American States Water Company Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Results
-
per share increase in recorded 2024 fourth quarter consolidated diluted EPS compared to fourth quarter of 2023, or a$0.20 per share increase as adjusted$0.14 -
Fourth quarter recorded results reflect a
per share impact of retroactive rates related to the full year of 2023 and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 because of receiving the final decision in the electric utility general rate case$0.06
-
Fourth quarter recorded results reflect a
-
AWR’s regulated utilities received CPUC decisions authorizing nearly
in capital investments in connection with the utilities’ general rate cases$650 million - Water utility general rate case sets new rates for 2025-2027
- Electric utility general rate case sets new rates for 2023-2026, retroactive to January 1, 2023
Fourth Quarter 2024 Results
The table below sets forth a comparison of the fourth quarter 2024 diluted earnings per share contribution recorded by business segment and the parent company with amounts recorded during the same period in 2023. Included in the consolidated fourth quarter 2024 results is a tax benefit of
|
Diluted Earnings per Share |
||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|
||||||||
|
12/31/2024 |
|
12/31/2023 |
|
CHANGE |
||||||
Water |
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.41 |
|
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
Electric |
|
0.13 |
|
|
|
0.07 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
Contracted services |
|
0.11 |
|
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
AWR (parent) |
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
(0.04 |
) |
|
|
0.02 |
|
Consolidated diluted earnings per share, as recorded (GAAP) |
$ |
0.75 |
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
Adjustment to GAAP measure: |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Impact of retroactive rates related to the full year of 2023 and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 from the final decision in the electric general rate case recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 |
|
(0.06 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.06 |
) |
Consolidated diluted earnings per share, as adjusted (Non-GAAP) |
$ |
0.69 |
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
0.14 |
|
Electric diluted earnings per share, as adjusted (Non-GAAP) |
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
Note: Certain amounts in the table above may not foot or crossfoot due to rounding. |
Water Segment:
On January 30, 2025, the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) issued a final decision in connection with GSWC’s recent general rate case that, among other things, adopted a settlement agreement between GSWC and the Public Advocates Office at the CPUC, which excluded from customer rates certain excess deferred income tax balances generated by activities outside of ratemaking that were previously recorded as regulatory liabilities as a result of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that reduced the corporate income tax rate from
For the three months ended December 31, 2024, recorded diluted earnings from the water utility segment were
-
An increase in water operating revenues of approximately
largely as a result of the third-year rate increases from the prior rate case that went into effect on January 1, 2024, as well as an increase in GSWC’s return on rate base in 2024 compared to 2023 resulting from the final cost of capital proceeding received in June 2023 that allowed for the continuation of the Water Cost of Capital Mechanism.$5.1 million -
An increase in water supply costs of
, which consist of purchased water, purchased power for pumping, groundwater production assessments and changes in the water supply cost balancing accounts. During 2024 and 2023, actual water supply costs were tracked and passed through to customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis by way of the CPUC-approved water supply cost balancing accounts. The increase in water supply costs results in a corresponding increase in water operating revenues and has no net impact on the water segment’s profitability.$1.1 million -
An overall increase in operating expenses of
(excluding supply costs) due primarily to increases in (i) overall labor costs, (ii) maintenance expense due to timing, and (iii) depreciation and amortization expenses as well as property taxes, both of which are impacted by the increasing capital expenditures and are reflected and recovered in customer rates. These increases were partially offset by an overall decrease in other operation-related expenses primarily due to a reduction of$2.2 million as a result of receiving the final decision in the recent water general rate case that authorized the recovery of previously incurred operation-related costs that were being tracked in CPUC-authorized memorandum accounts and which became probable of future recovery.$2.0 million -
An increase in interest expense (net of interest income) of
resulting primarily from an increase in interest rates and overall total borrowing levels to support, among other things, the capital expenditure programs at GSWC, as well as a decrease in interest income earned on regulatory assets compared to the same period in 2023.$1.2 million -
An overall decrease in other income (net of other expense) of
due largely to lower gains generated on investments held to fund one of the company's retirement plans for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023 as previously discussed.$2.5 million -
An overall decrease in the effective income tax rate due to (i) a tax benefit of
, or$5 million per share, discussed previously, and (ii) changes in certain flowed-through income taxes and permanent items included in GSWC’s income tax expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 2023 that favorably impacted the water segment's earnings. As a regulated utility, GSWC treats certain temporary differences as being flowed-through in computing its income tax expense consistent with the income tax method used in its CPUC-jurisdiction rate making. Changes in the magnitude of flowed-through items either increase or decrease tax expense, thereby affecting diluted earnings per share.$0.13 -
A decrease in earnings of approximately
per share due to the dilutive effects from the issuance of equity under AWR’s At-the-Market (“ATM”) offering program. Under the program, AWR may offer and sell its Common Shares, with an aggregate gross offering price of up to$0.01 , from time to time at its sole discretion. Through December 31, 2024, AWR has sold 1,145,219 Common Shares through this ATM offering program.$200 million
Electric Segment:
Diluted earnings recorded from the electric utility segment were
Excluding the impact from retroactive rates recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024 discussed above, adjusted diluted earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024 at the electric segment were
The new electric rates are expected to go into effect on March 1, 2025. Within 90 days from the effective date of the final decision, BVES will also file for recovery of retroactive amounts accumulated related to the new rates, as well as recovery of incremental operating costs incurred prior to 2023 in connection with BVES’s wildfire mitigation plans that were being tracked in memorandum accounts.
Contracted Services Segment:
Diluted earnings from the contracted services segment decreased
AWR (Parent):
For the fourth quarter of 2024, diluted losses from AWR (parent) decreased
Full Year 2024 Results
-
per share decrease in recorded full year 2024 consolidated diluted EPS compared to full year 2023, or$0.19 per share increase as adjusted$0.32 -
Full year 2023 recorded results include the impact of retroactive rates of
per share related to the full year of 2022 due to receiving a final decision in the prior water utility general rate case.$0.38 -
Full year 2023 recorded results also include a net favorable variance of
per share resulting from the reversal of revenues subject to refund previously recorded in 2022 of$0.13 per share following the receipt of a final decision in the cost of capital proceeding in June 2023.$0.13
-
Full year 2023 recorded results include the impact of retroactive rates of
The table below sets forth a comparison of the diluted earnings per share contribution by business segment and for the parent company as recorded during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
|
|
Diluted Earnings per Share |
||||||||||
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|
||||||||
|
|
12/31/2024 |
|
12/31/2023 |
|
CHANGE |
||||||
Water |
|
$ |
2.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.77 |
|
|
$ |
(0.26 |
) |
Electric |
|
|
0.21 |
|
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
Contracted services |
|
|
0.55 |
|
|
|
0.50 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
AWR (parent) |
|
|
(0.10 |
) |
|
|
(0.10 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Consolidated fully diluted earnings per share, as reported (GAAP) |
|
$ |
3.17 |
|
|
$ |
3.36 |
|
|
$ |
(0.19 |
) |
Adjustments to GAAP measure: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Impact of retroactive rates related to the full year of 2022 from the final decision in the water general rate case* |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.38 |
) |
|
|
0.38 |
|
Impact related to the final cost of capital decision* |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.13 |
) |
|
|
0.13 |
|
Consolidated diluted earnings per share, as adjusted (Non-GAAP)* |
|
$ |
3.17 |
|
|
$ |
2.85 |
|
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
Water diluted earnings per share, as adjusted (Non-GAAP)* |
|
$ |
2.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
Note: Certain amounts in the table above may not foot or crossfoot due to rounding. |
* |
All adjustments to 2023’s recorded diluted earnings per share relate to the water segment. The water segment’s adjusted earnings for 2023 exclude both the impact of the final decision in the water general rate case that included retroactive rates related to the full year of 2022 and the impact of reversing previously recorded estimated 2022 revenues subject to refund as a result of the final cost of capital decision issued in June 2023 that made all adjustments to rates prospective. Both adjustments are shown separately in the table above. |
For the year ended December 31, 2024, AWR’s recorded consolidated diluted earnings were
Excluding the two items from 2023 discussed above, AWR’s adjusted consolidated diluted earnings were
For more details on the full year 2024 results, please refer to the company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Dividends
On February 4, 2025, AWR’s Board of Directors approved a 2025 first quarter dividend of
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes a discussion on AWR’s operations in terms of diluted earnings per share by business segment and AWR (parent), which is each business segment’s earnings divided by the company’s weighted average number of diluted common shares. The impact of retroactive rates related to the full year of 2023 and from the second-year rate increases related to the nine months ended September 30, 2024 recorded during the fourth quarter of 2024 resulting from the final decision in the electric general rate case has been excluded in the analysis when communicating AWR’s consolidated and electric segment results for the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. In addition, the impact (i) of retroactive rates related to the full year of 2022 recorded during the year ended December 31, 2023 resulting from the final decision in the water general rate case approved in June 2023, and (ii) from the reversal of revenues subject to refund recorded in 2022 due to a change in estimates recorded in 2023 following the receipt of a final cost of capital decision in June 2023 have been excluded in the analysis when communicating AWR’s consolidated and water segment results for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. These adjustments have been excluded in the analyses to help facilitate comparisons of the company’s performance from period to period. All of these measures are derived from consolidated financial information but are not presented in our financial statements that are prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) in
The company uses earnings per share by business segment as an important measure in evaluating its operating results and believes this measure is a useful internal benchmark in evaluating the performance of its operating segments. The company reviews this measurement regularly and compares it to historical periods and to the operating budget. The company has provided the computations and reconciliations of diluted earnings per share from the measure of net income (loss) by business segment to AWR’s consolidated fully diluted earnings per share in this press release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should” and similar phrases and expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. 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. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of estimates and assumptions, and known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those described in greater detail in the company’s filings with the SEC, particularly those described in the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are encouraged to review the company’s filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statements. The statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and except as required by law, the company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.
Conference Call
Robert Sprowls, president and chief executive officer, and Eva Tang, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will host a conference call to discuss these results at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (11:00 a.m. Pacific Time) on Thursday, February 20, 2025. There will be a question and answer session as part of the call. Interested parties can listen to the live conference call and view accompanying slides on the internet at www.aswater.com. The call will be archived on the website and available for replay beginning February 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (2:00 p.m. Pacific Time) through February 27, 2025.
About American States Water Company
American States Water Company is the parent of Golden State Water Company, Bear Valley Electric Service, Inc. and American States Utility Services, Inc., serving over one million people in nine states. Through its water utility subsidiary, Golden State Water Company, the company provides water service to approximately 264,600 customer connections located within more than 80 communities in Northern, Coastal and
American States Water Company |
|||||||
Consolidated |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Comparative Condensed Balance Sheets |
||||||
(in thousands) |
December 31, 2024 |
|
December 31, 2023 |
||||
Assets |
|
|
|
||||
Net Property, Plant and Equipment |
$ |
2,099,625 |
|
$ |
1,892,280 |
||
Other Property and Investments |
|
50,418 |
|
|
|
42,932 |
|
Current Assets |
|
233,346 |
|
|
|
205,978 |
|
Other Assets |
|
116,820 |
|
|
|
104,932 |
|
Total Assets |
$ |
2,500,209 |
|
|
$ |
2,246,122 |
|
Capitalization and Liabilities |
|
|
|
||||
Capitalization |
$ |
1,560,433 |
|
|
$ |
1,351,664 |
|
Current Liabilities |
|
285,525 |
|
|
|
166,623 |
|
Other Credits |
|
654,251 |
|
|
|
727,835 |
|
Total Capitalization and Liabilities |
$ |
2,500,209 |
|
|
$ |
2,246,122 |
|
|
Condensed Statements of Income |
||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
(in thousands, except per share amounts) |
2024 |
2023 |
|
2024 |
2023 |
||||||||
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
|
|||||||||
Operating Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Water |
$ |
92,678 |
|
$ |
87,622 |
|
|
$ |
417,410 |
|
$ |
433,473 |
|
Electric |
|
21,697 |
|
|
11,144 |
|
|
|
51,645 |
|
|
41,832 |
|
Contracted services |
|
28,723 |
|
|
26,414 |
|
|
|
126,404 |
|
|
120,394 |
|
Total operating revenues |
|
143,098 |
|
|
125,180 |
|
|
|
595,459 |
|
|
595,699 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Water purchased |
|
18,486 |
|
|
17,274 |
|
|
|
74,274 |
|
|
72,864 |
|
Power purchased for pumping |
|
3,676 |
|
|
3,315 |
|
|
|
15,025 |
|
|
12,829 |
|
Groundwater production assessment |
|
6,502 |
|
|
5,662 |
|
|
|
24,145 |
|
|
20,850 |
|
Power purchased for resale |
|
3,328 |
|
|
3,437 |
|
|
|
11,630 |
|
|
13,275 |
|
Supply cost balancing accounts |
|
(4,341 |
) |
|
(3,008 |
) |
|
|
(1,894 |
) |
|
12,118 |
|
Other operation |
|
9,941 |
|
|
10,010 |
|
|
|
41,318 |
|
|
40,271 |
|
Administrative and general |
|
27,907 |
|
|
22,241 |
|
|
|
100,941 |
|
|
88,273 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
11,306 |
|
|
10,758 |
|
|
|
43,647 |
|
|
42,403 |
|
Maintenance |
|
9,776 |
|
|
3,192 |
|
|
|
20,255 |
|
|
14,218 |
|
Property and other taxes |
|
6,929 |
|
|
6,162 |
|
|
|
27,091 |
|
|
24,046 |
|
ASUS construction |
|
10,895 |
|
|
11,358 |
|
|
|
54,544 |
|
|
57,912 |
|
Gain on sale of assets |
|
— |
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(100 |
) |
Total operating expenses |
|
104,405 |
|
|
90,301 |
|
|
|
410,976 |
|
|
398,959 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating income |
|
38,693 |
|
|
34,879 |
|
|
|
184,483 |
|
|
196,740 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Other Income and Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense |
|
(11,165 |
) |
|
(10,862 |
) |
|
|
(50,382 |
) |
|
(42,762 |
) |
Interest income |
|
1,972 |
|
|
1,624 |
|
|
|
7,874 |
|
|
7,416 |
|
Other, net |
|
1,297 |
|
|
2,883 |
|
|
|
7,466 |
|
|
5,126 |
|
Total other income and expenses, net |
|
(7,896 |
) |
|
(6,355 |
) |
|
|
(35,042 |
) |
|
(30,220 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Income Before Income Tax Expense |
|
30,797 |
|
|
28,524 |
|
|
|
149,441 |
|
|
166,520 |
|
Income tax expense |
|
2,362 |
|
|
8,096 |
|
|
|
30,173 |
|
|
41,599 |
|
Net Income |
$ |
28,435 |
|
$ |
20,428 |
|
|
$ |
119,268 |
|
$ |
124,921 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding |
|
37,945 |
|
|
36,981 |
|
|
|
37,464 |
|
|
36,976 |
|
Basic earnings per Common Share |
$ |
0.75 |
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
3.17 |
|
$ |
3.37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Weighted average diluted shares |
|
38,076 |
|
|
37,085 |
|
|
|
37,583 |
|
|
37,077 |
|
Fully diluted earnings per Common Share |
$ |
0.75 |
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
3.17 |
|
$ |
3.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Dividends paid per Common Share |
$ |
0.4655 |
|
$ |
0.4300 |
|
|
$ |
1.7910 |
|
$ |
1.6550 |
|
Computation and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measure (Unaudited)
Below are the computation and reconciliation of diluted earnings per share from the measure of net income (loss) by business segment (as disclosed in Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included in the company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K), to AWR’s consolidated fully diluted earnings per share for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
|
Water |
|
Electric |
|
Contracted Services |
|
AWR (Parent) |
|
Consolidated (GAAP) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 000's except per share amounts |
Q4 2024 |
|
Q4 2023 |
|
Q4 2024 |
|
Q4 2023 |
|
Q4 2024 |
|
Q4 2023 |
|
Q4 2024 |
|
Q4 2023 |
|
Q4 2024 |
|
Q4 2023 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ |
19,908 |
|
|
$ |
15,119 |
|
|
$ |
5,088 |
|
|
$ |
2,449 |
|
|
$ |
4,296 |
|
|
$ |
4,405 |
|
|
$ |
(857 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,545 |
) |
|
$ |
28,435 |
|
|
$ |
20,428 |
|
Weighted Average Number of Diluted Shares |
|
38,076 |
|
|
|
37,085 |
|
|
|
38,076 |
|
|
|
37,085 |
|
|
|
38,076 |
|
|
|
37,085 |
|
|
|
38,076 |
|
|
|
37,085 |
|
|
|
38,076 |
|
|
|
37,085 |
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share |
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.41 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.07 |
|
|
$ |
0.11 |
|
|
$ |
0.12 |
|
|
$ |
(0.02 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.04 |
) |
|
$ |
0.75 |
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Water |
|
Electric |
|
Contracted Services |
|
AWR (Parent) |
|
Consolidated (GAAP) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 000's except per share amounts |
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2023 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ |
94,463 |
|
|
$ |
102,708 |
|
|
$ |
7,754 |
|
|
$ |
7,479 |
|
|
$ |
20,642 |
|
|
$ |
18,596 |
|
|
$ |
(3,591 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,862 |
) |
|
$ |
119,268 |
|
|
$ |
124,921 |
|
Weighted Average Number of Diluted Shares |
|
37,583 |
|
|
|
37,077 |
|
|
|
37,583 |
|
|
|
37,077 |
|
|
|
37,583 |
|
|
|
37,077 |
|
|
|
37,583 |
|
|
|
37,077 |
|
|
|
37,583 |
|
|
|
37,077 |
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share |
$ |
2.51 |
|
|
$ |
2.77 |
|
|
$ |
0.21 |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
0.50 |
|
|
$ |
(0.10 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.10 |
) |
|
$ |
3.17 |
|
|
$ |
3.36 |
|
Note: Certain amounts in the tables above may not foot or crossfoot due to rounding. |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250218473954/en/
Eva G. Tang
Senior Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer,
Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
Telephone: (909) 394-3600, ext. 707
Source: American States Water Company