The York Water Company

The York Water Company reported second-quarter operating revenue of $23.52 million, up $4.32 million from a year earlier, and net income of $7.62 million, up $2.56 million, with earnings per share climbing to $0.49 from $0.35, driven mainly by a rate increase that took effect March 1. For the first half of 2026, revenue reached $43.59 million, up $5.93 million from $37.66 million, while net income rose to $12.43 million from $8.69 million and six-month earnings per share came in at $0.82, up $0.22. President JT Hand credited the rate increase and customer base growth, though the gains were partly offset by a reset of the Distribution System Improvement Charge to zero and higher operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation, and income taxes. The company invested $21.1 million in the first six months on main extensions, wastewater treatment plant construction, and an enterprise software upgrade, and spent $0.47 million acquiring two wastewater systems, CMV Sewage Co. in York County and the Pine Run Retirement Community in Adams County. York Water expects to invest another $26.8 million in 2026 excluding acquisitions, and its quarterly dividend rose to $0.2280 per share from $0.2192.

The York Water Company announced that second-quarter net income rose to $7,615,000, an increase of $2,563,000 from the same period last year, driven primarily by a rate increase effective March 1, 2026. Operating revenues for the quarter reached $23,515,000, up $4,316,000, while basic and diluted earnings per share climbed to $0.49 from $0.35. For the first six months, net income grew to $12,429,000, a $3,739,000 increase, with operating revenues of $43,589,000 and earnings per share of $0.82. The company invested $21.1 million in capital projects during the first half and acquired two wastewater systems for $470,000, with plans to invest an additional $26.8 million in 2026.

EZCORP, Carriage Services, and York Water are highlighted as businesses that generate steady demand regardless of economic conditions, making them candidates to hold even during a stock market sell-off. EZCORP operates pawn shops and has expanded to roughly 1,500 stores in 16 countries after acquiring the 105-store Founders One chain, while also launching an online car title loan platform in Texas; its stock has climbed about 150% over the past year, partly driven by record gold prices above $5,000 an ounce that boosted scrap margins from 22% to 38%. Carriage Services owns funeral homes and cemeteries, recently entered the Knoxville market with an acquisition, and secured a $60 million credit facility for further deals, though it carries meaningful debt. York Water, which has paid a dividend every year since 1816, raised roughly $48 million in a stock offering to fund capital projects and acquisitions of small water and wastewater systems in Pennsylvania, but as a regulated utility its returns are capped and shares can be sensitive to interest rates.