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York Water (YORW) Rewards Investors With 4% Dividend Hike
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The York Water Company (YORW - Free Report) stuck to its habit of dividend hikes, with the board of directors now approving a 4% increase in quarterly dividend. The new dividend of 16.66 cents will be paid on Jan 16, 2018 to the shareholders of record as of Dec 29, 2017.
The annual dividend will be 66.64 cents, reflecting a yield of 1.85%, marginally higher than the S&P 500’s 1.82% yield.
Long History of Dividend Payment
The York Water Company has been rewarding its shareholders with payouts for more than 200 years now, arguably boasting the longest record of regular dividend payment to its stockholders.
The current dividend hike is the twenty-first consecutive year of dividend raise announced by the company.
Factors Behind Regular Payment
The company is steadily expanding its water and wastewater/drainage services through acquisitions and organic means. This expansion of operation is leading to an increase in customer base and resulting in higher demand for water and wastewater services.
The company continues to upgrade and replace nearly 1% of its existing water pipes each year, ensuring quality services to its customers. Plus, addition of new assets like pumping station will help the company serve its expanding clientele in a more efficient and effective manner.
The above initiatives from the company are the primary reasons behind its steady performance and this in turn helps generate adequate funds for the company to offer regular dividends.
Other Moves to Increase Value
The York Water Company apart from making regular dividend payments, also initiated a share repurchase program to increase the shareholder value.
In 2013, the company initiated a program to buy back up to 1,200,000 shares of the company’s common stock from time to time. The company made repurchases and as of Dec 31, 2016, only 655,233 shares remained available for repurchase/under the repurchase authorization.
Investment to Upgrade Aging Infrastructure
The U.S. water infrastructure in getting quite old and hence, massive investment is required to upgrade the existing water and wastewater/sewerage systems. Some of the water mains are nearly a century old and require immediate replacement. Lump sum investment in billions is required for the purpose. The York Water Company has plans to invest $24.8 million in 2017 and already $20.6 million has been pumped in during the first nine months of 2017 to upgrade its existing water systems.
Water utility American Water Works (AWK - Free Report) aims to invest $6.7-$7.3 billion from 2017 through 2021, which will help it boost earnings by 7-10% per year in the period from the 2015 base. In the first nine months of 2017, the company invested more than $1 billion, a hefty chunk of which, was resourced to strengthen operation of its regulated business.
Water Utility Connecticut Water Service Inc. aims to invest more than $150 million in the 2017-2019 period to consolidate its existing infrastructure. Aqua America Inc. has plans to make capital investments of more than $450 million in 2017 as part of an ambitious investment target of more than $1.2 billion in the 2017-2019 period.
Price Movement
Shares of The York Water Company have outperformed the Zacks Water Supply industry in the last three years. The stock has soared 75% compared with the industry’s surge of 55.1%.
The company’s steady performance and its long history of quarterly dividend payment look to drive the shares higher.
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Image: Bigstock
York Water (YORW) Rewards Investors With 4% Dividend Hike
The York Water Company (YORW - Free Report) stuck to its habit of dividend hikes, with the board of directors now approving a 4% increase in quarterly dividend. The new dividend of 16.66 cents will be paid on Jan 16, 2018 to the shareholders of record as of Dec 29, 2017.
The annual dividend will be 66.64 cents, reflecting a yield of 1.85%, marginally higher than the S&P 500’s 1.82% yield.
Long History of Dividend Payment
The York Water Company has been rewarding its shareholders with payouts for more than 200 years now, arguably boasting the longest record of regular dividend payment to its stockholders.
The current dividend hike is the twenty-first consecutive year of dividend raise announced by the company.
Factors Behind Regular Payment
The company is steadily expanding its water and wastewater/drainage services through acquisitions and organic means. This expansion of operation is leading to an increase in customer base and resulting in higher demand for water and wastewater services.
The company continues to upgrade and replace nearly 1% of its existing water pipes each year, ensuring quality services to its customers. Plus, addition of new assets like pumping station will help the company serve its expanding clientele in a more efficient and effective manner.
The above initiatives from the company are the primary reasons behind its steady performance and this in turn helps generate adequate funds for the company to offer regular dividends.
Other Moves to Increase Value
The York Water Company apart from making regular dividend payments, also initiated a share repurchase program to increase the shareholder value.
In 2013, the company initiated a program to buy back up to 1,200,000 shares of the company’s common stock from time to time. The company made repurchases and as of Dec 31, 2016, only 655,233 shares remained available for repurchase/under the repurchase authorization.
Investment to Upgrade Aging Infrastructure
The U.S. water infrastructure in getting quite old and hence, massive investment is required to upgrade the existing water and wastewater/sewerage systems. Some of the water mains are nearly a century old and require immediate replacement. Lump sum investment in billions is required for the purpose. The York Water Company has plans to invest $24.8 million in 2017 and already $20.6 million has been pumped in during the first nine months of 2017 to upgrade its existing water systems.
Water utility American Water Works (AWK - Free Report) aims to invest $6.7-$7.3 billion from 2017 through 2021, which will help it boost earnings by 7-10% per year in the period from the 2015 base. In the first nine months of 2017, the company invested more than $1 billion, a hefty chunk of which, was resourced to strengthen operation of its regulated business.
Water Utility Connecticut Water Service Inc. aims to invest more than $150 million in the 2017-2019 period to consolidate its existing infrastructure. Aqua America Inc. has plans to make capital investments of more than $450 million in 2017 as part of an ambitious investment target of more than $1.2 billion in the 2017-2019 period.
Price Movement
Shares of The York Water Company have outperformed the Zacks Water Supply industry in the last three years. The stock has soared 75% compared with the industry’s surge of 55.1%.
The company’s steady performance and its long history of quarterly dividend payment look to drive the shares higher.
Zacks Rank
The York Water Company carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>