:SO)**: - Provides a dividend yield of 3.15% and has a strong reputation in nuclear energy, overseeing eight reactors [13][15]. - Has a record of 24 years of consecutive dividend increases and has paid dividends without interruption for 78 years [15]. - **Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL)**: - Offers a dividend yield of 3.16% and has increased its dividend for 57 straight years [16][19]. - Reported an 8% increase in adjusted EBITDA to $51.4 million in the second quarter, with strong growth in its Polymers and NCT product lines [17][18].

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's journey in dividend growth investing and the establishment of a blog that documents this journey towards financial independence [1]. Group 1 - The author has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since 2009 [1]. - The blog "Kody's Dividends" serves as a platform for sharing insights and experiences related to dividend growth investing [1]. - The author expresses gratitude for the blog's role in connecting with the Seeking Alpha community as an analyst [1].

Group 1 - The article discusses the author's journey in dividend growth investing and the establishment of a blog to document this journey [1] - The author has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since 2009 [1] - The blog serves as a platform for sharing insights on dividend growth stocks and growth stocks, contributing to the author's engagement with the Seeking Alpha community [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific company or industry analysis, focusing instead on the author's personal investment journey [1][2]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Utility - Water Supply industry includes companies that provide drinking water and wastewater services to various customers, including industrial, commercial, residential, and military bases [1] - Water utilities are essential for maintaining healthy living conditions by ensuring a constant supply of clean water and reliable sewer services [2] Infrastructure and Investment Needs - Water utility operators manage approximately 2.2 million miles of aging pipelines and require significant investments for maintenance and expansion, estimated at $1.25 trillion over the next 20 years according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [3] - Recent interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, reducing benchmark rates to 4-4.25%, are expected to benefit capital-intensive utility operators by lowering capital servicing expenses [4] Company Comparisons - A comparative analysis was conducted on California Water Service Group (CWT) and The York Water Company (YORW), both currently rated Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [5] - CWT's 2025 earnings estimate is $2.39 per share on revenues of $1 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 26.5% in earnings and a 3.3% decline in revenues [6] - YORW's 2025 earnings estimate is $1.35 per share on revenues of $78 million, indicating a 4.9% decline in earnings but a 4.1% growth in revenues [6] Financial Metrics - CWT has a debt-to-capital ratio of 48.11% and YORW has 48.22%, both below the industry average of 50.04% [7] - The times interest earned ratio for CWT is 2.9 and for YORW is 3.1, indicating both companies have sufficient financial flexibility to meet near-term interest obligations [8] Dividend and Performance - CWT's current dividend yield is 2.63% and YORW's is 2.82%, both higher than the Zacks S&P 500 composite average of 1.1% [9] - CWT shares have increased by 0.4% quarter-to-date, while YORW shares have decreased by 1.6%, compared to the industry's overall gain of 0.9% [10][12] Earnings Surprise and Historical Performance - CWT has delivered an average earnings surprise of 51.6% over the last four quarters, while YORW has experienced a negative earnings surprise of 5.22% [11] Conclusion - Both CWT and YORW are suitable choices for investment, focusing on water and wastewater services with potential for expansion. However, CWT is preferred due to better debt management and price performance compared to YORW [14]