greeksoup/ stock research

American Water Works Company, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Quarterly EPS rose to $1.61: Second quarter diluted EPS was $1.61 on a GAAP basis, against $1.48 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.61, against $1.49. Source
  • Regulated net income up $43 million: Regulated Businesses net income was $331 million in the quarter against $288 million, and $539 million year to date against $489 million. Source
  • New annualized revenue of $216 million: Since January 1, 2026, authorized annualized revenue increases total $216 million: $111 million from general rate cases and $105 million from infrastructure surcharges. The first-quarter release reported $89 million. Source
  • Pennsylvania rate decision received: Management said it received a decision in its Pennsylvania general rate case. New rates are to go into effect on August 13, 2026. Source
  • $1.8 billion invested year to date: The company invested $1.8 billion in infrastructure improvements and growth in the first six months, including $346 million for regulated acquisitions. Source
  • Three state approvals received: The merger with Essential Utilities has three state approvals, up from one at the first-quarter release, and a settlement in principle in Texas. Source
  • Forward shares settled for $476 million: In June 2026 the company physically settled 3,403,756 forward-sale shares. Net proceeds received were $476 million. Source

“The company has delivered solid results for the first half of the year and we are pleased to have received a constructive decision in our Pennsylvania general rate case to begin the second half of 2026”

John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EPS Source2026 (full year)$6.02 to $6.12Kept
Long-term EPS and dividend growth SourceLong-term7-9%Kept
Capital investment Source2026, including acquisitionsapproximately $3.7 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Management affirmed the 2026 adjusted EPS range, with no change to the figure from the first-quarter release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Long-term EPS and dividend growth targets were affirmed without change. Source
  • New: A Pennsylvania general rate case decision was received. The first-quarter release did not report it. Source
  • New: Three state merger approvals have been received, against one at the first-quarter release. Source

Second quarter results and EPS

  • Quarterly EPS rose to $1.61: Second quarter diluted EPS was $1.61 on a GAAP basis, against $1.48 a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $1.61, against $1.49. Source
  • Year-to-date EPS rose from prior year: Year-to-date diluted EPS was $2.61 on a GAAP basis against $2.53. Adjusted EPS was $2.62 against $2.51. Source
  • Revenue and net income increased: Operating revenues were $1,355 million against $1,276 million. Net income attributable to common shareholders was $315 million against $289 million. Source

Regulated Businesses and rate recovery

  • Regulated net income up $43 million: Regulated Businesses net income was $331 million in the quarter against $288 million, and $539 million year to date against $489 million. Source
  • New annualized revenue of $216 million: Since January 1, 2026, authorized annualized revenue increases total $216 million: $111 million from general rate cases and $105 million from infrastructure surcharges. The first-quarter release reported $89 million. Source
  • Pennsylvania rate decision received: Management said it received a decision in its Pennsylvania general rate case. New rates are to go into effect on August 13, 2026. Source
  • Pending rate requests total $494 million: General rate cases are in progress in six jurisdictions, up from five in the first-quarter release. An infrastructure surcharge has been filed in one jurisdiction. The total annualized request is $494 million. Source

“We are also encouraged with the continuing progress we and Essential Utilities are making in merger integration planning and have received three state regulatory approvals for the merger so far”

John Griffith, President and CEO of American Water

Operating costs, depreciation and interest

  • Operating costs rose on purchased water and power: Operating expenses were $29 million higher in the quarter and $73 million higher year to date. Management cited purchased water cost and usage, and purchased power and chemicals costs, in part. Source
  • Depreciation rose with capital spending: Depreciation expense was $21 million higher in the quarter and $42 million higher year to date, attributed to the increase in capital investment. Source
  • Interest expense up on debt for capital: Interest expense rose $11 million in the quarter and $23 million year to date, from incremental short- and long-term debt used mainly to fund capital investment. Interest income was $3 million against $22 million. Source

Capital investment and acquisitions

  • $1.8 billion invested year to date: The company invested $1.8 billion in infrastructure improvements and growth in the first six months, including $346 million for regulated acquisitions. Source
  • 2026 capital plan on track: Management said the 2026 capital investment plan is on track. The plan figure is unchanged from the first-quarter release. Source
  • First-quarter investment was $652 million: The first-quarter release reported $652 million invested in the first three months of 2026, against $1.8 billion for the six months.

Essential Utilities merger progress

  • Three state approvals received: The merger with Essential Utilities has three state approvals, up from one at the first-quarter release, and a settlement in principle in Texas. Source
  • Merger transaction costs excluded: Merger transaction costs were $0.01 per share in the quarter and $0.04 year to date. The company excludes these costs from adjusted EPS. Source
  • Integration planning progressing: Management said the company and Essential Utilities are making continuing progress in merger integration planning. Source

Equity settlement and balance sheet

  • Forward shares settled for $476 million: In June 2026 the company physically settled 3,403,756 forward-sale shares. Net proceeds received were $476 million. Source
  • 4.7 million forward shares remain: As of June 30, 2026, 4,694,836 shares remained available for future settlement under the remaining forward sale agreements. Source
  • Equity and long-term debt rose: Common shareholders’ equity was $11,665 million at June 30, against $10,837 million at December 31, 2025. Long-term debt was $14,043 million against $12,777 million. Source
  • Cash rose; short-term debt fell: Cash and cash equivalents were $191 million at June 30, against $98 million at December 31, 2025. Short-term debt was $1,499 million against $1,588 million. Source

Customers, installations and weather

  • About 52,000 acquired connections added: Customer connections added from acquisitions through June 30 total approximately 52,000, including the Nexus Water systems. Source
  • Military installations rose to 19: Regulated operations are reported in 14 states and on 19 military installations. The first-quarter release reported 18 military installations. Source
  • Estimated weather impact of $(0.01): The reconciliation shows an estimated weather impact of $(0.01) per share in the second quarter of 2026, against $0.04 in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Dividend and shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividend declared at $0.8950: The board declared a $0.8950 quarterly dividend on July 29, 2026, payable September 1 to holders of record as of August 11, 2026. Source
  • April raise of 8.2% set current rate: The April declaration raised the quarterly dividend 8.2% to $0.8950, payable June 2, 2026. The first-quarter release reported a $0.8275 payment on March 3.
  • Forward proceeds for general purposes: Management said any net cash proceeds from future settlement of the forward sale agreements are intended for general corporate purposes. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Pennsylvania rates start August 13: New Pennsylvania rates are to go into effect on August 13, 2026. Source
  • Forward shares settle by year-end: Settlement of the remaining forward sale agreements is at the company’s discretion, on or before December 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases in progress Sourcesix jurisdictions; infrastructure surcharge filed in one
Authorized annualized revenue Source$216 million since January 1, 2026
Capital plan Sourceapproximately $3.7 billion in 2026
Capital invested Source$1.8 billion in first six months of 2026
Customer connections from acquisitions Sourceapproximately 52,000 through June 30, 2026
EPS growth target Source7-9%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said adjusted EPS may differ significantly from GAAP EPS, because it cannot reliably predict all future adjustments. Source
  • External: The 2026 adjusted EPS guidance excludes weather impacts, transaction costs and certain HOS note interest income. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the 2026 capital investment plan is on track. Source
  • Not stated: Management affirmed the 2026 adjusted EPS guidance range and the long-term targets, without a stated progress status. 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.