California Water Q1 Earnings Top Estimates, Revenues Decline Y/Y

California Water Service Group CWT recorded first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of 22 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 16 cents by 37.5%. However, the bottom line decreased 81.8% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of 1.21.(See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news.

CWT’s Total Revenues

Operating revenues totaled $204 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $180 million by 13.2%. However, the top line decreased 24.7% from $270.7 million recorded in the prior-year quarter.

CWT’s Operational Update

Total operating expenses were $181.6 million, down 5.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level of $192.9 million. Water production costs decreased by $1.2 million due to a decline in Incremental Cost Balancing Accounts expenses of $9.3 million.

CWT reported maintenance expenses of $7.7 million, down 4.3% year over year.

Net operating income was $22.3 million compared with the year-ago quarter’s reported figure of $77.9 million.

Net interest expenses were $15.7 million, up 4.1% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of $15 million.

CWT’s Financial Update

As of March 31, 2025, CWT had cash and cash equivalents of $44.5 million compared with $50.1 million as of Dec. 31, 2024.

As of March 31, 2025, its net long-term debt totaled $1.1044 billion compared with $1.1046 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024.

CWT’s Zacks Rank

California Water currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Upcoming Releases

American States Water AWR is slated to report first-quarter results on May 7, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 70 cents per share, which indicates a year-over-year increase of 12.9%.

AWR’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 5.7%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter sales is pegged at $142 million, which calls for a year-over-year rise of 5%.

Essential Utilities Inc. WTRG is slated to report first-quarter results on May 12, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 80 cents per unit, which implies a year-over-year increase of 9.6%.

WTRG’s long-term earnings growth rate is 5.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter sales stands at $691.4 million, which suggests year-over-year growth of 13%.

Recent Release

American Water Works Company AWK posted first-quarter 2025 operating earnings per share of $1.05, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 by nearly 1%.

Total quarterly revenues of $1.14 billion surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.02 billion by 11%. The top line also increased 12.9% from the year-ago figure of $1.01 billion.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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