H2O America Announces Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results

H2O America

H2O America

HTO

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  • Second quarter 2026 reported diluted EPS of $0.62 and adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP)1 of $0.72, as compared to reported and adjusted diluted EPS in the second quarter of 2025 of $0.71 and $0.75, respectively
  • Year-to-date 2026 reported diluted EPS of $1.12 and adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP)1 of $1.23, as compared to reported and adjusted diluted EPS in the same period of 2025 of $1.20 and $1.25, respectively
  • Reiterate all aspects of financial guidance, including 2026 standalone adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $3.08-$3.181 (excluding the impacts of the pending Quadvest acquisition and the financing thereof)
  • $206.9 million2 invested in infrastructure during the first half of 2026
  • Key milestones reached in Quadvest approval process; anticipate closing end of third/early fourth quarter of 2026; active Quadvest connections up 10%, or 5,400, in 2026 while connections under contract and pending development has grown 14%, or nearly 12,000 connections
  • Declared $0.44 cash dividend per share of common stock

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H2O America (NASDAQ: HTO) today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2026.

“Our strong second quarter results have our company in an excellent position midway through 2026 to deliver on our full year guidance and we remain committed to our longer-term financial targets,” said chair and chief executive officer, Andrew F. Walters. “During the second quarter, our teams made substantial progress towards obtaining Texas regulatory approval for the regulated portion of the Quadvest acquisition. In addition, a great deal of thought and effort went into the general rate cases that we filed in Connecticut and Maine seeking the recovery of more than $180 million of combined investments that are not yet recognized in rates. The regulatory and operational focus of our team is unwavering as we execute on our growth strategy while providing our customers and the communities that we are honored to serve with the high quality service they deserve. The hard work and shared passion that my fellow partners here at H2O America exhibit each and every day make it all possible and I could not be more proud.”

Second Quarter 2026 Operating Results

Net income prepared in accordance with GAAP for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026 was $26.6 million, an 8% increase compared to $24.7 million in the same quarter last year. GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter of $0.62 decreased versus $0.71 in the prior year quarter.

Adjusting for costs associated with merger, acquisition and integration activities and non-utility real estate transactions, H2O America's adjusted net income (non-GAAP)1 in the second quarter of 2026 was $30.7 million, an increase of 17% compared to $26.2 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP) for the quarter of $0.72 slightly decreased versus $0.75 in the prior year quarter.

For both GAAP and adjusted results, while our underlying net income grew during the 2026 period, this was more than offset by the higher share count as a result of leveraging our at-the-market (ATM) program throughout 2025 and our common stock issuance in early March of 2026. A full reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 is included in the tables at the end of this news release.

Operating revenue for the second quarter was $210.5 million, compared to $198.3 million for the same quarter last year, a 6% increase. The increase was driven primarily by rate increases of $14.5 million across all of our states but primarily in California and Connecticut. This was partially offset by a decrease of $1.7 million due to regulatory mechanism adjustments.

Operating expenses for the second quarter were $167.7 million, up 9% compared to $154.4 million for the same quarter last year. This change in operating expenses primarily reflects:

  • An increase in water production expenses of $4.6 million compared to the same quarter last year primarily attributable to increases in average per unit costs for purchased water and groundwater extraction, partially offset by lower usage.
  • An increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $3.4 million associated with utility plant additions placed in service compared to the same quarter last year.
  • An increase in all other operating expenses of $5.3 million compared to the same quarter last year primarily attributable to a net increase in general and administrative expenses driven by increased merger and acquisition costs, increased outsourced services costs, increased employee-related costs and increased maintenance agreement costs.

The effective consolidated income tax rates for the second quarter of 2026 and 2025 were approximately 13% and 16%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2026 was primarily due to higher flow through tax benefits.

Year-to-Date Operating Results

Net income prepared in accordance with GAAP for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $45.6 million, an 11% increase compared to $41.2 million in the same period of 2025. GAAP diluted EPS for the six months of $1.12 decreased versus $1.20 in the same period last year.

H2O America's adjusted net income (non-GAAP) for the six months ended June 30, 2026 was $50.1 million, an increase of 17% compared to $42.9 million in the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS (non-GAAP) for the first six months of 2026 of $1.23 slightly decreased versus $1.25 in the same period last year.

For both GAAP and adjusted results, while our underlying net income grew during the 2026 period, this was more than offset by the higher share count as a result of leveraging our ATM program throughout 2025 and our common stock issuance in early March of 2026. A full reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted net income for the six months ended June 30, 2026 is included in the tables at the end of this news release.

Operating revenue for the first six months of 2026 was $393.8 million compared to $365.9 million for the same period last year, an 8% increase. The increase was driven primarily by rate increases of $26.4 million, primarily in California, Connecticut, and Texas, as well as higher customer usage of $2.0 million. This was partially offset by a decrease of $1.6 million due to regulatory mechanism adjustments.

Operating expenses for the first six months of 2026 were $313.6 million, up 10% compared to $286.1 million for the same period last year. This change in operating expenses primarily reflects:

  • An increase in water production expenses of $12.1 million compared to the same period last year primarily attributable to increases in average per unit costs for purchased water and groundwater extraction, increases in water production balancing and memorandum accounts, primarily relating to the Full Cost Balancing Account ("FCBA"), and higher customer usage, partially offset by decreases in costs as a result of increased availability of surface water.
  • An increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $7.4 million associated with utility plant additions placed in service compared to the same period last year.
  • An increase in all other operating expenses of $8.0 million compared to the same period last year primarily attributable to a net increase in general and administrative expenses driven by higher merger and acquisition costs, outsourced services, insurance, and maintenance agreement costs.

The effective consolidated income tax rates for the first six months of 2026 and 2025 were approximately 14% and 16%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the six months of 2026 was primarily due to higher flow through tax benefits.

Capital Expenditures

Through June 30, 2026, H2O America has invested $206.9 million2 in infrastructure. We continue to plan to invest $483 million2 in capital for the full year 2026 (excluding the impact of Quadvest) and a total of $2.7 billion2 over the 2026-30 period (including the impacts of Quadvest and Cibolo Valley) to build and maintain our water and wastewater operations, subject to regulatory approvals and availability of funding.

Quadvest Acquisition Update

Texas Water Company (TWC) and Texas Water Operation Services continue to progress through the regulatory process for their previously announced $540 million acquisition of Quadvest.

On July 9, 2026, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) Staff recommended that the proposed transaction should be allowed to proceed without a public hearing as part of the pending Sale-Transfer-Merger (STM) application docket. The Quadvest STM procedural schedule outlines August 26, 2026 as the 120-day statutory deadline for the PUCT to approve the sale or require a hearing. Based on the aforementioned milestones, we anticipate closing the transaction around the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter of 2026.

The STM application requests approval of TWC’s acquisition of the Quadvest, L.P. assets and certification of the value of the ratemaking rate base, as determined in accordance with Texas’ fair market value (FMV) statute, at TWC’s $483.6 million purchase price.

Quadvest continues to achieve its anticipated customer growth. Total active connections grew 10%, or 5,400 connections, during the first six months of 2026 after growing 16%, or 7,400 connections, in 2025. This brings Quadvest's total active connections to 59,800 as of June 30, 2026. In addition, despite converting 5,400 connections to active, the number of connections under contract and pending development at June 30, 2026 grew by 11,900, to nearly 99,000, since December 31, 2025. As previously communicated, we expect the addition of Quadvest to drive Texas from 8% of our consolidated customer base at year-end 2025 to 26% by 2029.

2026 and Long-Term EPS Guidance

The company affirms its standalone 2026 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $3.08-$3.181.

2026 guidance excludes the impacts of the pending Quadvest and Cibolo Valley acquisitions and the financing thereof, which will be initially dilutive to EPS prior to our ability to implement new rates reflecting the ratemaking rate bases of the acquired assets resulting from a consolidated Texas general rate case that we expect to file in early 2027.

We also affirm our non-linear, long-term adjusted diluted EPS CAGR target of 6-8%, anchored off of 2025's adjusted diluted EPS of $2.99. The long-term 6-8% CAGR target reflects a long-term, sustainable organic growth rate that is supported by elevated capital investment needs for decades to come and does not factor in any potential M&A opportunities beyond Quadvest and Cibolo Valley.

Further, we continue to expect to deliver a non-linear adjusted diluted EPS CAGR at or above the top end of the 6-8% range over the 2026-30 period.

Our guidance is subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those factors outlined in the Forward-Looking Statements of this release and the Risk Factors section of the company’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Rate Activity and Regulatory Highlights

California

On April 10, 2026, San Jose Water Company ("SJWC") filed with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for cost recovery of its planned PFAS compliance program. Specifically, SJWC seeks authorization to design and construct an ion exchange PFAS remediation system at its Williams Station as well as to track the associated capital and operation and maintenance costs for recovery. SJWC estimates the total capital cost of the project to be approximately $176 million. If approved, SJWC would adjust rates via annual rate base filing offsets.

On June 30, 2026, the CPUC approved Advice Letter 629A, which requested an $8.4 million increase in revenue on July 1, 2026 for SJWC's incremental $52.9 million of investments in its Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project.

Connecticut

On April 1, 2026, a Water Quality and Treatment Adjustment (WQTA) surcharge of $0.6 million, or 0.50%, became effective following Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approval on March 18, 2026. Connecticut Water Company (CWC) submitted its first WQTA application on January 22, 2026 to recover the costs associated with in-progress or completed WQTA-eligible projects.

On April 1, 2026, a $2.7 million increase in annualized Water Infrastructure and Conservation Adjustment (WICA) revenues became effective for the recovery of $25.7 million in completed projects. PURA approved the filing in its entirety on March 25, 2026 which brought the cumulative WICA surcharge to 9.90%, collecting $12.1 million on an annual basis.

The 2025 Water Revenue Adjustment (WRA) mechanism surcharge of 5.70% became effective for the 12-month period beginning April 1, 2026. PURA approved CWC's WRA filing in its entirety on March 19, 2026. The mechanism reconciles 2025 revenues as authorized in CWC’s most recent general rate case as well as provides for recovery of certain amounts of compensation expenses as a result of achieving the PURA prescribed performance metrics in our last general rate case.

On May 11, 2026, CWC filed a general rate case application with the PURA requesting a $28.8 million increase in annual revenues for the recovery of the approximately $145 million of infrastructure investments made between its last rate case and the end of 2026 as that investment is not reflected in current rates. The test year will be the 12-month period ending December 31, 2025, for new rates to become effective February 2027.

Maine

On April 13, 2026, Maine Water Company (MWC) filed its first consolidated general rate case with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) requesting a $9.5 million increase in annual revenues for the recovery of an anticipated $36 million of infrastructure investments not reflected in current rates using a test year ending December 31, 2025. New rates are expected to go into effect by the second quarter of 2027.

On May 1, 2026, the MPUC approved MWC's first consolidated Water Infrastructure Charge (WISC) application in its entirety and the new rates became effective immediately. MWC filed the $0.9 million WISC increase request on February 27, 2026.

Texas

On October 6, 2025, TWC filed an application with the PUCT to increase the system improvement charge (SIC) by $5.1 million for completed water and wastewater projects. A decision from the PUCT is expected in the second half of 2026.

On April 21, 2026, TWC filed the STM application for the acquisition of the Cibolo Valley wastewater treatment plant and associated collection systems, which serve more than 1,500 wastewater connections within TWC's existing water service area. We expect to close the transaction during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Dividend

On July 27, 2026, the Board of Directors of H2O America declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.44 per share, payable on September 1, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 10, 2026. The 2026 annualized dividend is expected to be $1.76 per share compared with $1.68 per share in 2025.

Dividends have been paid on H2O America’s and its predecessor’s common stock for more than 80 consecutive years, and the annual dividend amount has increased in each of the past 58 years, placing H2O America in an exclusive group of companies.

Financial Results Call Information

Andrew F. Walters, chair and chief executive officer, Ann P. Kelly, chief financial officer and treasurer, and Bruce A. Hauk, president and chief operating officer, will review results for the second quarter of 2026 along with discussing other recent developments in a live webcast presentation at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, or 11 a.m. Eastern Time, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

Interested parties may access the webcast and related presentation materials at the website www.h2o-america.com. An archive of the webcast will be available until October 27, 2026.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

H2O America's net income and diluted EPS are prepared in accordance with GAAP and represent the earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures representing GAAP earnings adjusted to exclude the effects of non-utility real estate transactions and costs associated with mergers, acquisitions and integration activities, if any. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as additional information for investors to evaluate the performance of H2O America's business activities excluding these items. Management also believes these non-GAAP financial measures help investors and analysts better understand our actual results compared to our guidance on a non-GAAP basis. H2O America uses adjusted net income and/or adjusted diluted EPS as the primary performance measurements when communicating with analysts and investors regarding our outlook and results. Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted EPS are also used internally to measure performance. However, these non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, even when the same or similarly titled terms are used to identify such measures, limiting their usefulness for comparative purposes. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to the financial information prepared on a GAAP basis rather than an alternative to the respective GAAP financial measures.

About H2O America

H2O America is among the largest investor-owned pure-play water and wastewater utilities in the United States, providing life-sustaining and high-quality water service to over 1.6 million people. H2O America’s locally led and operated water utilities - San Jose Water Company in California, The Connecticut Water Company in Connecticut, The Maine Water Company in Maine, and SJWTX, Inc. (dba The Texas Water Company) in Texas - possess the financial strength, operational expertise, and technological innovation to safeguard the environment, deliver outstanding service to customers, and provide opportunities to employees. H2O America remains focused on investing in its operations, remaining actively engaged in its local communities, and delivering continued sustainable value to its stockholders. For more information about H2O America, please visit www.h2o-america.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to future events and future results of H2O America and its subsidiaries that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about H2O America and its subsidiaries and the industries in which H2O America and its subsidiaries operate and the beliefs and assumptions of the management of H2O America. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “seeks,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “approximately,” “strategy,” or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to, the following factors: (1) the risks associated with the proposed Quadvest and Cibolo Valley transactions, including, the risk of the proposed transactions not closing on the anticipated timeline, or at all, the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, and the ability to successfully integrate Quadvest’s and Cibolo Valley's operations and realize the projected financial and other benefits of the proposed transactions; (2) the effect of water, utility, environmental and other governmental policies and regulations, including regulatory actions concerning rates, authorized return on equity, authorized capital structures, capital expenditures, PFAS and other decisions; (3) changes in demand for water and other services; (4) unanticipated weather conditions and changes in seasonality including those affecting water supply and customer usage; (5) the effect of the impact of climate change; (6) unexpected costs, charges or expenses; (7) our ability to successfully evaluate investments in new business and growth initiatives; (8) contamination of our water supplies and damage or failure of our water equipment and infrastructure; (9) the risk of work stoppages, strikes and other labor-related actions; (10) catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, terrorist acts, physical attacks, cyber-attacks, epidemic, or similar occurrences; (11) changes in general economic, political, legislative, business and financial market conditions; and (12) the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all (including the financing for the proposed transactions with Quadvest in a timely manner), which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings, changes in interest rates, compliance with regulatory requirements, compliance with the terms and conditions of our outstanding indebtedness, and general market and economic conditions. The risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of H2O America to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Results for a quarter are not indicative of results for a full year due to seasonality and other factors. In addition, actual results, performance or achievements are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to our overall business, including those more fully described in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and speak only as of the date made, and H2O America undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

H2O America Contacts:

Ann P. Kelly
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
408.385.4752
Ann.Kelly@H2O-America.com

Jonathan Reeder
Senior Director of Treasury and Investor Relations
475.414.1034
Jonathan.Reeder@H2O-America.com

     
1 Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures as defined below. See the tables below for reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures. Information reconciling adjusted diluted EPS guidance to the comparable GAAP financial measure is unavailable to the company without unreasonable effort, as discussed below.

2 Includes both utility plant additions and capitalizable costs associated with cloud-computing arrangements.


H2O America
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

    Three months ended June 30,   Six months ended June 30,
      2026     2025
  2026
  2025
Operating revenue   $ 210,474     198,255     393,767     365,854  
Operating expense:                
Production expenses:                
Purchased water     39,648     37,421     66,593     63,374  
Power     3,851     3,851     8,123     7,334  
Groundwater extraction charges     28,619     26,354     51,828     44,645  
Other production expenses     13,363     13,243     25,361     24,483  
Total production expenses     85,481     80,869     151,905     139,836  
Administrative and general     33,626     28,795     63,433     56,555  
Maintenance     7,455     7,470     15,831     14,969  
Property taxes and other non-income taxes     9,024     8,506     17,978     17,701  
Depreciation and amortization     32,134     28,750     64,440     57,032  
Total operating expense     167,720     154,390     313,587     286,093  
Operating income     42,754     43,865     80,180     79,761  
Other (expense) income:                
Interest on long-term debt and other interest expense     (17,952 )   (18,122 )   (36,790 )   (36,394 )
Pension non-service credit     1,992     1,620     3,931     3,223  
Other, net     3,773     1,982     5,652     2,777  
Income before income taxes     30,567     29,345     52,973     49,367  
Provision for income taxes     3,978     4,670     7,371     8,141  
Net income     26,589     24,675     45,602     41,226  
Comprehensive income   $ 26,589     24,675     45,602     41,226  
                 
Earnings per share                
—Basic   $ 0.64     0.71     1.14     1.20  
—Diluted   $ 0.62     0.71     1.12     1.20  
Dividends per share   $ 0.44     0.42     0.88     0.84  
Weighted average shares outstanding                
—Basic     41,851,524     34,777,152     39,900,622     34,280,727  
—Diluted     42,865,195     34,860,349     40,897,868     34,367,212  


H2O America
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

    June 30,
2026
  December 31,
2025
Assets            
Utility plant:            
Land   $ 44,498     44,600  
Depreciable plant and equipment     4,864,038     4,688,644  
Construction work in progress     307,922     269,272  
Intangible assets     51,683     51,683  
Total utility plant     5,268,141     5,054,199  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization     1,164,540     1,120,232  
Net utility plant     4,103,601     3,933,967  
             
Nonutility properties     2,166     1,683  
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization     105     103  
Net nonutility properties     2,061     1,580  
             
Current assets:            
Cash and cash equivalents     104,102     20,686  
Accounts receivable:            
Customers, net of allowances for credit losses of $760 and $722 on June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively     71,016     62,471  
Income tax         2,720  
Other     11,846     7,710  
Accrued unbilled revenue     70,619     68,971  
Prepaid expenses     11,644     11,634  
Current portion of regulatory assets     19,610     8,315  
Other current assets     7,566     8,086  
Total current assets     296,403     190,593  
Other assets:            
Regulatory assets, less current portion     243,938     246,547  
Investments     20,646     19,711  
Postretirement benefit plans     84,018     80,967  
Goodwill     640,311     640,311  
Other     46,286     35,890  
Total other assets     1,035,199     1,023,426  
Total assets   $ 5,437,264     5,149,566  


H2O America
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

    June 30,
2026
  December 31,
2025
Capitalization and liabilities            
Capitalization:            
Stockholders’ equity:            
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 70,000,000 shares; 41,852,853 issued and outstanding shares on June 30, 2026 and 36,118,242 on December 31, 2025   $ 42     36  
Additional paid-in capital     1,250,053     958,188  
Retained earnings     592,340     581,080  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     1,467     1,467  
Total stockholders’ equity     1,843,902     1,540,771  
Long-term debt, less current portion     1,881,479     1,866,819  
Total capitalization     3,725,381     3,407,590  
             
Current liabilities:            
Lines of credit     1,364     86,834  
Current portion of long-term debt     8,648     23,504  
Accrued groundwater extraction charges, purchased water and power     40,207     29,321  
Accounts payable     70,444     75,427  
Accrued interest     19,061     18,241  
Accrued payroll     12,267     19,109  
Current portion of regulatory liabilities     1      
Other current liabilities     25,852     20,942  
Total current liabilities     177,844     273,378  
             
Deferred income taxes     317,902     307,893  
Advances for construction     206,844     201,413  
Contributions in aid of construction     353,869     342,697  
Postretirement benefit plans     46,918     45,878  
Regulatory liabilities, less current portion     578,408     546,797  
Other noncurrent liabilities     30,098     23,920  
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)            
Total capitalization and liabilities   $ 5,437,264     5,149,566  


H2O America
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share data)

    Three months ended June 30,   Six months ended June 30,
      2026     2025       2026       2025  
Reported GAAP Net Income   $ 26,589     24,675       45,602       41,226  
Adjustments:                
(Gain)/loss on sale of real estate investments1               (172 )      
Expense for merger, acquisition and integration activities1     5,681     2,093       6,411       2,347  
Tax effect of above adjustments2     (1,591 )   (586 )     (1,747 )     (657 )
Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)   $ 30,679     26,182     $ 50,094       42,916  
                 
Reported GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share   $ 0.62     0.71     $ 1.12     $ 1.20  
Adjustments:                
(Gain)/loss on sale of real estate investments, net of tax                      
Expense for merger, acquisition and integration activities, net of tax     0.10     0.04       0.11       0.05  
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (non-GAAP)   $ 0.72     0.75       1.23       1.25  

1 Included in the "Administrative and general" and “Other, net” lines on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
2 The tax effect on all adjustments is calculated at the applicable statutory rate.