Unitil Reports 2026 Second Quarter Earnings
Rhea-AI Summary
Unitil (NYSE: UTL) reported second quarter 2026 GAAP Net Income of $4.7 million, or $0.26 EPS, up $0.7 million and $0.01 per share from 2025. For the first half of 2026, Net Income was $37.9 million, or $2.11 EPS, up $6.4 million and $0.17 per share year over year.
Adjusted Net Income, excluding acquisition transaction costs for Bangor, Maine Natural and the Aquarion water companies, was $5.2 million ($0.29 EPS) for the quarter and $39.0 million ($2.17 EPS) year‑to‑date. Electric GAAP Gross Margin rose to $23.0 million for the quarter and $44.3 million year‑to‑date, while Gas GAAP Gross Margin increased to $25.0 million and $92.1 million, respectively.
The company completed the purchase of Aquarion Water Company of New Hampshire and Abenaki Water, continued integrating Maine Natural Gas, and highlighted higher O&M, depreciation, taxes and interest from growth investments. The board declared quarterly dividends of $0.475 per share, implying an annualized rate of $1.90.
Positive
- Q2 2026 GAAP Net Income $4.7M, up $0.7M YoY
- H1 2026 GAAP Net Income $37.9M vs. $31.5M in 2025
- H1 2026 Adjusted Net Income $39.0M vs. $33.1M in 2025
- Electric Adjusted Gross Margin Q2 2026 $31.6M vs. $25.8M in 2025
- Gas Adjusted Gross Margin H1 2026 $122.7M vs. $108.1M in 2025
- Annualized dividend rate $1.90 per share with continued quarterly payments
Negative
- Operation and Maintenance expenses up $2.5M in Q2 2026
- Operation and Maintenance expenses up $3.3M in H1 2026
- Depreciation and Amortization up $2.4M in Q2 2026
- Depreciation and Amortization up $4.0M in H1 2026
- Net Interest Expense up $1.1M in Q2 2026
- Net Interest Expense up $2.8M in H1 2026
News Explained
Unitil’s August 3 results report a completed Aquarion purchase; higher reported margins coincided with
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | earnings scheduling | Neutral | -0.7% | Scheduled second-quarter earnings release and conference call dates. |
| Jun 30 | water acquisition | Positive | -0.5% | Completed purchase of two New Hampshire water companies and added customers. |
| May 04 | Q1 earnings report | Positive | -3.9% | Reported higher GAAP and adjusted earnings with stronger utility margins. |
| Apr 29 | annual meeting | Neutral | +0.7% | Shareholders elected directors and approved the advisory say-on-pay vote. |
| Apr 29 | dividend declaration | Positive | +0.7% | Declared regular quarterly dividend of $0.475 per share. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
The two prior positive operating announcements listed here were followed by negative 24-hour reactions.
Key Terms
non-gaap financial measure financial
gaap financial
ferc regulatory
regulation g regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Successfully completed the purchase of Aquarion Water Company of New Hampshire, Inc. and Abenaki Water Co., Inc.
HAMPTON, N.H., Aug. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unitil Corporation (NYSE: UTL) (unitil.com) (Unitil or the Company) today announced Net Income of
“The Company’s solid results through the first six months of 2026 reflect the disciplined execution of our operating and strategic priorities, and our longstanding commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable service to our customers,” said Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., Unitil’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The addition of the Aquarion New Hampshire water companies marks another important milestone, strengthening our regulated utility portfolio and expanding our ability to serve customers across the region. As we continue to grow, we remain focused on strategic execution and delivering exceptional value to our customers.”
Electric GAAP Gross Margin was
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1 The accompanying Supplemental Information more fully describes the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release and includes a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the financial measures that the Company’s management believes are the most comparable GAAP financial measures. The Supplemental Information also includes a discussion of the changes in the most comparable GAAP financial measures for the periods presented.
________________________
Electric Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure1) was
Gas GAAP Gross Margin was
Gas Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP financial measure1) was
Operation and Maintenance expenses increased
Depreciation and Amortization expense increased
Taxes Other Than Income Taxes increased
Other Expense (Income), Net decreased
Interest Expense, Net increased
Provision for Income Taxes increased
At its January 2026, April 2026 and July 2026 meetings, the Unitil Corporation Board of Directors declared quarterly dividends on the Company’s common stock of
The Company’s earnings are seasonal and are typically higher in the first and fourth quarters when customers use natural gas for heating purposes.
The Company will hold a quarterly conference call to discuss second quarter 2026 results on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. This call is being webcast. This call, financial and other statistical information contained in the Company’s presentation on this call, and information required by Regulation G regarding non-GAAP financial measures can be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Unitil’s website, unitil.com.
About Unitil Corporation
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering electricity, natural gas, and water in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices, and technologies that lead to the dependable, efficient delivery of energy and water. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 110,100 electric customers, 105,000 natural gas customers, and 10,700 water customers. For more information about our people, technologies, and community involvement, please visit unitil.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include declarations regarding Unitil’s beliefs and current expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to the inherent risks and uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Some, but not all, of the risks and uncertainties include the following: hazards and operating risks relating to the Company’s electric, natural gas and water distribution activities; fluctuations in the supply of, the demand for, and the prices of, energy commodities and transmission and transportation capacity and Unitil’s ability to recover energy commodity costs in its rates; catastrophic events; cyber-attacks, acts of terrorism, acts of war, severe weather, a solar event, an electromagnetic event, a natural disaster, the age and condition of information technology assets, human error, or other factors could disrupt the Company’s operations; outsourcing of services to third parties could expose the Company to substandard quality of service delivery or substandard deliverables; unforeseen or changing circumstances, which could adversely affect the reduction of company-wide direct greenhouse gas emissions; Unitil’s regulatory environment (including regulations relating to climate change, water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental matters, and infrastructure requirements); general economic conditions; the Company’s ability to obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms; increases in interest rates; the Company's payment of dividends in the future; declines in capital market valuations; the Company's ability to consummate acquisitions or other strategic transactions; ability to integrate the Aquarion Companies and achieve expected synergies and cost savings; impairment of the Company's assets; restrictive covenants contained in the terms of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ indebtedness; customers’ preferred energy sources; severe storms and Unitil’s ability to recover storm costs in its rates; variations in weather; long-term global climate change; water quality and contamination risks, including liability for contaminants such as PFAS and compliance with water quality standards; the availability and cost of water supply, including risks related to drought, aquifer conditions, and water rights; the age and condition of water infrastructure and the cost of necessary repairs, replacements, and capital improvements; customer rate sensitivity and regulatory limitations on rate recovery; macroeconomic events, including the imposition of tariffs; employee workforce factors, including the ability to attract and retain key personnel; Unitil’s ability to retain its existing customers and attract new customers; increased competition; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors. Other risks are detailed in Unitil's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Unitil undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law.
For more information please contact:
| Christopher Goulding – Investor Relations | Amanda Vicinanzo – External Affairs |
| Phone: 603-773-6466 | Phone: 603-691-7784 |
| Email: gouldingc@unitil.com | Email: vicinanzoa@unitil.com |
Supplemental Information; Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company's earnings discussion includes Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure referencing the Company’s 2026 and 2025 GAAP Net Income adjusted for certain transaction costs related to the Company's acquisitions of Bangor, Maine Natural and the Aquarion Companies. The Company's management believes that the transaction costs related to the acquisitions of Bangor, Maine Natural and the Aquarion Companies, which are included in Operation and Maintenance expense on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings, are not indicative of the Company's ongoing costs and not directly related to the ongoing operations of the business and therefore are not an indicator of baseline operating performance.
In the following tables the Company has reconciled Adjusted Net Income to GAAP Net Income, which we believe to be the most comparable GAAP financial measure.
| (Millions, except per share data) | |||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2026 | Three Months Ended June 30, 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Amount | Per Share | Amount | Per Share | ||||||||||||
| GAAP Net Income | $ | 4.7 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 4.0 | $ | 0.25 | |||||||
| Transaction Costs | 0.5 | 0.03 | 0.7 | 0.04 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income | $ | 5.2 | $ | 0.29 | $ | 4.7 | $ | 0.29 | |||||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 | Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 | ||||||||||||||
| Amount | Per Share | Amount | Per Share | ||||||||||||
| GAAP Net Income | $ | 37.9 | $ | 2.11 | $ | 31.5 | $ | 1.94 | |||||||
| Transaction Costs | 1.1 | 0.06 | 1.6 | 0.09 | |||||||||||
| Adjusted Net Income | $ | 39.0 | $ | 2.17 | $ | 33.1 | $ | 2.03 | |||||||
The Company analyzes operating results using Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Electric Adjusted Gross Margin is calculated as Total Electric Operating Revenue less Cost of Electric Sales. Gas Adjusted Gross Margin is calculated as Total Gas Operating Revenues less Cost of Gas Sales. The Company’s management believes Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins provide useful information to investors regarding profitability. Also, the Company’s management believes Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margins are important financial measures to analyze revenue from the Company’s ongoing operations because the approved cost of electric and gas sales are tracked, reconciled and passed through directly to customers in electric and gas tariff rates, resulting in an equal and offsetting amount reflected in Total Electric and Gas Operating Revenue.
In the following tables the Company has reconciled Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margin to GAAP Gross Margin, which we believe to be the most comparable GAAP financial measure. GAAP Gross Margin is calculated as Revenue less Cost of Sales and Depreciation and Amortization. The Company calculates Electric and Gas Adjusted Gross Margin as Revenue less Cost of Sales. The Company believes excluding Depreciation and Amortization, which are period costs and not related to volumetric sales, is a meaningful measure to inform investors of the Company’s profitability from electric and gas sales in the period.
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2026 (millions) | |||||||||||
| Electric | Gas | Total | |||||||||
| Total Operating Revenue | $ | 61.7 | $ | 55.3 | $ | 117.0 | |||||
| Less: Cost of Sales | (30.1 | ) | (14.7 | ) | (44.8 | ) | |||||
| Less: Depreciation and Amortization | (8.6 | ) | (15.6 | ) | (24.2 | ) | |||||
| GAAP Gross Margin | 23.0 | 25.0 | 48.0 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 8.6 | 15.6 | 24.2 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Gross Margin | $ | 31.6 | $ | 40.6 | $ | 72.2 | |||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, 2025 (millions) | |||||||||||
| Electric | Gas | Total | |||||||||
| Total Operating Revenue | $ | 51.0 | $ | 51.6 | $ | 102.6 | |||||
| Less: Cost of Sales | (25.2 | ) | (14.4 | ) | (39.6 | ) | |||||
| Less: Depreciation and Amortization | (7.8 | ) | (14.0 | ) | (21.8 | ) | |||||
| GAAP Gross Margin | 18.0 | 23.2 | 41.2 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 7.8 | 14.0 | 21.8 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Gross Margin | $ | 25.8 | $ | 37.2 | $ | 63.0 | |||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2026 (millions) | |||||||||||
| Electric | Gas | Total | |||||||||
| Total Operating Revenue | $ | 127.2 | $ | 206.7 | $ | 333.9 | |||||
| Less: Cost of Sales | (66.0 | ) | (84.0 | ) | (150.0 | ) | |||||
| Less: Depreciation and Amortization | (16.9 | ) | (30.6 | ) | (47.5 | ) | |||||
| GAAP Gross Margin | 44.3 | 92.1 | 136.4 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 16.9 | 30.6 | 47.5 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Gross Margin | $ | 61.2 | $ | 122.7 | $ | 183.9 | |||||
| Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 (millions) | |||||||||||
| Electric | Gas | Total | |||||||||
| Total Operating Revenue | $ | 111.2 | $ | 162.2 | $ | 273.4 | |||||
| Less: Cost of Sales | (57.9 | ) | (54.1 | ) | (112.0 | ) | |||||
| Less: Depreciation and Amortization | (15.7 | ) | (27.8 | ) | (43.5 | ) | |||||
| GAAP Gross Margin | 37.6 | 80.3 | 117.9 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and Amortization | 15.7 | 27.8 | 43.5 | ||||||||
| Adjusted Gross Margin | $ | 53.3 | $ | 108.1 | $ | 161.4 | |||||
Selected financial data for 2026 and 2025 is presented in the following table:
| Unitil Corporation - Condensed Consolidated Financial Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Millions, except Per Share data) (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended June 30, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | 2025 | Change | 2026 | 2025 | Change | |||||||||||||||||||
| Electric kWh Sales: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential | 143.2 | 138.9 | 3.1 | % | 347.2 | 338.7 | 2.5 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Commercial/Industrial | 204.5 | 207.7 | (1.5 | )% | 424.9 | 446.1 | (4.8 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Electric kWh Sales | 347.7 | 346.6 | 0.3 | % | 772.1 | 784.8 | (1.6 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
| Gas Therm Sales: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residential | 11.4 | 10.4 | 9.6 | % | 43.9 | 38.7 | 13.4 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Commercial/Industrial | 48.9 | 45.0 | 8.7 | % | 144.9 | 129.8 | 11.6 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Gas Therm Sales | 60.3 | 55.4 | 8.8 | % | 188.8 | 168.5 | 12.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| Electric Revenues | $ | 61.7 | $ | 51.0 | $ | 10.7 | $ | 127.2 | $ | 111.2 | $ | 16.0 | ||||||||||||
| Cost of Electric Sales | 30.1 | 25.2 | 4.9 | 66.0 | 57.9 | 8.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Electric Adjusted Gross Margin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a non-GAAP financial measure1): | 31.6 | 25.8 | 5.8 | 61.2 | 53.3 | 7.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gas Revenues | 55.3 | 51.6 | 3.7 | 206.7 | 162.2 | 44.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of Gas Sales | 14.7 | 14.4 | 0.3 | 84.0 | 54.1 | 29.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gas Adjusted Gross Margin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a non-GAAP financial measure1): | 40.6 | 37.2 | 3.4 | 122.7 | 108.1 | 14.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Adjusted Gross Margin: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a non-GAAP financial measure1): | 72.2 | 63.0 | 9.2 | 183.9 | 161.4 | 22.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operation & Maintenance Expenses | 23.8 | 21.3 | 2.5 | 47.2 | 43.9 | 3.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation & Amortization | 24.2 | 21.8 | 2.4 | 47.5 | 43.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taxes Other Than Income Taxes | 8.8 | 6.6 | 2.2 | 17.9 | 14.5 | 3.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other Expense (Income), Net | (0.8 | ) | (0.7 | ) | (0.1 | ) | (0.8 | ) | (0.6 | ) | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Interest Expense, Net | 10.4 | 9.3 | 1.1 | 21.2 | 18.4 | 2.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Income Before Income Taxes | 5.8 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 50.9 | 41.7 | 9.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Provision for Income Taxes | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 13.0 | 10.2 | 2.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net Income | $ | 4.7 | $ | 4.0 | $ | 0.7 | $ | 37.9 | $ | 31.5 | $ | 6.4 | ||||||||||||
| Earnings Per Share | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.25 | $ | 0.01 | $ | 2.11 | $ | 1.94 | $ | 0.17 | ||||||||||||
