AMERICAN WATER REPORTS SOLID SECOND QUARTER 2026 RESULTS; AFFIRMS 2026 EPS GUIDANCE AND LONG-TERM TARGETS
Rhea-AI Summary
American Water (NYSE: AWK) reported second quarter 2026 GAAP and adjusted EPS of $1.61, up from $1.48 and $1.49, respectively, in 2025. Year-to-date 2026 GAAP EPS was $2.61 and adjusted EPS $2.62, versus $2.53 and $2.51 in 2025. Operating revenues rose to $1.36 billion for the quarter and $2.56 billion year-to-date.
The company affirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $6.02–$6.12 and its long-term EPS and dividend growth targets of 7–9%. American Water invested $1.8 billion in the first half of 2026 toward a planned $3.7 billion 2026 capital program, including $346 million for regulated acquisitions and approximately 52,000 new customer connections.
Since January 1, 2026, American Water has been authorized $216 million in additional annualized revenues and has $494 million of incremental revenue requests pending. The company physically settled 3.4 million shares under equity forward sale agreements for $476 million in June, with about 4.7 million shares remaining available for settlement. The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.895 per share, payable September 1, 2026, and the company reported continued regulatory and integration progress on its proposed merger with Essential Utilities.
Positive
- Q2 2026 GAAP EPS $1.61 vs. $1.48 in 2025
- Q2 operating revenues up to $1.355 billion from $1.276 billion
- Authorized additional annualized revenues of $216 million YTD 2026
- H1 2026 capital investment $1.8 billion toward $3.7 billion 2026 plan
- Equity forward settlements raised $476 million net cash in June 2026
- 2026 adjusted EPS guidance $6.02–$6.12 and 7–9% long-term EPS/dividend growth affirmed
Negative
- Operating expenses up $29 million in Q2 and $73 million YTD
- Depreciation expense higher by $21 million in Q2 and $42 million YTD
- Interest expense increased $11 million in Q2 and $23 million YTD
- Long-term debt rose to $14.0 billion from $12.8 billion at year-end 2025
- Potential dilution from 4.69 million shares remaining under forward sale agreements
News Explained
American Water affirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS range of
Key Figures
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29 | Q1 earnings report | Positive | -2.7% | Adjusted EPS guidance and long-term growth targets were reaffirmed. |
| Oct 09 | Earnings scheduling notice | Neutral | +0.0% | The company scheduled third-quarter results and 2026 guidance disclosure. |
| Jul 30 | Q2 earnings report | Positive | +0.4% | Second-quarter earnings increased and 2025 guidance narrowed to the top half. |
| Apr 30 | Q1 earnings report | Positive | -0.4% | Quarterly earnings increased while 2025 guidance and growth targets were maintained. |
| Oct 30 | Q3 earnings report | Positive | +1.8% | Third-quarter earnings increased and 2025 guidance was initiated. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Earnings-tagged history was mixed, with three positive or neutral reactions and two declines, averaging -0.17% over five events.
Key Terms
gaap financial
non-gaap financial
forward sale agreements financial
infrastructure surcharge regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

- Second quarter 2026 GAAP earnings were
per share, compared to$1.61 per share in 2025; year-to-date 2026 earnings were$1.48 per share, compared to$2.61 per share in 2025$2.53 - Second quarter 2026 adjusted (non-GAAP) earnings of
per share, compared to$1.61 per share in the same quarter in 2025 and year-to-date 2026 adjusted earnings of$1.49 per share, compared to$2.62 per share in the same period in 2025$2.51
- Second quarter 2026 adjusted (non-GAAP) earnings of
- 2026 earnings per share guidance range of
to$6.02 affirmed; long-term targets affirmed$6.12 - Significant regulatory execution YTD on several fronts, including PA with new rates to go into effect August 13
- 2026 capital investment plan of
on track; approx. 52,000 customer connections added from acquisitions through June 30, which includes the Nexus Water systems$3.7 billion - Progress continues on proposed merger with Essential Utilities; three states have approved, settlement in principle reached in
Texas , and integration planning progressing
"The company has delivered solid results for the first half of the year and we are pleased to have received a constructive decision in our
2026 EPS Guidance and Long-Term Financial Targets Affirmed
The company affirms its 2026 adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") guidance range of
Consolidated Results and Adjusted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation (a non-GAAP measure)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||
2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||
Diluted earnings per share (GAAP): | |||||||
Net income attributable to shareholders | $ 1.61 | $ 1.48 | $ 2.61 | $ 2.53 | |||
Non-GAAP adjustments: | |||||||
Estimated impact of weather | (0.01) | 0.04 | (0.01) | 0.04 | |||
Income tax impact | — | (0.01) | — | (0.01) | |||
Net non-GAAP adjustment | (0.01) | 0.03 | (0.01) | 0.03 | |||
Incremental interest income from amended HOS seller note | — | (0.03) | (0.01) | (0.07) | |||
Income tax impact | — | 0.01 | — | 0.02 | |||
Net non-GAAP adjustment | — | (0.02) | (0.01) | (0.05) | |||
Transaction costs associated with the pending merger with Essential Utilities | 0.01 | — | 0.04 | — | |||
Income tax impact | — | — | (0.01) | — | |||
Net non-GAAP adjustment | 0.01 | — | 0.03 | — | |||
Total net adjustments | — | 0.01 | 0.01 | (0.02) | |||
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) | $ 1.61 | $ 1.49 | $ 2.62 | $ 2.51 | |||
Revenue growth through the implementation of new rates for both the three- and six-month 2026 periods in the Regulated Businesses from the recovery of capital and acquisition investments was partially offset by increased operating costs and higher depreciation and financing costs to support the current capital investment plan.
During the first six months of 2026, the company invested
Regulated Businesses
In the second quarter of 2026, the Regulated Businesses' net income was
Operating revenues increased
Since January 1, 2026, the company has been authorized additional annualized revenues of
Operating expenses were higher by
Interest expense was higher by
Equity Forward Sale Agreements
In August 2025, the Company entered into separate forward sale agreements (the "Forward Sale Agreements") with several forward purchasers relating to an aggregate of 8,098,592 shares of the Company's common stock at an initial forward price of
During June 2026, the Company elected to physically settle an aggregate of 3,403,756 shares at the applicable forward price provided in the relevant Forward Sale Agreements. The total net proceeds received by the Company from these settlements were
As of June 30, 2026, 4,694,836 shares of the Company's common stock remain available for future settlement under the remaining Forward Sale Agreements. The Company intends to use any net cash proceeds that it may receive upon future settlement of the Forward Sale Agreements for general corporate purposes.
Dividends
On July 29, 2026, the company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend payment of
2026 Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call
The conference call to discuss the second quarter 2026 earnings, 2026 adjusted EPS guidance, and affirmation of long-term targets will take place on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Interested parties may listen to an audio webcast through a link on the company's Investor Relations website at ir.amwater.com. Presentation slides that will be used in conjunction with the earnings conference call will also be made available online in advance at ir.amwater.com. The company recognizes its website as a key channel of distribution to reach public investors and as a means of disclosing material non-public information to comply with its obligations under SEC Regulation FD.
Following the earnings conference call, a replay of the audio webcast will be available for one year on American Water's Investor Relations website at ir.amwater.com/events.
About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Throughout this press release, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the "company" and "American Water" mean American Water Works Company, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries, taken together as a whole. All statements related to earnings and earnings per share refer to diluted earnings and earnings per share.
Adjustments to GAAP
This press release includes presentations of consolidated adjusted diluted EPS, both as historical financial information and as earnings guidance. These presentations of adjusted EPS constitute "non-GAAP financial measures" under SEC rules. The most directly comparable GAAP measure for historical adjusted EPS is the reported diluted earnings per share (GAAP) and is reconciled in "Consolidated Results and Adjusted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation" above. See also "2026 EPS Guidance and Long-Term Financial Targets Affirmed" above for more information on adjustments made to diluted EPS for purposes of earnings guidance.
These non-GAAP financial measures are derived from the company's consolidated financial information but are not presented in the financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with useful information by excluding certain matters that may not be indicative of the company's ongoing operating results, and, with respect to weather, to provide for a measure of the company's operating performance without the variability of estimated weather impacts, and that providing these non-GAAP measures will allow investors to better understand the businesses' operating performance and facilitate a meaningful year-to-year comparison of the company's results of operations. Although management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally to evaluate the company's results of operations, management does not intend results reflected by these non-GAAP measures to represent results as defined by GAAP, and the reader should not consider them as indicators of performance. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures as defined and used above may not be comparable to similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies, and, accordingly, they may have significant limitations on their use.
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made, referred to or relied upon in this press release including, without limitation, 2026 adjusted earnings per share guidance, the company's long-term financial, growth and dividend targets, the ability to achieve the company's strategies and goals, customer affordability and acquired customer growth, the outcome of the company's current, future or completed acquisition activity (including, without limitation, with respect to the proposed merger with Essential Utilities and the acquisition of systems formerly owned indirectly by Nexus Water Group, Inc.), the amount and allocation of projected capital expenditures, the company's capital recovery outlook, and estimated revenues from rate cases and other government agency authorizations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Federal securities laws. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words with prospective meanings such as "intend," "plan," "estimate," "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "predict," "project," "propose," "assume," "forecast," "outlook," "likely," "uncertain," "future," "pending," "goal," "objective," "potential," "continue," "seek to," "may," "can," "will," "should" and "could" or the negative of such terms or other variations or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are predictions based on American Water's current expectations and assumptions regarding future events. They are not guarantees or assurances of any outcomes, financial results, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon them. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of estimates, assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. The company's actual results may vary materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release as a result of the factors discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and subsequent filings with the SEC, and because of factors such as: the decisions of governmental and regulatory bodies, including decisions to raise or lower customer rates; the timeliness and outcome of regulatory commissions' and other authorities' actions concerning rates, capital structure, authorized return on equity, capital investment, system acquisitions and dispositions, taxes, permitting, water supply and management, and other decisions; changes in customer demand for, and patterns of use of, water and energy, such as may result from conservation efforts, or otherwise; limitations on the availability of the company's water supplies or sources of water, or restrictions on its use thereof, resulting from allocation rights, governmental or regulatory requirements and restrictions, drought, overuse or other factors; a loss of one or more large industrial or commercial customers due to adverse economic conditions, or other factors; present and future proposed changes in laws, governmental regulations and policies, including with respect to the environment (such as, for example, potential improvements or changes to existing Federal regulations with respect to lead and copper service lines and galvanized steel pipe), health and safety, data and consumer privacy, security and protection, water quality and water quality accountability, contaminants of emerging concern (including without limitation per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (collectively, "PFAS")), public utility and tax regulations and policies, and impacts resulting from
These forward-looking statements are qualified by, and should be read together with, the risks and uncertainties set forth above, and the risk factors included in the company's annual, quarterly and other SEC filings, and readers should refer to such risks, uncertainties and risk factors in evaluating such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements the company makes shall speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by the federal securities laws, the company does not have any obligation, and it specifically disclaims any undertaking or intention, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the company to predict all such factors. Furthermore, it may not be possible to assess the impact of any such factor on the company's businesses, either viewed independently or together, or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The foregoing factors should not be construed as exhaustive.
AWK-IR
American Water Works Company, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In millions, except per share data) | |||||||
For the Three Months Ended June 30, | For the Six Months Ended June 30, | ||||||
2026 | 2025 | 2026 | 2025 | ||||
Operating revenues | $ 1,355 | $ 1,276 | $ 2,562 | $ 2,418 | |||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Operation and maintenance | 481 | 480 | 974 | 948 | |||
Depreciation and amortization | 240 | 221 | 477 | 437 | |||
General taxes | 92 | 86 | 178 | 173 | |||
Total operating expenses, net | 813 | 787 | 1,629 | 1,558 | |||
Operating income | 542 | 489 | 933 | 860 | |||
Other (expense) income: | |||||||
Interest expense | (167) | (151) | (330) | (295) | |||
Interest income | 3 | 22 | 15 | 44 | |||
Non-operating benefit costs, net | 5 | 4 | 10 | 8 | |||
Other, net | 22 | 12 | 36 | 29 | |||
Total other (expense) income | (137) | (113) | (269) | (214) | |||
Income before income taxes | 405 | 376 | 664 | 646 | |||
Provision for income taxes | 90 | 87 | 153 | 152 | |||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ 315 | $ 289 | $ 511 | $ 494 | |||
Basic earnings per share: | |||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ 1.61 | $ 1.48 | $ 2.61 | $ 2.53 | |||
Diluted earnings per share: | |||||||
Net income attributable to common shareholders | $ 1.61 | $ 1.48 | $ 2.61 | $ 2.53 | |||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: | |||||||
Basic | 196 | 195 | 196 | 195 | |||
Diluted | 196 | 195 | 196 | 195 | |||
American Water Works Company, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In millions, except share and per share data) | |||
June 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||
ASSETS | |||
Property, plant and equipment | $ 39,544 | $ 37,955 | |
Accumulated depreciation | (7,627) | (7,379) | |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 31,917 | 30,576 | |
Current assets: | |||
Cash and cash equivalents | 191 | 98 | |
Restricted funds | 18 | 21 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of | 432 | 395 | |
Income tax receivable | 122 | 9 | |
Unbilled revenues | 512 | 433 | |
Materials and supplies | 110 | 112 | |
Secured seller promissory note from the sale of the Homeowner Services Group | — | 795 | |
Other | 324 | 328 | |
Total current assets | 1,709 | 2,191 | |
Regulatory and other long-term assets: | |||
Regulatory assets | 1,176 | 1,132 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 81 | 85 | |
Goodwill | 1,282 | 1,156 | |
Other | 288 | 302 | |
Total regulatory and other long-term assets | 2,827 | 2,675 | |
Total assets | $ 36,453 | $ 35,442 | |
American Water Works Company, Inc. and Subsidiary Companies Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In millions, except share and per share data) | |||
June 30, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||
CAPITALIZATION AND LIABILITIES | |||
Capitalization: | |||
Common stock ( | $ 2 | $ 2 | |
Paid-in-capital | 9,140 | 8,642 | |
Retained earnings | 2,911 | 2,575 | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 8 | 6 | |
Treasury stock, at cost (5,487,769 and 5,428,008 shares, respectively) | (396) | (388) | |
Total common shareholders' equity | 11,665 | 10,837 | |
Long-term debt | 14,043 | 12,777 | |
Redeemable preferred stock at redemption value | 3 | 3 | |
Total long-term debt | 14,046 | 12,780 | |
Total capitalization | 25,711 | 23,617 | |
Current liabilities: | |||
Short-term debt | 1,499 | 1,588 | |
Current portion of long-term debt | 446 | 1,479 | |
Accounts payable | 326 | 378 | |
Accrued liabilities | 555 | 830 | |
Accrued taxes | 84 | 134 | |
Accrued interest | 147 | 140 | |
Other | 212 | 198 | |
Total current liabilities | 3,269 | 4,747 | |
Regulatory and other long-term liabilities: | |||
Advances for construction | 481 | 435 | |
Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits | 3,456 | 3,190 | |
Regulatory liabilities | 1,416 | 1,416 | |
Operating lease liabilities | 70 | 74 | |
Accrued pension expense | 152 | 167 | |
Other | 223 | 166 | |
Total regulatory and other long-term liabilities | 5,798 | 5,448 | |
Contributions in aid of construction | 1,675 | 1,630 | |
Commitments and contingencies | |||
Total capitalization and liabilities | $ 36,453 | $ 35,442 | |
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SOURCE American Water