- Quarterly cash dividend increased 7.9 percent, to $0.178
- Diluted income from continuing operations per share increases to
$0.32
- Completed eight acquisitions year-to-date, adding approximately
8,700 customers
- Christopher H. Franklin appointed chief executive officer
- Richard S. Fox appointed chief operating officer of regulated
operations
- Daniel J. Schuller, Ph.D. appointed executive vice president,
strategy and corporate development
BRYN MAWR, Pa. -- (Business Wire)
Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) today reported results for the quarter
ending June 30, 2015.
Second Quarter Operating Results
For the second quarter, Aqua America reported income from continuing
operations of $57.4 million, which is up 4.7 percent from $54.8 million
in 2014. Diluted income from continuing operations per share was $0.32
for the quarter, compared to $0.31 for the same quarter in 2014.
Revenues increased to $205.8 million, or 5.4 percent, compared to $195.3
million for the second quarter of 2014. Customer growth in both the
regulated and market-based businesses accounted for approximately 65
percent of the total increase. Rates, surcharges and consumption
contributed to the remainder—approximately 35 percent of the total
increase.
Operations and maintenance expenses were $79.7 million for the second
quarter of 2015, compared to $70.4 in the second quarter of 2014.
Expenses tied to the leadership transition, Aqua’s acquisitions of North
Maine Utilities and the market-based business, Tri-State Grouting, and
other one-time events accounted for the majority of the increase. Aqua
continues to be the industry’s most cost-efficient water company with a
regulated segment efficiency ratio adjusted for purchased water (a
non-GAAP financial measure) of 34.2 percent for the trailing 12-month
period ended June 30, 2015.
As of June 30, Aqua reported year-to-date income from continuing
operations of $105.9 million, which is up 9 percent from $97.2 million
for the same time frame in 2014. Diluted income from continuing
operations per share rose to $0.60, which is an increase of 9.1 percent
from the $0.55 reported in 2014. Revenues increased 4.8 percent to
$396.1 million, and compares favorably to the $378 million reported in
2014. Operations and maintenance expenses increased to $152.9 million.
“Success in both our regulated and market-based acquisition strategies
accounted for most of the company’s increased revenue for the second
quarter,” said Aqua America’s Chief Executive Officer Christopher
Franklin. “We’re continuing to focus our efforts on building value by
fully optimizing all of our assets, controlling expenses with ongoing
objectives to maintain our industry-leading adjusted O&M to revenue
ratio and bringing our expertise to new customers through the
acquisition of water and wastewater utilities.”
Dividend
Earlier today, Aqua America’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly
cash dividend of $0.178 per share of common stock, which represents a
7.9 percent increase over the previous quarter’s dividend of $0.165.
This dividend increase will be payable on September 1, 2015, to
shareholders of record on August 14, 2015. Aqua has paid a consecutive
quarterly dividend for 70 years and this is the company’s 25th
dividend increase in 24 years. The annualized dividend rate after this
increase will equal $0.712 per share. Over the past 10 years, the
company’s annualized dividend has increased at an annual growth rate of
7.6 percent.
“The Board’s decision to raise the dividend by 7.9 percent is a
reflection of the organization’s financial strength and its commitment
to increase shareholder value,” said Aqua America Board Chairman
Nicholas DeBenedictis. “I am confident that Chris Franklin and his
leadership team will continue to grow the company and build on the
success that our customers, employees and shareholders have come to
expect.”
Corporate Update
Aqua has announced two major organizational changes in the month of
July. On July 16, 2015, the company promoted Richard “Rick” S. Fox to
chief operating officer of regulated operations (COO), the position held
by Franklin, who was named CEO on July 1, 2015. Fox, a 14-year veteran
of the company, previously served as Aqua’s regional president where he
oversaw the operations of five states. As COO, Fox will be responsible
for Aqua’s regulated operations which include engineering and
environmental compliance.
Additionally, Aqua appointed Daniel J. Schuller, Ph.D. to the new
position of executive vice president of strategy and corporate
development. In this role, Schuller will be responsible for assisting
the CEO with developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining Aqua’s
key strategic initiatives. Schuller’s role will have a strong emphasis
on growing the company’s regulated and market-based activities. Prior to
joining Aqua, Schuller worked for J.P. Morgan Asset Management –
Infrastructure Investments Group where he was an investment principal
since 2007.
“Over the past 14 years, I have had the pleasure to work closely with
Rick, who has played a key role in managing and improving the company’s
operational efficiencies, which helped contribute to the overall success
of our business,” said Franklin. “Dan’s experience and expertise in
valuing, acquiring, and managing utilities during his career makes him
an ideal fit in this organization. Both Rick and Dan will report
directly to me, and I am confident that they will be valuable assets as
we look to continue to grow.”
Capital Expenditures
In the first six months of 2015, as part of its capital investment plan,
Aqua has invested approximately $150.1 million to improve its
infrastructure systems. The company expects to invest more than $325
million by the end of the year, and more than $1 billion over the next
three years. The capital investments made in the infrastructure of the
communities Aqua serves are key to helping the company accomplish its
mission of delivering safe, reliable water and wastewater services to
its customers.
Rate Activity
Year-to-date, Aqua America’s regulated subsidiaries received rate awards
and infrastructure surcharges in New Jersey, Pennsylvania (wastewater),
Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas, estimated to increase
annualized revenues by approximately $5.2 million. The company has $4.3
million of rate or surcharge proceedings pending in Ohio and Virginia.
Additionally, Aqua America’s state subsidiaries are expected to seek
rate relief by filing rate requests or surcharges of approximately $5
million in the remainder of 2015.
Regulated Operations
On July 1, 2015, Aqua America’s subsidiary, Aqua Virginia, acquired the
Wintergreen Stoney Creek water and wastewater utility systems.
Wintergreen serves more than 500 customers with an opportunity for 100
additional customers once the community is fully built-out.
Additionally, on August 3, 2015, Aqua North Carolina completed the
acquisition of the Mountain Ridge Estates water system serving
approximately three dozen customers in Watauga County, North Carolina.
Thus far in 2015, Aqua has completed eight acquisitions in Illinois,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina, growing the
customer base by approximately 8,700 connections, which represents
year-to-date customer growth of 0.9 percent. Of these eight
acquisitions, three are municipal systems, the most notable of which are
the North Maine Utilities (NMU) water and wastewater utilities which
closed on April 30, 2015. NMU serves approximately 44,000 people in the
city of Glenview, IL. The company has closed more than a third of all
its municipal deals ever completed in the last four years. Aqua expects
to close a total of 15 to 20 acquisitions by year-end. Coupled with
organic growth, the company anticipates that it will achieve overall
customer growth of 1.5 to 2 percent in 2015.
“We feel strongly that there are opportunities for us to grow by
acquiring both municipal and privately owned systems, creating a win-win
for the customers and communities we serve,” said Franklin. “Our
financial strength and expertise in the water and wastewater utility
space, allows us to competitively bid on systems that might be
experiencing capital constraints, lack the ability to make
infrastructure improvements or have an owner who wants to focus
resources and attention elsewhere. The company is also adjusting its
approach to acquisitions by more strategically targeting larger systems
where possible. The success of this approach is just starting to come to
fruition. Even with this adjustment of approach, we will continue to
work to solve the problems that plague small utility systems in the
states in which we operate.”
Market-Based Activities
Aqua’s market-based revenue increased to $8.9 million or 57 percent,
compared to $5.7 million reported in the second quarter of 2014, with
Tri-State Grouting (acquired in August 2014) being the main driver of
revenue for the business unit. Market-based operations and maintenance
expenses increased by 54.3 percent to $7.4 million, compared to the same
time frame in 2014. Acquisitions, mostly Tri-State Grouting, were
responsible for the increased market-based operations and maintenance
expenses. Revenue for the business unit is expected to increase to more
than $30 million by year-end.
Financial Information
As of June 30, 2015 Aqua America’s weighted average cost of fixed-rate
long-term debt was 4.70 percent and the company had $230 million
available on its credit lines. In May, Standard & Poor’s reiterated the
longstanding A+ rating and Stable Outlook for Aqua’s largest subsidiary,
Aqua Pennsylvania.
Earnings Call Information
Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Time: 11:00 a.m. ET (please dial in
by 10:45 a.m.)
Webcast and Slide Presentation link: http://ir.aquaamerica.com/events.cfm
Replay
Dial-In #: 888-203-1112 (U.S.) & +1 719-457-0820 (International)
Confirmation
code: 7075829
The company’s conference call with financial analysts will take place on
Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The call and
slide presentation will be webcast live so that interested parties may
listen over the Internet by logging on to AquaAmerica.com
and following the link for Investor Relations. The webcast will be
archived in the investor relations section of the company’s website for
90 days following the call. Additionally, the call will be recorded and
made available for replay at 2 p.m. on August 5, 2015 for 10 business
days following the call. To access the audio replay in the U.S., dial
888.203.1112 (pass code 7075829). International callers can dial +1
719.457.0820 (pass code 7075829).
About Aqua America
Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded water
utilities and serves nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. Aqua
America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol
WTR. Visit AquaAmerica.com
for more information.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among
others: the company’s continued ability to adapt itself for the future
and build value by fully optimizing company assets; the company’s
ability to control expenses and maintain its efficiency; the
continuation of the company’s growth-through-acquisition program and the
expectations for customer growth from this program; the company’s
expectation to acquire between 15 and 20 systems and to grow the
customer base between 1.5 percent and 2.0 percent; the company’s ability
to competitively bid for and acquire municipal and private water and
wastewater utilities; the potential additional customers that may be
added to the Wintergreen system in the future; the estimated revenues
from rate awards received; the company’s ability to acquire larger
acquisitions and solve the needs of smaller utility systems; the
company’s ability to fund needed infrastructure due to its financial
position and the amount of investment for the year and the next three
years; the company’s continuation of investments in strategic ventures;
the expectations that are created and the potential value that will be
added by recently hired and promoted management; the expected revenue
increase for the year in market-based activities; the company’s ability
to continue to deliver strong results; and, the company’s ability to
grow its dividend, add shareholder value and to grow earnings. There are
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements
including: general economic business conditions; housing and customer
growth trends; unfavorable weather conditions; the success of certain
cost containment initiatives; changes in regulations or regulatory
treatment; availability and access to capital; the cost of capital;
disruptions in the credit markets; the success of growth initiatives;
and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is
on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more
information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Aqua
America’s business, please refer to Aqua America’s annual, quarterly and
other SEC filings. Aqua America is not under any obligation – and
expressly disclaims any such obligation – to update or alter its
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
|
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
|
Selected Operating Data
|
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Quarter Ended
| |
Six Months Ended
|
| | June 30, | | June 30, |
| | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2014 |
| | | | | | | |
|
Operating revenues
| |
$
|
205,760
| |
$
|
195,307
| |
$
|
396,086
| |
$
|
377,979
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Income from continuing operations
| |
$
|
57,382
| |
$
|
54,818
| |
$
|
105,927
| |
$
|
97,219
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Net income attributable to common shareholders
| |
$
|
57,382
| |
$
|
55,569
| |
$
|
105,927
| |
$
|
98,428
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Basic income from continuing operations per common share
| |
$
|
0.32
| |
$
|
0.31
| |
$
|
0.60
| |
$
|
0.55
|
Diluted income from continuing operations per common share
| |
$
|
0.32
| |
$
|
0.31
| |
$
|
0.60
| |
$
|
0.55
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Basic net income per common share
| |
$
|
0.32
| |
$
|
0.31
| |
$
|
0.60
| |
$
|
0.56
|
Diluted net income per common share
| |
$
|
0.32
| |
$
|
0.31
| |
$
|
0.60
| |
$
|
0.55
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Basic average common shares outstanding
| | |
177,084
| | |
177,058
| | |
176,987
| | |
176,949
|
Diluted average common shares outstanding
| |
|
177,913
| |
|
178,012
| |
|
177,818
| |
|
177,868
|
| | | | | | | |
|
|
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
|
Consolidated Statement of Income
|
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Quarter Ended
| |
Six Months Ended
|
| | June 30, | | June 30, |
| | 2015 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | 2014 |
| | | | | | | |
|
Operating revenues
| |
$
|
205,760
| | |
$
|
195,307
| | |
$
|
396,086
| | |
$
|
377,979
| |
| | | | | | | |
|
Cost & expenses:
| | | | | | | | |
Operations and maintenance
| | |
79,746
| | | |
70,375
| | | |
152,935
| | | |
142,061
| |
Depreciation
| | |
31,049
| | | |
31,226
| | | |
61,549
| | | |
62,207
| |
Amortization
| | |
924
| | | |
746
| | | |
1,773
| | | |
1,879
| |
Taxes other than income taxes
| |
|
13,795
|
| |
|
13,026
|
| |
|
28,416
|
| |
|
25,128
|
|
Total
| |
|
125,514
|
| |
|
115,373
|
| |
|
244,673
|
| |
|
231,275
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Operating income
| | |
80,246
| | | |
79,934
| | | |
151,413
| | | |
146,704
| |
| | | | | | | |
|
Other expense (income):
| | | | | | | | |
Interest expense, net
| | |
18,900
| | | |
19,093
| | | |
37,565
| | | |
38,403
| |
Allowance for funds used during construction
| | |
(1,040
|
)
| | |
(937
|
)
| | |
(2,222
|
)
| | |
(2,104
|
)
|
Loss (gain) on sale of other assets
| | |
1
| | | |
(140
|
)
| | |
(168
|
)
| | |
208
| |
Equity loss in joint venture
| |
|
84
|
| |
|
1,251
|
| |
|
798
|
| |
|
1,937
|
|
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
| | |
62,301
| | | |
60,667
| | | |
115,440
| | | |
108,260
| |
Provision for income taxes
| |
|
4,919
|
| |
|
5,849
|
| |
|
9,513
|
| |
|
11,041
|
|
Income from continuing operations
| | |
57,382
| | | |
54,818
| | | |
105,927
| | | |
97,219
| |
| | | | | | | |
|
Discontinued operations:
| | | | | | | | |
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes
| | |
-
| | | |
1,253
| | | |
-
| | | |
2,025
| |
Provision for income taxes
| |
|
-
|
| |
|
502
|
| |
|
-
|
| |
|
816
|
|
Income from discontinued operations
| |
|
-
|
| |
|
751
|
| |
|
-
|
| |
|
1,209
|
|
Net income attributable to common shareholders
| |
$
|
57,382
|
| |
$
|
55,569
|
| |
$
|
105,927
|
| |
$
|
98,428
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
Income from continuing operations per share:
| | | | | | | | |
Basic
| |
$
|
0.32
| | |
$
|
0.31
| | |
$
|
0.60
| | |
$
|
0.55
| |
Diluted
| |
$
|
0.32
| | |
$
|
0.31
| | |
$
|
0.60
| | |
$
|
0.55
| |
| | | | | | | |
|
Income from discontinued operations per share:
| | | | | | | | |
Basic
| |
$
|
-
| | |
$
|
0.00
| | |
$
|
-
| | |
$
|
0.01
| |
Diluted
| |
$
|
-
| | |
$
|
0.00
| | |
$
|
-
| | |
$
|
0.01
| |
| | | | | | | |
|
Net income per common share:
| | | | | | | | |
Basic
| |
$
|
0.32
| | |
$
|
0.31
| | |
$
|
0.60
| | |
$
|
0.56
| |
Diluted
| |
$
|
0.32
| | |
$
|
0.31
| | |
$
|
0.60
| | |
$
|
0.55
| |
| | | | | | | |
|
Average common shares outstanding:
| | | | | | | | |
Basic
| |
|
177,084
|
| |
|
177,058
|
| |
|
176,987
|
| |
|
176,949
|
|
Diluted
| |
|
177,913
|
| |
|
178,012
|
| |
|
177,818
|
| |
|
177,868
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
|
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
|
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
(In thousands of dollars)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
| |
| |
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
| |
June 30,
| |
December 31,
|
| | 2015 | | 2014 |
| | | |
|
Net property, plant and equipment
| |
$
|
4,522,287
| |
$
|
4,401,990
|
Current assets
| | |
175,360
| | |
152,522
|
Regulatory assets and other assets
| |
|
902,631
| |
|
852,240
|
Total assets
| |
$
|
5,600,278
| |
$
|
5,406,752
|
| | | |
|
| | | |
|
Total equity
| |
$
|
1,702,927
| |
$
|
1,655,383
|
Long-term debt, excluding current portion
| | |
1,660,526
| | |
1,560,655
|
Current portion of long-term debt and loans payable
| | |
74,809
| | |
77,013
|
Other current liabilities
| | |
128,586
| | |
148,322
|
Deferred credits and other liabilities
| |
|
2,033,430
| |
|
1,965,379
|
Total liabilities and equity
| |
$
|
5,600,278
| |
$
|
5,406,752
|
| | | |
|
|
Aqua America, Inc. and Subsidiaries
|
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures for continuing
operations
|
(in thousands of dollars)
|
(GAAP refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States)
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
| |
Regulated segment - Efficiency Ratio adjusted for Purchased Water | | Trailing twelve |
| | months ended |
| | June 30, |
| | 2015 |
| |
|
Operating revenues (GAAP financial measure)
| |
$ 765,676
|
Purchased Water
| |
20,524
|
Adjusted operating revenues (Non-GAAP financial measure)
| |
$ 745,152
|
| |
|
Operations and maintenance expense (GAAP financial measure)
| |
$ 275,186
|
Purchased Water
| |
20,524
|
Adjusted operations and maintenance expense (Non-GAAP financial
measure)
| |
$ 254,662
|
| |
|
Regulated segment efficiency ratio (GAAP financial measure) | |
35.9%
|
| |
|
Regulated segment efficiency ratio adjusted for Purchased Water
(Non-GAAP financial measure) | |
34.2%
|
| |
|
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial
measures - The Company is providing disclosure of the
reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most
comparable GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that the
non-GAAP financial measures provide investors the ability to measure the
Company’s financial operating performance by adjustment, which is more
indicative of the Company’s ongoing performance and is more comparable
to measures reported by other companies.
Regulated segment - Efficiency Ratio is adjusted for Purchased Water.
Information referring to “Purchased Water” refers to expense related to
cost of water purchased from other non-affiliated utilities. This
“Purchased Water” expense amount is deducted from the operating revenues
amount and the operations and maintenance expense amount to calculate
the efficiency ratio adjusted for Purchased Water.
These financial measures are measures of the Company’s operating
performance that do not comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP), and are thus considered to be “non-GAAP financial
measures” under applicable SEC regulations. These non-GAAP financial
measures are derived from our consolidated financial information, and
should only be used as a supplement to our GAAP disclosures.
WTRF
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150804007020/en/
Contacts:
Aqua America, Inc.
Brian Dingerdissen
Chief of Staff
O:
610-645-1191
BJDingerdissen@AquaAmerica.com
or
Donna
Alston
Manager, Communications
O: 610-645-1095
M:
484-368-4720
DPAlston@AquaAmerica.com
Source: Aqua America, Inc.
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.