California Water Q2 EPS Jumps 27%

Core Viewpoint - California Water Service Group (CWT) significantly outperformed analyst expectations in Q2 2025, with GAAP earnings per share of $0.71 compared to a consensus of $0.56, and revenue of $264.95 million, exceeding estimates by over $21 million and reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase [1][2]. Financial Performance - GAAP EPS for Q2 2025 was $0.73, surpassing the estimate of $0.56 and showing a year-over-year increase of 2.8% [2]. - Revenue reached $264.95 million, up 8.4% from $244.30 million in Q2 2024, driven by rate increases and higher customer usage [2][5]. - Net income was $42.17 million, a 3.9% increase from $40.6 million in Q2 2024 [2]. - Operating expenses rose to $213.15 million, an 8.7% increase from $196.13 million in the prior year, with key contributors being higher water production costs and labor expenses [2][6]. Business Overview and Strategic Focus - California Water Service Group operates as a regulated utility providing water and wastewater services to over two million people across California and select states [3]. - The company focuses on earning fair returns through regulatory approval, investing in modern water systems, and maintaining compliance with environmental standards [4]. Infrastructure and Capital Investment - Capital expenditures totaled $119.4 million in Q2 2025, with a year-to-date investment of $229.5 million, reflecting a 7% increase over the same period in 2024 [7]. - A significant development includes the agreement to operate the Silverwood wastewater and recycled water systems, which will serve over 15,000 customer connections [7][11]. Environmental Compliance and Sustainability - The company received a $10.6 million settlement from 3M related to PFAS contamination, which will fund capital investments for new federal drinking water standards requiring over $226 million in upgrades [8]. - A 23.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the 2021 baseline was reported, alongside a 100% compliance rate in water quality testing [9]. Dividend and Shareholder Returns - The board declared its 322nd consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, continuing a trend of dividend increases for 58 consecutive years, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 7.7% [10]. Future Outlook - The company's financial trajectory will be influenced by the outcomes of the California General Rate Case and ongoing infrastructure investments [12]. - Key watchpoints include expense growth and the need for substantial funding for long-term projects, which may require new borrowings or equity issuance [13].