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Global Water Resources, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 13 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 6.7% to $13.3 million: Total revenue was $13.3 million, up from $12.5 million. The company attributed growth to the Tucson acquisition, organic connections, higher consumption and higher rates. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: The company reported a net loss of $0.4 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, against net income of $0.6 million a year earlier. The company cited 2025 rate base investments for depreciation and net interest. Source
  • Organic connection growth eased to 2.6%: Organic connection growth, excluding the acquisition, was 2.6% at March 31, 2026, against 3.2% reported at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 15.1%: Total operating expenses were $12.9 million, against $11.2 million a year earlier. Depreciation, amortization and accretion was the largest single increase. Source
  • New permit activity has slowed: Management said new permit activity has slowed, while growth in the City of Maricopa continues to appear in the organic connection count. Source
  • Depreciable assets up 20.1%: Depreciable fixed assets rose 20.1% from the 2025 capital improvement plan. Many of those assets were placed in service in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Santa Cruz path to notable increase: Management described the settlement as a diversion from the original application that gives a clearer path to a notable GW-Santa Cruz rate increase later this year. Source

“As I have been saying for many quarters now, we need new rates to keep up with all the investment and inflation that we have experienced in our utilities.”

Global Water Resources President and CEO, Ron Fleming

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Rate case revenue requirement (GW-Santa Cruz) SourceAnnual, under the settlement agreementapproximately $2.3 million increaseLowered from approximately $4.3 million requested net annual revenue increase
Requested effective date of new GW-Santa Cruz rates SourceRequested effective dateNovember 1, 2026New
Temporary bill credit (GW-Palo Verde customers) SourceAnnual, until the next GW-Palo Verde rate case resolvesincrease of approximately $0.4 million annuallyNew
Monthly cash dividend SourceMonthly, annualized$0.02533 per common share monthly ($0.30396 annualized)Kept
Arizona employment growth (state projection cited by management) SourceThrough 2034454,000 jobs, 1.2% annual growth rate

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: The requested increase for GW-Santa Cruz is now about $2.3 million, compared with about $4.3 million in the net annual revenue increase requested in fourth-quarter testimony. Source
  • New: On April 28, 2026, the company filed a settlement agreement with the Arizona Corporation Commission to bifurcate and settle the GW-Santa Cruz and GW-Palo Verde rate cases. Source
  • Ended: The GW-Palo Verde rate case is withdrawn, to be refiled in 2027 using a 2026 test year without seeking formula rates. Source
  • New guidance: GW-Palo Verde committed to seek a temporary bill credit increase of about $0.4 million a year. This figure was not given in the prior release. Source
  • New: The company secured an extension of its $20 million revolving line of credit to May 18, 2028. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 6.7% to $13.3 million: Total revenue was $13.3 million, up from $12.5 million. The company attributed growth to the Tucson acquisition, organic connections, higher consumption and higher rates. Source
  • Net loss against prior-year profit: The company reported a net loss of $0.4 million, or $(0.01) per diluted share, against net income of $0.6 million a year earlier. The company cited 2025 rate base investments for depreciation and net interest. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA flat year over year: Adjusted EBITDA was $5.6 million in both periods, a non-GAAP measure. Adjusted net loss was $0.3 million, against adjusted net income of $0.6 million a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Water revenue grew 10.5%: Water service revenue rose 10.5% to $6.6 million, the faster-growing of the two segments in the quarter. Source
  • Wastewater revenue rose 3.1%: Wastewater and recycled water service revenue rose 3.1% to $6.7 million, the smaller of the two increases. Source
  • Farmers rate increases added revenue: Higher rates for GW-Farmers took effect May 1, 2025 and November 1, 2025, adding to revenue in the quarter. Source
  • Tucson systems add full quarter: The seven Tucson Water systems acquired in July 2025 contributed a full quarter of revenue this year, compared with a partial quarter last year. Source

“Together, this will allow us to better realize recovery of inflationary expenses and return on and return of our plant investments, including the Southwest Plant, resulting in years of meaningful earnings growth ahead.”

Global Water Resources President and CEO, Ron Fleming

Customers and consumption

  • Connections up 5.7% to 68,885: Active service connections rose by 3,722 from a year earlier, a figure that includes the seven acquired Tucson systems. Source
  • Organic connection growth eased to 2.6%: Organic connection growth, excluding the acquisition, was 2.6% at March 31, 2026, against 3.2% reported at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Water consumption up 7.9%: Consumption reached 902 million gallons, up 7.9%. Management linked the higher usage partly to unseasonably warm and dry weather during the quarter. Source

Operating costs

  • Operating expenses rose 15.1%: Total operating expenses were $12.9 million, against $11.2 million a year earlier. Depreciation, amortization and accretion was the largest single increase. Source
  • Operations personnel costs rose 10.7%: Operations and maintenance personnel costs rose 10.7% to $1.5 million, which management attributed to rising medical costs. Source
  • Power and treatment costs increased: Utilities, chemicals and repairs rose on purchased power tied to higher water use and new processing equipment from the 2025 capital plan. Source
  • New reclamation plants add disposal costs: Wastewater disposal costs rose with the start-up of two new wastewater reclamation facilities. Source
  • Rent and insurance costs higher: Other general and administrative costs rose on licensing fees, higher rent after the corporate office lease renewal in August 2025, and general liability insurance. Source

“We believe we can maintain solid revenue and earnings growth in the years to come as we seek to obtain appropriate rate increases combined with our anticipated organic growth.”

Global Water Resources President and CEO, Ron Fleming

Margins and below-the-line items

  • Operating income fell to $0.4 million: Operating income was $0.4 million, against $1.3 million a year earlier, after the increase in operating expenses. Source
  • Other expense rose on Buckeye premiums: Total other expense was $0.9 million, against $0.5 million, with lower Buckeye growth premiums of $0.1 million from fewer new meter connections. Source
  • Interest income declined on lower cash: Interest income fell $0.1 million because the company carried lower average cash balances. Source
  • Income tax moved to a benefit: The company reported an income tax benefit of $0.1 million, against income tax expense of $0.2 million in the prior-year quarter. Source

Arizona demand and growth

  • New permit activity has slowed: Management said new permit activity has slowed, while growth in the City of Maricopa continues to appear in the organic connection count. Source
  • Maricopa homes priced below Phoenix: The median home sales price in Maricopa was 26% lower than in Phoenix as of March 2026. Management cites this as a main reason for organic growth in Maricopa. Source
  • Phoenix population projected to grow: A state projection cited by the company puts the Phoenix metropolitan population at 5.8 million by 2030 and 6.5 million by 2040. Source

Capital and rate base

  • Depreciable assets up 20.1%: Depreciable fixed assets rose 20.1% from the 2025 capital improvement plan. Many of those assets were placed in service in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • New term loan adds interest expense: Interest expense rose $0.2 million, mainly from a term loan entered into in December 2025 to support the 2025 capital plan. Source
  • Utility plant base increased: Net utility plant was $445.4 million at March 31, 2026, against $441.9 million at December 31, 2025, after accumulated depreciation. Source

Cash, debt and dividends

  • Operating cash flow fell to $4.5M: Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.5 million, against $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Cash balances down $2.0 million: Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash fell $2.0 million over the quarter, to $4.9 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Revolver balance of $1.0 million: The company drew $2.25 million and repaid $1.25 million on its revolver in the quarter, leaving $1.0 million borrowed. Source
  • Dividends paid rose to $2.2M: Dividends paid were $2.2 million, against $1.8 million a year earlier. Declared dividends were $0.08 per share in both quarters. Source
  • No equity issuance this quarter: The $31.0 million common stock issuance of the prior-year quarter did not recur. Weighted basic shares rose to 28.8 million from 24.4 million. Source

Rate cases and strategy

  • Santa Cruz path to notable increase: Management described the settlement as a diversion from the original application that gives a clearer path to a notable GW-Santa Cruz rate increase later this year. Source
  • Southern Arizona consolidation plan: Management said it remains focused on consolidating operations and rates across its customer base in Southern Arizona, through regionalization. Source
  • Acquisitions and consolidation continue: The company plans to keep aggregating water and wastewater utilities through acquisitions and entity consolidation, citing the benefits of regionalization. Source
  • Rate case hearings and next steps: After hearings, an administrative law judge writes an opinion and order for commission consideration. Management did not give a date for the commission decision. Source

Coming up, as management said on 13 May 2026

  • Hearings set for August: The administrative law judge has set hearings to start in August. Management did not give a date for the commission decision. Source
  • More rate case filings planned: Management plans to announce additional rate case activity for its other utilities in the coming quarters. Source
  • SR 347 construction starts this summer: Preparation work on the State Route 347 Improvement Project began in April. Construction is expected to start this summer and finish in 2029. Source
  • Dividend payable May 29: The monthly dividend is payable on May 29, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on May 15, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate cases SourceGW-Santa Cruz requested increase of approximately $2.3 million; GW-Palo Verde case withdrawn
Rate base growth SourceDescribed as considerable; no dollar figure given
Capital plan Source$6.3 million invested in Q1 2026
Customer growth SourceActive connections up 5.7% to 68,885 (organic 2.6%)
Load growth SourceWater consumption up 7.9% to 902 million gallons

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management describes the historical test year as the reason investment and expense increases come before rate recovery. Source
  • Operational: Management says certain company expenses, such as medical costs, continue to grow at a rapid pace. Source
  • External: Management monitors macroeconomic changes, including tariffs on operational costs and construction work in progress, and new home construction in its service areas. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release expected the rate case to conclude in late 2026. This release instead gives a requested effective date of November 1, 2026.
  • Delayed: Management states the GW-Palo Verde timing is delayed, and that the delay concerns the timing of rate recovery for the Southwest Plant issue. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release said 2026 would focus on controlling expenses, with a reduced pace of capital investment. This release does not restate the plan.
  • Met: The prior release said the company had invested $67.3 million in 2025 and was successfully delivering its planned capital investments.

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.