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American Water Works Company, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • GAAP earnings per share declined: The company reported GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.00 for the quarter, compared with $1.05 a year earlier. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $196 million, against $205 million. Source
  • Revenue growth offset by costs: Revenue growth from new rates and recovered investments was offset by higher operating costs, depreciation and financing costs. Operating revenues were $1,207 million, up from $1,142 million. Source
  • New rates added $89 million annualized: Since January 1, 2026, the company has been authorized $89 million of additional annualized revenue: $36 million from general rate cases and $53 million from infrastructure surcharges. Source
  • Operating expenses rose $44 million: Operating expenses rose on higher purchased water cost and usage, plus higher purchased power and chemicals costs. Operating expenses were $816 million, against $771 million. Source
  • Quarter capital investment reached $652 million: The company invested $652 million in capital during the first three months of 2026. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised to $0.8950: The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.8950 per share on April 29, 2026, an increase of 8.2% over the prior quarter's dividend. Source
  • First state approval received in Kentucky: The company received the first state regulatory approval for the merger in Kentucky in the week before the release. Source

“The company has delivered solid first quarter results and we are affirming our long-term targets for both earnings and dividend growth at 7 to 9 percent”

John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Source2026$6.02 to $6.12Kept
Long-term EPS and dividend growth Sourcelong-term7-9%Kept
Capital investment including acquisitions Source2026approximately $3.7 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Kentucky granted the first state regulatory approval for the Essential Utilities merger, received in the week before the release. Source
  • New: The company issued $700 million of 5.200% senior notes due 2036 in April 2026. Source
  • Ended: The secured seller note from the sale of the Homeowner Services Group was repaid in full on February 13, 2026.

Results and earnings per share

  • GAAP earnings per share declined: The company reported GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.00 for the quarter, compared with $1.05 a year earlier. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $196 million, against $205 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS excludes merger and HOS items: Adjusted EPS was $1.01 against $1.02, after removing transaction costs for the Essential Utilities merger and incremental interest income from the repaid HOS secured seller note. Source
  • Revenue growth offset by costs: Revenue growth from new rates and recovered investments was offset by higher operating costs, depreciation and financing costs. Operating revenues were $1,207 million, up from $1,142 million. Source

Regulated businesses and rate cases

  • Regulated net income rose $7 million: Regulated Businesses net income was $208 million, compared with $201 million a year earlier. Source
  • New rates added $89 million annualized: Since January 1, 2026, the company has been authorized $89 million of additional annualized revenue: $36 million from general rate cases and $53 million from infrastructure surcharges. Source
  • Five rate cases and one surcharge pending: General rate cases are in progress in five jurisdictions and an infrastructure surcharge has been filed in one, with a total annualized revenue request of $518 million. Source

“We are also encouraged with the progress we and Essential have made thus far in merger integration planning work”

John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water

Operating costs and interest

  • Operating expenses rose $44 million: Operating expenses rose on higher purchased water cost and usage, plus higher purchased power and chemicals costs. Operating expenses were $816 million, against $771 million. Source
  • Depreciation rose $21 million: Depreciation and amortization was $237 million against $216 million, reflecting the larger capital investment base. Source
  • Interest expense rose $12 million: Interest expense rose as incremental short and long-term debt was issued, primarily to fund capital investments. Interest expense totaled $163 million against $144 million. Source

Capital investment and financing

  • Quarter capital investment reached $652 million: The company invested $652 million in capital during the first three months of 2026. Source
  • Senior notes issued in April: The company issued $700 million of 5.200% senior notes due 2036 in April 2026. Source
  • Full-year capital plan of $3.7 billion: The company plans to invest approximately $3.7 billion across its footprint in 2026, including acquisitions. Source

Dividends and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividend raised to $0.8950: The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.8950 per share on April 29, 2026, an increase of 8.2% over the prior quarter's dividend. Source
  • Dividend paid in March: The company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.8275 per share on March 3, 2026, to holders of record as of February 10, 2026. Source
  • Dividend growth held as long-term target: Management affirmed long-term EPS and dividend growth rate targets of 7-9%. Source

Essential Utilities merger

  • Shareholders approved merger in February: Shareholders of American Water and Essential Utilities approved the merger-related proposals on February 10, 2026.
  • First state approval received in Kentucky: The company received the first state regulatory approval for the merger in Kentucky in the week before the release. Source

Acquisitions and their revenue effect

  • Closed acquisitions add revenue: Revenue also rose from acquisitions the company has closed, alongside rate increases. Source
  • Acquisition investments recovered through rates: Revenue increases from rate cases and infrastructure proceedings recover capital and acquisition investments. Source
  • Eighteen acquisitions completed in 2025: In 2025 the company invested $3.2 billion in regulated operations and completed 18 acquisitions across seven states.

Coming up, as management said on 29 April 2026

  • Dividend payable June 2: The $0.8950 dividend is payable June 2, 2026, to shareholders of record as of May 12, 2026. Source
  • Rate cases still in progress: General rate cases in five jurisdictions and one infrastructure surcharge filing remain in progress. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases Source$518 million total annualized revenue request
Rate cases Source$89 million additional annualized revenue authorized since January 1, 2026
Capital plan Sourceapproximately $3.7 billion planned for 2026, including acquisitions
Capital plan Source$652 million invested in the first quarter of 2026
EPS growth target Source7-9% long-term EPS and dividend growth rate targets

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Higher interest expense followed debt issued to fund capital investments. Source
  • Financial: Merger transaction costs will be incurred during 2026 and are excluded from the adjusted EPS guidance range. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management affirmed the 2026 adjusted EPS guidance range in this release. Source
  • Not stated: Management affirmed its long-term EPS and dividend growth targets of 7-9%. Source
  • Met: Management said the company achieved the upper half of the 2025 EPS guidance range.
  • Met: Management said the company executed its 2025 EPS and dividend guidance and plan.

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.