SJW Group Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

SJW Group reported strong Q1 2025 financial results, with diluted EPS reaching $0.49, a 36% increase from the previous year. The company's adjusted diluted EPS grew 39% to $0.50. Operating revenue increased 12% to $167.6 million, driven by rate increases of $17.2 million and higher customer usage.

Key highlights include:

• Infrastructure investment of $78.2 million in Q1, targeting $473 million for 2025
• Net income rose 41% to $16.6 million
• Quarterly dividend declared at $0.42 per share
• New rates implemented at San Jose Water effective January 1, 2025

The company affirmed its 2025 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $2.90 to $3.00 and expects to achieve growth in the top half of its 5-7% long-term EPS growth range through 2029.

Positive

• Q1 2025 diluted EPS increased 36% to $0.49 (39% increase in adjusted EPS to $0.50)
• Operating revenue grew 12% to $167.6M in Q1 2025
• Secured new rates at San Jose Water with $53.1M revenue increase authorization
• On track with $78.2M infrastructure investment (17% of planned $473M 2025 capex)
• Maintained 9.81% return on equity through 2026 in California
• Dividend increased to $1.68 per share annually (up from $1.60 in 2024)
• 57 consecutive years of dividend increases

Negative

• Operating expenses increased 8% to $131.7M
• Higher water production expenses (+$7.2M)
• Increased administrative expenses (+$2.0M) due to higher customer credit losses
• Higher customer credit losses and insurance costs

Insights

Financial Analyst

SJW Group reports strong Q1 2025 with 36% EPS growth, affirms 2025 guidance amid successful rate implementations and infrastructure investments.

SJW Group's Q1 2025 results demonstrate exceptional financial performance for a water utility. The company reported $0.49 diluted EPS, a 36% year-over-year increase, while adjusted EPS reached $0.50, up 39%. Net income climbed to $16.6 million, representing a 41% increase from Q1 2024.

Operating revenue grew to $167.6 million, a 12% increase primarily driven by rate increases ($17.2 million) and improved customer usage ($1.0 million). This revenue composition is typical for regulated utilities, where rate adjustments often contribute more significantly than organic growth.

The company's capital expenditure strategy remains on track, with $78.2 million invested in infrastructure during Q1, approximately 17% of their planned $473 million for 2025. This investment pace aligns with construction seasonality patterns.

SJW has affirmed its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance of $2.90 to $3.00 and long-term growth projections of 5-7% through 2029, with management expressing confidence in achieving results in the top half of this range.

The quarterly dividend increase to $0.42 per share ($1.68 annualized vs $1.60 in 2024) represents a 5% increase, maintaining SJW's 57-year dividend growth streak – an impressive achievement in the utility sector and valuable for income-focused investors.

Utility Regulation Specialist

SJW secures favorable regulatory outcomes across multiple states, enabling significant revenue recovery through infrastructure investments and rate mechanisms.

SJW Group's regulatory strategy is yielding substantial benefits across its multi-state footprint. In California, the company successfully implemented new rates effective January 1, 2025, following their general rate case decision. This regulatory win authorizes $53.1 million in revenue increases and a $450 million capital plan over the three-year GRC cycle, with 3.91% increase in 2025, 2.55% in 2026, and 2.98% in 2027.

The California Public Utilities Commission also granted SJW a one-year deferment of their 2025 Cost of Capital filing, maintaining their 9.81% return on equity and 7.75% authorized rate of return through 2026. This regulatory stability provides important predictability for the company's financial planning.

In Connecticut, SJW secured a $1.6 million revenue increase through the Water Infrastructure and Conservation Charge (WICA) mechanism and authorization to recover additional revenues through the Water Revenue Adjustment (WRA) with a 3.62% surcharge.

The company has pending regulatory applications in Maine and Texas that could further bolster revenues. Maine Water's request to unify tariffs across its ten rate districts would significantly streamline regulatory processes and reduce administrative inefficiencies – a strategic regulatory innovation that could become a model for other multi-district utilities.

These regulatory successes demonstrate SJW's effective execution of the classic regulated utility model: invest capital, secure regulatory approval for recovery, and deliver returns to shareholders.

• First quarter 2025 reported diluted EPS of $0.49, a 36% increase in diluted EPS over the prior year, and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.50, a 39% increase in adjusted diluted EPS over the prior year
• First quarter 2025 infrastructure investment was $78.2 million², on track for full-year capital expenditures of $473 million² due to seasonality of the construction season
• Declares $0.42 cash dividend per share of common stock

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SJW Group (NASDAQ: SJW) today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

"We are pleased with our financial results for the quarter, which demonstrate the strength of our local water operations and the continued successful execution of our proven business strategy," stated SJW Group Chair, CEO, and President, Eric W. Thornburg. "In the first quarter, we secured new rates at San Jose Water effective on January 1, 2025, implemented an approved Water Infrastructure and Conservation Charge (WICA) increase and approval to recover additional revenues through the Water Revenue Adjustment (WRA) for achieving performance metrics at Connecticut Water, invested $78.2 million in maintaining and improving our water supply and infrastructure across our national footprint, putting us on track to meet our 2025 and five-year capital expenditure goals, and implemented capital initiatives to drive sustainable operating efficiencies that benefit customers."

Thornburg added, "We intend to build upon this strong start to the year by continuing to invest in our trusted relationships with all key stakeholders, deliver on and advance our capital expenditures plan, and encourage the culture of service that underlies our success."

First Quarter 2025 Operating Results

Net income prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was $16.6 million, a 41% increase compared to $11.7 million in the same quarter last year. Diluted EPS for the quarter was $0.49 versus $0.36 in the prior year quarter, an increase of 36%. Adjusting for merger and acquisition activities expense, SJW Group's adjusted net income (non-GAAP) in the first quarter of 2025 was $16.7 million (non-GAAP), an increase of 43% compared to $11.7 million in the prior-year period. Adjusted diluted EPS for the quarter was $0.50 versus $0.36 in the prior year quarter, an increase of 39%.

The difference between GAAP net income and adjusted net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 was due to expenses incurred for merger and acquisition activities of $0.2 million, net of tax. A full reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 is included in the tables at the end of this news release.

Operating revenue for the first quarter was $167.6 million, compared to $149.4 million for the same quarter last year, a 12% increase. The increase was largely driven by rate increases of $17.2 million and higher customer usage of $1.0 million.

Operating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 were $131.7 million, up 8% compared to $121.5 million for the same quarter last year. This change in operating expenses primarily reflects:

• An increase in water production expenses of $7.2 million compared to the same quarter last year due primarily to higher purchased water and groundwater extraction charges; and
• An increase in administrative and general expenses of $2.0 million primarily due to increases in customer credit losses and insurance costs.

The effective consolidated income tax rates for the first quarter of 2025 and 2024 were approximately 17% and 16%, respectively.

Capital Expenditures

In the first quarter of 2025, SJW Group invested $78.2 million² in infrastructure, which is approximately 17% of the planned 2025 capital expenditures of $473 million². Considering the seasonality of construction activities, we are on track for our full-year capital expenditures.

Rate Activity and Regulatory Updates

California

On January 1, 2025, new rates went into effect for San Jose Water as part of its general rate case (GRC) decision. The GRC decision, which was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in December, authorized an increase of $53.1 million in revenues and a $450 million capital plan over the three-year GRC cycle. The 2025 step increase in authorized revenues is $21.3 million, or 3.91%, with an additional $14.4 million, or 2.55%, in 2026, and $17.4 million, or 2.98%, in 2027. Other provisions of the GRC provide for greater revenue recovery through the service charge and further alignment of authorized to actual usage through a lower sales forecast.

On January 14, 2025, the CPUC granted San Jose Water, along with three other Class A California water utilities, a one-year deferment of their 2025 Cost of Capital (COC) filings from May 1, 2025 to May 1, 2026 in response to the water utilities' request to postpone their COC filings. This deferment maintains our 9.81% return on equity, which includes a 20-basis point reduction related to the Water Conservation Memorandum Account (WCMA), 5.28% cost of debt, and authorized rate of return of 7.75% through 2026, subject to any adjustments resulting from the Water Cost of Capital Mechanism (WCCM). The deferment alleviates administrative processing costs for both the water utilities and the CPUC.

The approved deferral provides that the WCCM will remain in place through 2026. The WCCM will adjust the return on equity and cost of debt in either direction in accordance with movements of 1.00% or more in the Moody’s Aa Utility Bond Index between October 1, 2024 and September 30, 2025.

The WCMA is a temporary revenue protection mechanism authorized by the CPUC due to a voluntary 15% water reduction request from San Jose Water’s water wholesaler because a large reservoir is offline for seismic dam improvements.

Connecticut

On March 26, 2025, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority authorized a $1.6 million revenue increase for Connecticut Water infrastructure investment projects completed through WICA and the annual WICA reconciliation. The increase was effective on April 1 and the cumulative WICA surcharge is now 4.9%.

PURA also approved Connecticut Water's proposed annual reconciliation of the WRA to collect the 2024 revenue shortfall. A WRA surcharge of 3.62% was effective on April 1 and will continue for 12 months. The approved adjustment reconciled 2024 revenues, as authorized in Connecticut Water's most recent GRC, and provides for recovery of certain amounts of executive compensation as the result of the achievement of performance metrics as prescribed by PURA that were authorized in the company's 2024 GRC decision.

Maine

Maine Water anticipates a decision from the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) in the second quarter on the GRC application for the Camden Rockland Division that was filed in October 2024. The company is requesting an increase in annual revenues of approximately $1.1 million, or 15.9%, over current authorized revenues.

Maine Water's request to unify tariffs across the company's ten rate districts is pending before the MPUC. If the request is approved, it would streamline GRC and Water Infrastructure Charge (WISC) filings, which are currently done on a district-by-district basis. This would improve administrative efficiency, reduce regulatory lag, and ease the burden on regulatory agencies. A decision is anticipated by the end of 2025.

On April 15, 2025, the company filed for WISC increases in both the Oakland and Biddeford Saco divisions. The combined requested surcharge is 3.00% or $547,000. A decision is expected in the second quarter of 2025.

Texas

Texas Water's application for a second System Infrastructure Charge is pending before the Public Utilities Commission of Texas. The company has requested an annual revenue increase of $4.1 million. A decision on the application could come as early as the second quarter of 2025.

Affirming 2025 Guidance

The company is affirming 2025 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $2.90 to $3.00¹ and our non-linear long-term diluted EPS growth of 5% to 7% through 2029, anchored off of 2022's diluted EPS of $2.43. Based on current business conditions, SJW believes it will achieve growth over the period in the top half of the range.

Our guidance is subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those factors outlined in the Forward-Looking Statements of this release and the Risk Factors section of the company’s annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Dividend

On April 25, 2025, the directors of SJW Group declared a quarterly cash dividend on common stock of $0.42 per share, payable on June 2, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2025. The 2025 annualized dividend is expected to be $1.68 per share compared with $1.60 per share in 2024.

Dividends have been paid on SJW Group’s and its predecessor’s common stock for more than 80 consecutive years, and the annual dividend amount has increased for 57 consecutive years, placing SJW Group in an exclusive group of companies.

Financial Results Call Information

Eric W. Thornburg, president, chief executive officer, and board chair, Andrew F. Walters, chief financial officer and treasurer, Bruce A. Hauk, chief operating officer, Kristen A. Johnson, senior vice president and chief administrative officer, and Ann P. Kelly, chief accounting officer, will review results for the first quarter in a live webcast presentation at 11 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, or 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Interested parties may access the webcast and related presentation materials at the website www.sjwgroup.com. An archive of the webcast will be available until July 21, 2025.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures        

SJW Group's net income and diluted EPS are prepared in accordance with GAAP and represent the earnings as reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures representing GAAP earnings adjusted to exclude the effects of non-utility real estate transactions and costs associated with mergers and acquisition activities, if any. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as additional information for investors to evaluate the performance of SJW Group's business activities excluding these items. Management also believes these non-GAAP financial measures help investors and analysts better understand our actual results compared to our guidance on a non-GAAP basis. SJW Group uses adjusted net income and/or adjusted diluted EPS as the primary performance measurements when communicating with analysts and investors regarding our outlook and results. Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted EPS are also used internally to measure performance. However, these non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, even when the same or similarly titled terms are used to identify such measures, limiting their usefulness for comparative purposes. Further, these non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to the financial information prepared on a GAAP basis rather than an alternative to the respective GAAP financial measures.

About SJW Group

SJW Group is among the largest investor-owned pure-play water and wastewater utilities in the United States, providing life-sustaining and high-quality water service to 1.6 million people. SJW Group’s locally led and operated water utilities - San Jose Water Company in California, The Connecticut Water Company in Connecticut, The Maine Water Company in Maine, and SJWTX, Inc. (dba The Texas Water Company) in Texas - possess the financial strength, operational expertise, and technological innovation to safeguard the environment, deliver outstanding service to customers, and provide opportunities to employees. SJW Group remains focused on investing in its operations, remaining actively engaged in its local communities, and delivering continued sustainable value to its stockholders. For more information about SJW Group, please visit www.sjwgroup.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to future events and future results of SJW Group and its subsidiaries that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about SJW Group and its subsidiaries and the industries in which SJW Group and its subsidiaries operate and the beliefs and assumptions of the management of SJW Group. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “seeks,” “plans,” “projects,” “may,” “should,” “will,” "approximately," "strategy," or the negative of those words or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to, the following factors: (1) the effect of water, utility, environmental and other governmental policies and regulations, including regulatory actions concerning rates, authorized return on equity, authorized capital structures, capital expenditures, PFAS and other decisions; (2) changes in demand for water and other services; (3) unanticipated weather conditions and changes in seasonality including those affecting water supply and customer usage; (4) the effect of the impact of climate change; (5) unexpected costs, charges or expenses; (6) our ability to successfully evaluate investments in new business and growth initiatives; (7) contamination of our water supplies and damage or failure of our water equipment and infrastructure; (8) the risk of work stoppages, strikes and other labor-related actions; (9) catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, terrorist acts, physical attacks, cyber-attacks, epidemic, or similar occurrences; (10) changes in general economic, political, business and financial market conditions; (11) the ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, which can be affected by various factors, including credit ratings, changes in interest rates, compliance with regulatory requirements, compliance with the terms and conditions of our outstanding indebtedness, and general market and economic conditions; and (12) legislative, and general market and economic developments. The risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of SJW Group to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Results for a quarter are not indicative of results for a full year due to seasonality and other factors. In addition, actual results, performance or achievements are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to our overall business, including those more fully described in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and speak only as of the date made, and SJW Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

SJW Group Contacts:

Andrew F. Walters
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
408.279.7818
Andrew.Walters@ctwater.com

Daniel J. Meaney
Director of Investor Relations
860.664.6016
Daniel.Meaney@ctwater.com

______________________________

1	Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures as defined below. See the tables below for reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures.
2	Includes both utility plant additions and capitalizable costs associated with cloud-computing arrangements.

SJW Group Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	Three months ended March 31,
	2025				2024
Operating revenue	$	167,599				149,382
Operating expense:
Production Expenses:
Purchased water		25,953				26,192
Power		3,483				2,427
Groundwater extraction charges		18,291				12,126
Other production expenses		11,240				11,049
Total production expenses		58,967				51,794
Administrative and general		27,760				25,788
Maintenance		7,499				6,687
Property taxes and other non-income taxes		9,195				8,830
Depreciation and amortization		28,282				28,370
Total operating expense		131,703				121,469
Operating income		35,896				27,913
Other (expense) income:
Interest on long-term debt and other interest expense		(18,272	)			(17,584	)
Pension non-service credit		1,603				950
Other, net		795				2,651
Income before income taxes		20,022				13,930
Provision for income taxes		3,471				2,231
Net income	$	16,551				11,699
Earnings per share
—Basic	$	0.49				0.36
—Diluted	$	0.49				0.36
Dividends per share	$	0.42				0.40
Weighted average shares outstanding
—Basic		33,778,792				32,076,720
—Diluted		33,868,565				32,144,579

SJW Group Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	March 31, 2025				December 31, 2024
Assets
Utility plant:
Land	$	44,657				44,657
Depreciable plant and equipment		4,311,934				4,249,314
Construction work in progress		199,039				179,486
Intangible assets		51,604				51,604
Total utility plant		4,607,234				4,525,061
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		1,058,985				1,036,450
Net utility plant		3,548,249				3,488,611
Nonutility properties		1,314				1,314
Less: accumulated depreciation		99				98
Net nonutility properties		1,215				1,216
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		23,696				11,114
Accounts receivable:
Customers, net of allowances for credit losses of $1,149 and $1,172 on March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively		65,854				68,679
Income tax		4,507				5,953
Other		6,775				7,059
Accrued unbilled revenue		58,616				60,847
Prepaid expenses		13,336				10,297
Current regulatory assets		16,572				18,172
Other current assets		7,916				8,593
Total current assets		197,272				190,714
Other assets:
Regulatory assets, less current portion		226,602				224,055
Investments		18,622				18,087
Postretirement benefit plans		67,848				66,422
Goodwill		640,311				640,311
Other		28,691				28,893
Total other assets		982,074				977,768
Total assets	$	4,728,810				4,658,309

SJW Group Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (in thousands, except share and per share data)
	March 31, 2025				December 31, 2024
Capitalization and liabilities
Capitalization:
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding shares 34,182,785 on March 31, 2025 and 33,629,169 on December 31, 2024	$	34				34
Additional paid-in capital		855,759				827,796
Retained earnings		539,584				537,184
Accumulated other comprehensive income		1,960				1,960
Total stockholders’ equity		1,397,337				1,366,974
Long-term debt, less current portion		1,691,475				1,706,904
Total capitalization		3,088,812				3,073,878
Current liabilities:
Lines of credit		152,590				119,124
Current portion of long-term debt		18,665				3,648
Accrued groundwater extraction charges, purchased water and power		23,312				25,118
Accounts payable		46,654				56,256
Accrued interest		20,230				17,476
Accrued payroll		9,817				15,193
Current regulatory liabilities		573				1,122
Other current liabilities		24,838				23,236
Total current liabilities		296,679				261,173
Deferred income taxes		280,132				276,043
Advances for construction		162,334				155,397
Contributions in aid of construction		340,395				340,738
Postretirement benefit plans		43,613				45,063
Regulatory liabilities, less current portion		493,957				483,719
Other noncurrent liabilities		22,888				22,298
Commitments and contingencies
Total capitalization and liabilities	$	4,728,810				4,658,309

SJW Group Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data)
	Three months ended March 31,
	2025				2024
Reported GAAP Net Income	$	16,551				11,699
Adjustments:
Expense for merger and acquisition activities1		254				—
Tax effect of above adjustments2		(71	)			—
Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)	$	16,734				11,699
Reported GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share	$	0.49				0.36
Adjustments:
Expense for merger and acquisition activities, net of tax		0.01				—
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (non-GAAP)	$	0.50				0.36

1	Included in the "Administrative and general" line on the condensed consolidated statements of income.
2	The tax effect on all adjustments is calculated at the applicable statutory rate.

FAQ

What was SJW Group's (SJW) earnings per share in Q1 2025?

SJW Group reported Q1 2025 diluted EPS of $0.49, representing a 36% increase from the previous year. On an adjusted basis, diluted EPS was $0.50, up 39% from Q1 2024.

How much did SJW Group invest in infrastructure during Q1 2025?

SJW Group invested $78.2 million in infrastructure during Q1 2025, which represents approximately 17% of their planned 2025 capital expenditures of $473 million.

What is SJW Group's dividend payment for Q2 2025?

SJW Group declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per share, payable on June 2, 2025, to shareholders of record as of May 12, 2025. The 2025 annualized dividend is expected to be $1.68 per share.

What revenue increase did San Jose Water receive in its 2025 rate case?

San Jose Water received approval for a $53.1 million revenue increase and a $450 million capital plan over three years, with a 2025 step increase of $21.3 million (3.91%), followed by $14.4 million (2.55%) in 2026 and $17.4 million (2.98%) in 2027.

What is SJW Group's earnings guidance for 2025?

SJW Group affirmed its 2025 adjusted diluted EPS guidance of $2.90 to $3.00, with expected growth in the top half of their 5-7% long-term growth range through 2029.