10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2012

American Water Works Company, Inc. Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Jun 30, 2012

Filed August 2, 2012For Securities:AWK

Summary

American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) reported solid financial performance for the six months ended June 30, 2012, with net income rising to $148.8 million from $107.3 million in the prior year period. This growth was primarily driven by increased revenues in its Regulated Businesses segment, fueled by rate increases and higher customer demand, as well as modest growth in Market-Based Operations. The company also made significant progress in its portfolio optimization initiative, completing the divestiture of its Arizona, New Mexico, and Ohio subsidiaries. Strategically, AWK is focused on executing its portfolio optimization, addressing regulatory lag and declining usage, optimizing capital allocation, and enhancing its operational efficiency. The company has successfully implemented new rate increases across several states and is continuing to manage its business transformation project, which is expected to yield long-term benefits. Despite ongoing investments and market risks, AWK demonstrates a commitment to shareholder returns through consistent dividend payments and a stable capital structure.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$745.61M
Operating Expenses$474.98M
Operating Income$270.63M
Interest Expense$79.73M
Net Income$107.03M
EPS (Basic)$0.61
EPS (Diluted)$0.60
Shares Outstanding (Basic)176.33M
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)177.49M

Key Highlights

  • 1Net income increased by 38.6% to $148.8 million for the first six months of 2012 compared to $107.3 million in the same period of 2011.
  • 2Operating revenues grew by 7.8% to $1.36 billion for the first six months of 2012, primarily driven by rate increases and higher customer demand in the Regulated Businesses segment.
  • 3The company completed the divestiture of its regulated operations in Arizona and New Mexico in Q1 2012 and its Ohio subsidiary in May 2012 as part of its portfolio optimization strategy.
  • 4Capital expenditures for the first six months of 2012 increased to $476.3 million, up from $391.8 million in the prior year period, reflecting investments in infrastructure replacement and the business transformation project.
  • 5The O&M efficiency ratio for Regulated Businesses improved to 41.2% for the first six months of 2012 from 45.5% in the prior year period, indicating improved operational efficiency.
  • 6The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, payable in September 2012, demonstrating a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary drivers for the increase in net income were higher operating revenues in the Regulated Businesses segment, resulting from approved rate increases and increased customer usage, alongside modest growth in the Market-Based Operations segment. The company also benefited from the completed divestitures of non-core assets.

American Water Works has made significant progress by completing the sale of its regulated subsidiaries in Arizona, New Mexico, and Ohio. Additionally, the company completed the acquisition of seven regulated water systems in New York, expanding its customer base.

Capital expenditures for the first six months of 2012 increased to $476.3 million, reflecting investments in infrastructure and a business transformation project. The company expects to continue significant capital investments in 2012 and 2013. AWK believes its cash flows from operations, access to capital markets, and revolving credit facility will provide sufficient liquidity for its needs.

The company is involved in routine legal proceedings, and while it believes these will not materially affect its financial condition, it notes a specific matter regarding water supply in California involving its subsidiary CAWC. For environmental matters, accrued remediation costs were $4.4 million as of June 30, 2012, primarily related to a conservation agreement in California, with potential for regulatory recovery through customer rates.