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Global Water Resources, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 5.0% in quarter: Third-quarter revenue was $16.3 million, up $0.8 million or 5.0%. Year-to-date revenue rose 12.2% to $47.4 million, including $2.1 million of unregulated ICFA revenue recorded in the second quarter. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income fell $0.7 million to $1.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, from $1.7 million or $0.06 a year earlier. Year-to-date net income was $3.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Source
  • Active connections up 2.4%: Active service connections reached 69,797 at September 30, 2026, up 1,667 or 2.4% from 68,130 a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to organic growth in its service areas. Source
  • New connection and permit pace slowed: Management said new connection and permit activity has slowed recently, while ongoing development, particularly in Maricopa, continues to support organic growth in the active connection base. Source
  • Depreciation rose 30.4%: Depreciation, amortization and accretion rose $1.1 million or 30.4% to $4.6 million, mainly from the 2025 capital plan, which placed a significant number of assets in service in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • GW-Palo Verde case withdrawn for 2027: GW-Palo Verde withdrew its rate application under the settlement, which remains subject to ACC approval. Management plans to refile in 2027 using a 2026 test year. Source
  • Private placement and larger revolver: The company completed a $10.0 million private placement of common stock and amended its revolving credit facility, raising borrowing capacity from $20.0 million to $30.0 million. Source

“As expected, assets placed in service under the 2025 and 2026 capital improvement plans increased depreciation expense and continued to affect near-term net income and earnings per share.”

Global Water Resources President and CEO Ron Fleming

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Dividend SourceMonthly dividends declared in the quarter$0.02533 per common share monthly ($0.30396 annualized)Kept
Rates, GW-Santa Cruz SourceEffective date of new ratesDecember 1, 2026
Rate case, GW-Palo Verde SourceRefiling in 2027 with a 2026 test yearRefile in 2027, 2026 test yearKept
Rate filings, GW-Palo Verde and Pima County utilities SourceFiling timingFirst half of 2027Kept
Rate filings, GW-Palo Verde and Pima County utilities SourceEstimated new rates2028New
Rate case, GW-Santa Cruz SourceNext rate case filing, 2027 test year2028 filingKept
Rate case, GW-Santa Cruz SourceEstimated new rates for next rate case2029New

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The company completed a $10.0 million private placement of common stock and raised its revolving credit capacity from $20.0 million to $30.0 million. Source
  • New: The ACC approved GW-Santa Cruz's new water availability fee on October 14, 2026. Source
  • New: The GW-Santa Cruz new-rate effective date moved from the requested November 1, 2026 to December 1, 2026 in the current release.
  • New guidance: The company now gives an estimated year of 2029 for new GW-Santa Cruz rates from its next rate case. Source
  • New guidance: The company now gives an estimated year of 2028 for new rates in the GW-Palo Verde and Pima County rate reviews. Source
  • Guidance kept: The monthly dividend remains $0.02533 per common share, the same as in the prior release. Source
  • Guidance kept: The GW-Palo Verde refiling plan for 2027 with a 2026 test year is unchanged. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 5.0% in quarter: Third-quarter revenue was $16.3 million, up $0.8 million or 5.0%. Year-to-date revenue rose 12.2% to $47.4 million, including $2.1 million of unregulated ICFA revenue recorded in the second quarter. Source
  • Net income and EPS declined: Net income fell $0.7 million to $1.0 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, from $1.7 million or $0.06 a year earlier. Year-to-date net income was $3.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA flat for quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $7.8 million, largely unchanged from the prior-year quarter. Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA rose $1.0 million or 5.0% to $21.4 million. Source
  • Adjusted net income fell on depreciation: Adjusted net income was $1.0 million for the quarter against $1.8 million a year earlier, and $1.9 million year-to-date against $4.0 million. Management attributed the decrease to depreciation and net interest from rate base investments. Source

Segments and regulated revenue

  • Water revenue grew faster than wastewater: Water service revenue rose $0.5 million or 6.2% to $9.0 million. Wastewater and recycled water service rose $0.3 million or 3.7% to $7.3 million in the quarter. Source
  • Connections and consumption drove revenue: Management attributed higher quarterly revenue mainly to organic connection growth, plus higher consumption from irrigation, residential and multi-family customers. Source
  • Tucson acquisition added to year-to-date revenue: Management listed the July 2025 acquisition of seven water systems from the City of Tucson among the drivers of the year-to-date regulated revenue increase. Source
  • Unregulated ICFA revenue in year-to-date: The $2.1 million of unregulated revenue relates to ICFA revenue from commissioning a new wastewater reclamation facility in GW-Hassayampa's territory in June 2026. Source

“We appreciate the ALJ issuing his order and opinion to the ACC recommending adoption of the settlement agreement for our GW-Santa Cruz and GW-Palo Verde utilities”

Global Water Resources President and CEO Ron Fleming

Customers and connections

  • Active connections up 2.4%: Active service connections reached 69,797 at September 30, 2026, up 1,667 or 2.4% from 68,130 a year earlier. Management attributed the increase to organic growth in its service areas. Source
  • New connection and permit pace slowed: Management said new connection and permit activity has slowed recently, while ongoing development, particularly in Maricopa, continues to support organic growth in the active connection base. Source
  • Water consumption held steady: Water consumption was about 1.3 billion gallons in the quarter. The prior release reported second-quarter consumption up 6.1% to 1.2 billion gallons. Source
  • Maricopa housing priced below Phoenix: Management said organic growth is mainly influenced by lower housing costs in Maricopa, where the median home sales price was 24% lower than in Phoenix as of September 2026. Source

Operating costs

  • O&M rose on medical and power costs: Operations and maintenance expense rose 8.8% to $4.5 million. Personnel costs rose on vacancies and medical costs, and utilities, chemicals and repairs rose with new plant equipment. Source
  • G&A held flat: General and administrative expense was $4.8 million against $4.9 million a year earlier. Management cited cost discipline and lower hiring and moving expense, with professional fees down on prior-year legal costs. Source
  • Depreciation rose 30.4%: Depreciation, amortization and accretion rose $1.1 million or 30.4% to $4.6 million, mainly from the 2025 capital plan, which placed a significant number of assets in service in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • Interest expense rose on term loan: Interest expense rose $0.3 million to $1.7 million, mainly from a December 2025 term loan and higher revolver borrowings. Lower AFUDC-Equity also added to total other expense. Source

“We believe the decline is temporary, primarily driven by higher mortgage rates and other macroeconomic factors, and that we remain well-positioned to benefit from the region’s long-term population and job growth”

Global Water Resources President and CEO Ron Fleming

Rate cases and regulatory proceedings

  • GW-Santa Cruz water fee approved: The ACC approved GW-Santa Cruz's new water availability fee on October 14, 2026, ahead of the settlement vote. Source
  • GW-Palo Verde case withdrawn for 2027: GW-Palo Verde withdrew its rate application under the settlement, which remains subject to ACC approval. Management plans to refile in 2027 using a 2026 test year. Source
  • Pima County and Palo Verde filings planned: Management is preparing rate reviews for GW-Palo Verde and three Pima County utilities, with filings expected in the first half of 2027 and estimated new rates in 2028. Source

Capital, debt and cash

  • $6.9 million infrastructure investment: The company invested $6.9 million in infrastructure in the quarter, building on the 2025 capital program, which included recommissioning the Southwest Plant reclamation facility. Nine-month capital expenditures were $19.8 million. Source
  • Private placement and larger revolver: The company completed a $10.0 million private placement of common stock and amended its revolving credit facility, raising borrowing capacity from $20.0 million to $30.0 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow lower year-to-date: Net cash provided by operating activities was $16.1 million for the nine months, against $17.5 million a year earlier. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash ended the period at $5.9 million. Source
  • Long-term debt slightly lower: Long-term debt, net was $127.8 million at September 30, 2026, compared with $129.8 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Dividends and shareholder returns

  • Monthly dividend held at $0.02533: The company declared three monthly dividends of $0.02533 per share, or $0.30396 annualized. The latest dividend is payable November 30, 2026, to holders of record on November 16, 2026. Source
  • Dividends paid and share count up: Dividends paid were $6.6 million for the nine months, against $6.0 million a year earlier. Diluted weighted average shares were 29.3 million in the quarter, against 27.5 million. Source

Strategy and Arizona growth drivers

  • Growth strategy: connections, efficiency, rates: Management described near-term growth as adding service connections, improving operating efficiencies and increasing ACC-approved rates, alongside continued acquisitions and consolidation. Source
  • TSMC investment and Ag-to-Urban program: Management cited TSMC's planned Arizona investment, raised by $100 billion to $265 billion, and the Ag-to-Urban program, which covers about 384,000 eligible agricultural acres in the Phoenix and Pinal areas. Source
  • State Route 347 work under way: Construction on the State Route 347 Improvement Project began in June 2026 and is scheduled for completion in 2029. Management said the project supports growth in Maricopa. Source
  • Acquisitions and consolidation continue: The company plans to keep aggregating water and wastewater utilities through acquisitions and entity consolidation, which it expects to bring consolidation, regionalization and environmental benefits. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • ACC meeting on settlement: The ACC is to deliberate the settlement at its November 4, 2026 open meeting. If approved, new GW-Santa Cruz rates are expected December 1, 2026. Source
  • Dividend payment date: The latest monthly dividend of $0.02533 per share is payable November 30, 2026, to holders of record on November 16, 2026. Source
  • Pima County and Palo Verde filings: Management expects to file rate reviews for GW-Palo Verde and three Pima County utilities in the first half of 2027, with estimated new rates in 2028. Source
  • GW-Palo Verde refiling in 2027: The company plans to refile the GW-Palo Verde rate case in 2027 using a 2026 test year. Source
  • GW-Santa Cruz next rate case: Preliminary planning is under way for the next GW-Santa Cruz rate case, tentatively with a 2027 test year, a 2028 filing and estimated new rates in 2029. Source
  • State Route 347 completion: Construction on the State Route 347 Improvement Project is scheduled for completion in 2029. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate base SourceUtility plant $634.6 million at September 30, 2026, up from $610.8 million at December 31, 2025
Capital plan Source$19.8 million nine-month capital expenditures; $6.9 million invested in the third quarter
Customer growth SourceActive service connections 69,797, up 2.4% year over year
Load growth SourceWater consumption about 1.3 billion gallons, steady year over year

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Higher depreciation and net interest expense from rate base investments reduced net income, which the company says is partly offset by regulated revenue growth. Source
  • Demand: Management noted that new connection and permit activity has slowed, which it linked to the pace of growth in the Phoenix area. Source
  • Demand: Consumption revenue from construction customers declined, partly offsetting the gains from irrigation, residential and multi-family customers. Source
  • Operational: Higher electricity rates raised purchased power costs, and rising medical costs increased personnel expense. Source
  • Regulatory: The GW-Palo Verde settlement and withdrawal remain subject to ACC approval, and the GW-Santa Cruz new rates depend on ACC deliberation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management stated a continued commitment to long-term earnings growth, combining expense management, organic growth and rate recovery. Source
  • Not stated: The company plans the GW-Palo Verde refiling in 2027 with a 2026 test year, the same plan as in the prior release. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release expected a final decision in the fourth quarter, with new rates requested from November 1, 2026. The current release gives December 1, 2026 as the expected effective date.

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.