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American Water Works Company, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release, prepared remarks. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 lowered, 5 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarter and nine-month EPS rose: The company reported diluted EPS of $1.94 for the quarter against $1.80 a year earlier, and $4.47 year to date against $4.17. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $379 million for the quarter. Source
  • Authorized revenue rose $275 million: Since January 1, 2025, the company has been authorized $275 million of additional annualized revenue, comprising $232 million from general rate cases and $43 million from infrastructure surcharges. Source
  • 2026 EPS range initiated: The 2026 EPS range of $6.02 to $6.12 has a midpoint about 8 percent above the 2025 weather-normalized range of $5.60 to $5.65, which excludes the HOS interest income. Source
  • Long-term growth targets affirmed: Management affirmed long-term EPS and dividend growth of 7 to 9 percent and said it expects consistent EPS growth through 2030 and beyond. Source
  • Five-year capital plan raised: The 2026-2030 plan is about $2 billion above the prior five-year plan, driven by PFAS and Lead and Copper compliance and rolling the plan forward a year. Source
  • Customer connections under agreement: Nearly 107,000 customer connections are under agreement, including about 47,000 from Nexus Water Group systems, in deals totaling $606 million. Source
  • Equity forward proceeds expected mid-2026: Forward sale agreements entered in August are expected to yield about $1.15 billion of net proceeds in mid-2026, under the forward agreement settlement assumption. Source
  • All-stock merger announced: The boards approved an all-stock, tax-free combination with Essential Utilities, with a pro forma market capitalization of about $40 billion and combined enterprise value of about $63 billion. Source
  • Merger closing expected Q1 2027: Management expects to complete the merger by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to obtaining all required regulatory approvals. Source

“we have demonstrated that we consistently execute on the plans we set, and we are fully confident in our ability to continue to deliver on our near-term and long-term growth and capital plans in this latest update”

John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
EPS (weather-normalized) Source2025$5.70 to $5.75Kept
EPS Source2026$6.02 to $6.12New
EPS growth at midpoint Source2026 compared with 2025 weather-normalized guidance8%New
Long-term EPS growth (CAGR) Sourcelong-term7 to 9%Kept
Dividend per share growth (CAGR) Sourcelong-term7 to 9%Kept
Rate base growth, including acquisitions Sourcelong-term8 to 9%Kept
Capital investment Source2026$3.7 billionNew
Capital investment plan Source2026-2030$19 to $20 billionRaised
Capital investment plan Source2026-2035$46 to $48 billionRaised
Capital investment Source2025$3.2 billionLowered from $3.3 billion
Equity forward net proceeds Sourcemid-2026approximately $1.15 billionNew
Equity issuance plan Source2026-2030$2.5 billion, plus $150 million greenshoeKept
Long-term debt financing Sourcecalendar 2026$1.5 to $2 billionNew
LCRI capital spend Sourcenext five yearsabout $1.5 billion
PFAS compliance capital Sourcenot statedapproximately $2 billion
Dividend payout ratio Source202558%
Residential water bill affordability Sourcethroughout ten-year planbelow 1% of median household income

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 EPS guidance of $6.02 to $6.12 was initiated, excluding merger transaction expenses. Source
  • Guidance kept: 2025 EPS guidance of $5.70 to $5.75 was affirmed after being narrowed to the top half of the prior range last quarter. Long-term targets were affirmed. Source
  • Guidance raised: The 2026-2030 capital plan is about $2 billion above the previous five-year plan. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Planned 2025 investment was about $3.2 billion, compared with $3.3 billion in the second quarter release. Source
  • New: Merger agreement with Essential Utilities was announced in an all-stock, tax-free transaction on October 27. Source
  • New: Equity forward sale agreements were entered into in August, with draw-down of net proceeds expected in mid-2026. Source

Third quarter results and year to date

  • Quarter and nine-month EPS rose: The company reported diluted EPS of $1.94 for the quarter against $1.80 a year earlier, and $4.47 year to date against $4.17. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $379 million for the quarter. Source
  • Weather flat year to date: Management said weather was flat year to date in 2025 and unfavorable by an estimated 7 cents per share year over year. Third-quarter weather was estimated at $0.03 favorable per share. Source
  • Rates and acquisitions lifted revenue: Management said revenues rose $1.42 per share year to date from authorized rate increases, recent acquisitions and organic customer growth. Management said the results reflect the clear execution of the 2025 plan. Source

Regulated businesses and rate cases

  • Regulated net income increased: Regulated Businesses net income was $383 million in the third quarter, against $356 million a year earlier. For the nine months it was $872 million, against $815 million. Source
  • Authorized revenue rose $275 million: Since January 1, 2025, the company has been authorized $275 million of additional annualized revenue, comprising $232 million from general rate cases and $43 million from infrastructure surcharges. Source
  • Four rate cases pending: General rate cases are in progress in four jurisdictions, with a total annualized revenue request of $141 million. Management said these cases are progressing as expected. Source
  • Maryland case reflects system investments: The Maryland general rate case filed August 1 reflects $22 million of system investments covering February 2019 through April 2025. Source

“we do not expect to see an earnings dip from the lack of interest income”

David Bowler - EVP & CFO

Operating costs and expenses

  • Employee and technology costs rose: Operating expenses rose on employee-related and technology costs, general taxes tied to capital investment, and costs from acquisitions closed in 2024. Source
  • Depreciation and financing costs up: Management said depreciation rose 32 cents per share and financing costs rose 27 cents per share year to date, in support of the investment growth. Source
  • Interest expense up $46 million: Interest expense was $46 million higher for the nine months, from incremental short and long-term debt used mainly to fund capital investments. Source

2026 guidance and EPS growth

  • 2026 EPS range initiated: The 2026 EPS range of $6.02 to $6.12 has a midpoint about 8 percent above the 2025 weather-normalized range of $5.60 to $5.65, which excludes the HOS interest income. Source
  • HOS note repayment assumed early: The 2026 range assumes the HOS secured seller note of $795 million is repaid around year-end 2025, and management said the proceeds avoid incremental financing. Source
  • Long-term growth targets affirmed: Management affirmed long-term EPS and dividend growth of 7 to 9 percent and said it expects consistent EPS growth through 2030 and beyond. Source

“Construction cost and material cost estimates for PFAS remediation have continued to escalate as we fully engineer surface water treatment plant solutions, particularly in New Jersey”

Cheryl Norton - EVP & COO

Capital plan and investment

  • Five-year capital plan raised: The 2026-2030 plan is about $2 billion above the prior five-year plan, driven by PFAS and Lead and Copper compliance and rolling the plan forward a year. Source
  • Ten-year plan reaches $46 to $48 billion: The 2026-2035 plan is $6 billion above the previous ten-year plan. Management said accelerating replacement of aging underground pipe is a key part of the expansion. Source
  • PFAS and lead rules add spending: About $2 billion is planned for PFAS rule compliance and about $1.5 billion over five years for LCRI. Lead and Copper service line work is now $300 million a year. Source
  • 2025 investment planned at $3.2 billion: The company invested $2.2 billion in the first nine months of 2025 and plans about $3.2 billion for the full year across its footprint. Source

Acquisitions and customer growth

  • Customer connections under agreement: Nearly 107,000 customer connections are under agreement, including about 47,000 from Nexus Water Group systems, in deals totaling $606 million. Source
  • Further acquisitions pending: Twenty-two acquisitions in six states are under agreement for $291 million and would add about 60,000 customer connections. These exclude the proposed merger with Essential Utilities. Source
  • Acquisitions included in rate base target: The long-term rate base growth target of 8 to 9 percent includes acquisitions. Acquired customer addition growth is targeted at 2 percent. Source
  • Military services add earnings growth: Management said the Military Services Group continues to add incrementally to the earnings growth expectation, as the government allocated funds for improvement projects. Source

Financing, balance sheet and dividend

  • Equity forward proceeds expected mid-2026: Forward sale agreements entered in August are expected to yield about $1.15 billion of net proceeds in mid-2026, under the forward agreement settlement assumption. Source
  • Debt to capital within target: Total debt to capital, net of $166 million of cash, was 58 percent at September 30, within the target of less than 60 percent. Source
  • 2026 long-term debt financing: Management said the 2026 financing plan includes $1.5 to $2 billion of long-term debt, and that equity financing is expected to occur routinely as the investment program requires. Source

Essential Utilities merger

  • All-stock merger announced: The boards approved an all-stock, tax-free combination with Essential Utilities, with a pro forma market capitalization of about $40 billion and combined enterprise value of about $63 billion. Source
  • Exchange ratio and ownership split: Essential holders receive 0.305 American Water shares per Essential share, an implied premium of about 10 percent. American Water holders would own about 69 percent of the combined company. Source
  • Merger closing expected Q1 2027: Management expects to complete the merger by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to obtaining all required regulatory approvals. Source
  • Merger costs excluded from guidance: The 2025 and 2026 EPS guidance excludes transaction expenses tied to the merger. Management said it cannot reliably predict the amount of these expenses for future periods. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2025

  • Nexus systems closing by August 2026: Kentucky and Virginia commissions have approved the Nexus Water Group systems. Management expects to close the transaction by August 2026. Source
  • Maryland rates expected March 2026: If approved, the Maryland general rate case would take effect in March 2026 and add $3 million of annual revenue. Source
  • Virginia and Pennsylvania filings coming: Management anticipates general rate case filings in Virginia and Pennsylvania by the end of 2025, consistent with its two-year rate cycle. Source
  • West Virginia hearings scheduled: West Virginia rebuttal testimony is due in November, with evidentiary hearings to be held in early December. Source
  • Dividend payable December 2: The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.8275 per share, payable December 2, 2025, to holders of record as of November 13, 2025. Source
  • EEI Financial Conference ahead: Management said it looks forward to meeting investors at the upcoming EEI Financial Conference. Source

In management's words

“The merger will enhance the scale of our company, combining two highly complementary businesses with significant growth potential that will benefit all stakeholders”

John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases Source$275 million annualized authorized since January 1, 2025; $141 million requested in four pending cases
Rate base growth Source8 to 9% long-term, including acquisitions
Capital plan Source$19 to $20 billion for 2026-2030; $46 to $48 billion for 2026-2035
Customer growth Source2% acquired customer addition growth; nearly 107,000 customer connections under agreement
EPS growth target Source7 to 9% long-term; about 8% in 2026 at guidance midpoint

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management cited a growing state and national dialogue on utility bill affordability as a backdrop to its capital plans. Source
  • Regulatory: A California bill on water utility decoupling did not pass the Assembly in 2025. Management said decoupling remains part of its pending rate case request. Source
  • Financial: Management expects some dilution from the equity financing it anticipates settling in mid-2026. Source
  • Financial: The plan assumes about 10 cents per share of incremental interest income from the HOS note goes away one year early. Source
  • Operational: PFAS remediation construction and material cost estimates have risen as surface water treatment solutions are engineered, particularly in New Jersey. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management restated its expectation of about 8 percent EPS growth in the year following repayment of the HOS note. Source
  • Met: Management said the year-to-date O&M increase, including acquisition-related costs, was in line with its expectations. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.