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Consolidated Water Co. Ltd.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 11.9% in the quarter: Revenue was $30.9 million against $35.1 million a year earlier. Services and manufacturing revenue fell, while retail and bulk revenue rose. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.15: Continuing-operations diluted EPS was $0.15 against $0.34 a year earlier. Including discontinued operations, diluted EPS was $0.14, compared with $0.34. Source
  • Manufacturing revenue down 39.7%: Manufacturing revenue was $2.8 million against $4.7 million, reflecting a lower total dollar amount of contracts completed and in progress. Nine-month manufacturing revenue fell 56.1%. Source
  • Florida municipal orders received: Orders of about $10.1 million cover nanofiltration membrane equipment and horizontal cartridge filters for a municipality on Florida’s east coast. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 31.8%: Gross profit was $9.8 million against $12.9 million a year earlier. Gross margin was about 5 percentage points lower as a share of revenue. Source
  • Cayman 25-year license took effect: The new license became effective August 1, 2026, and preserves the company’s exclusive right to produce, distribute and sell potable water in its licensed service area. Source
  • Hawaii permits still outstanding: Approvals from the state historic preservation division and the Department of Health allow remaining permits to be pursued. The Honolulu board granted schedule extensions. Source
  • Pismo Beach project purpose stated: The approximately $39.8 million Pismo Beach design-build agreement is intended to add a local, drought-resistant supply and protect the groundwater basin. Source

“Increases to our third-quarter retail and bulk revenue were offset by lower construction, O&M and manufacturing revenue,”

Consolidated Water CEO Rick McTaggart

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Manufacturing revenue SourceFull-year 2026below 2025 levels
Kalaeloa construction start SourceStart of constructionfirst half of 2027Lowered from later this year (2026)
Pismo Beach design-build schedule SourceConstruction start through commissioningspring 2027; approximately 24 months overallNew
Florida manufacturing deliveries SourceDeliveryNovember 2027
Florida equipment bids SourceFourth quarter 2026approximately $10 million of projects; decisions in Q4 2026New
Florida municipal projects tracked for bid SourceNext six monthsapproximately $45 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Cayman Water’s 25-year retail license took effect August 1, 2026. The prior release reported receipt of the license, and the new rate structure lowers base rates. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Kalaeloa construction start moved from later in 2026 to the first half of 2027, subject to remaining permits and approvals. Source
  • New: After quarter-end, on October 12, the company announced an approximately $39.8 million design-build award from the City of Pismo Beach, California. Source

Revenue and earnings decline

  • Revenue fell 11.9% in the quarter: Revenue was $30.9 million against $35.1 million a year earlier. Services and manufacturing revenue fell, while retail and bulk revenue rose. Source
  • Diluted EPS fell to $0.15: Continuing-operations diluted EPS was $0.15 against $0.34 a year earlier. Including discontinued operations, diluted EPS was $0.14, compared with $0.34. Source
  • Nine-month revenue down 8.5%: Nine-month revenue was $93.8 million. Manufacturing fell $8.8 million and services fell $3.2 million, partly offset by a $3.7 million rise in bulk revenue. Source

Retail and bulk segments

  • Retail revenue rose 5.7%: Retail revenue rose on energy pass-through charges and a higher rate for a major commercial customer, while base rates fell under the new license. Source
  • Bulk revenue up 20.8% in quarter: Bulk growth came mainly from CW-Bahamas energy pass-through charges, with a smaller contribution from the new Cat Island plants. Source
  • Nine-month bulk revenue up 14.9%: Nine-month bulk revenue reached $28.8 million, with the same drivers: energy pass-through charges at CW-Bahamas and the new Cat Island plants. Source

“Once construction of this project commences in the first half of 2027, we expect it to have a significant impact on our revenue and earnings.”

Consolidated Water CEO Rick McTaggart

Services and manufacturing

  • Services revenue down 31.7%: Construction revenue declined to $3.5 million from $6.4 million on fewer and smaller projects. Design and consulting revenue was $177,000 against $214,000. Source
  • O&M revenue fell on expired contracts: O&M revenue fell to $6.1 million from $7.7 million, primarily because three California customer contracts expired in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Manufacturing revenue down 39.7%: Manufacturing revenue was $2.8 million against $4.7 million, reflecting a lower total dollar amount of contracts completed and in progress. Nine-month manufacturing revenue fell 56.1%. Source
  • Florida municipal orders received: Orders of about $10.1 million cover nanofiltration membrane equipment and horizontal cartridge filters for a municipality on Florida’s east coast. Source

Margins and cost of revenue

  • Gross margin fell to 31.8%: Gross profit was $9.8 million against $12.9 million a year earlier. Gross margin was about 5 percentage points lower as a share of revenue. Source
  • Bulk margin hit by diesel costs: Bulk gross profit rose, but gross margin as a percentage of revenue fell, citing higher diesel costs and incremental maintenance expenses. Source
  • Retail gross profit fell on rates: Retail gross profit fell on lower base rates under the new license. Pass-through energy charges, volume and a commercial rate increase lifted retail revenue. Source

“We believe our diversified business and disciplined approach to growth provide a solid foundation for the future.”

Consolidated Water CEO Rick McTaggart

Order book and bids

  • Hawaii backlog above $150 million: The Hawaii design and construction work is more than $150 million of contracted backlog that has not yet been recognized as revenue. Source
  • Florida equipment bids pending decision: Bids on about $10 million of water equipment manufacturing projects are pending, with awards expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Florida bids tracked for release: About $45 million of Florida municipal water projects are being tracked, and they are expected to go out for bid within six months. Source

Cayman retail license

  • Cayman 25-year license took effect: The new license became effective August 1, 2026, and preserves the company’s exclusive right to produce, distribute and sell potable water in its licensed service area. Source
  • Base rates lowered, annual adjustment kept: The new structure lowers base rates for customers and keeps an annual rate adjustment mechanism, which is subject to regulatory verification and approval. Source
  • Retail volume and rates offset: Higher pass-through energy charges, a 1% volume increase and a commercial rate increase offset lower retail water rates under the new license. Source

Hawaii and Pismo Beach projects

  • Hawaii long-lead equipment authorized: The July Limited Notice to Proceed authorized about $6 million for long-lead equipment for the planned Kalaeloa desalination facility. Source
  • Hawaii permits still outstanding: Approvals from the state historic preservation division and the Department of Health allow remaining permits to be pursued. The Honolulu board granted schedule extensions. Source
  • Kalaeloa operating term of 20 years: After commissioning, the company is contracted to operate and maintain Kalaeloa for 20 years, with two five-year extension options at the client’s discretion. Source
  • Pismo Beach project purpose stated: The approximately $39.8 million Pismo Beach design-build agreement is intended to add a local, drought-resistant supply and protect the groundwater basin. Source

Cash, balance sheet and dividends

  • Cash $129.2M, equity $226.2M: Management reported these balances as of September 30, 2026, the quarter-end: cash, working capital and equity attributable to stockholders. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.14 a share: Dividends declared were $0.14 per share in both the third quarter of 2026 and 2025. Nine-month dividends were $0.42 against $0.39. Source
  • June 30 cash and working capital: At June 30, 2026, cash was $132.6 million and working capital was $144.6 million, as reported in the prior release.

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • Florida bid awards in Q4: Bids on about $10 million of water equipment projects are expected to be decided and awarded in the fourth quarter of 2026. Source
  • Kalaeloa construction start: Construction is anticipated to begin in the first half of 2027, subject to the remaining permits and approvals. Source
  • Pismo Beach construction start: Construction is anticipated to begin in spring 2027, with the overall project expected to span about 24 months. Source
  • Florida deliveries in November 2027: Florida purchase orders for membrane equipment and horizontal cartridge filters are scheduled for delivery in November 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases SourceNew 25-year retail license effective August 1, 2026; lower base rates; annual rate adjustment mechanism retained, subject to regulatory verification and approval
Load growth SourceWater sales volume up about 1% in the third quarter of 2026
Load growth SourceWater sales volume down 4.1% for the first nine months of 2026

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Start of Kalaeloa construction depends on obtaining remaining permits and approvals; management said it anticipates construction in the first half of 2027 subject to them. Source
  • Regulatory: The annual rate adjustment mechanism under the new Cayman license is subject to regulatory verification and approval. Source
  • Operational: Bulk gross margin as a percentage of revenue fell, with higher diesel costs and incremental maintenance expenses cited. Source
  • Demand: Manufacturing revenue fell because the total dollar amount of contracts completed and in progress declined. Source
  • Demand: O&M revenue fell after three California customer contracts expired in the first quarter of 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release expected construction to start later in 2026. This release gives a start in the first half of 2027.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected manufacturing revenue to improve in future periods. This release gives a full-year 2026 figure below 2025 levels.

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.