York Water: The Steadiest Dividend Stock Outpacing Giants
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 18 2026
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Should l Buy YORW?
Source: Fool
- Dividend Continuity: York Water's announcement of its 210th consecutive year of dividend payments far surpasses Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil, which have maintained dividends for 64 and 135 years respectively, showcasing its exceptional stability and reliability.
- Market Positioning: Serving 58 municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania, York Water operates with a modest market cap of $455 million, yet its predictable operating model ensures stable cash flow, enhancing investor confidence in its performance.
- Regulatory Advantage: As a regulated utility, York Water must obtain approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise rates, a mechanism that, while seemingly restrictive, protects it from volatile wholesale pricing, thereby maintaining profitability.
- Future Growth Potential: Starting in 2026, York Water is set to increase rates for water and wastewater services, projected to add $18.85 million in annual revenue, resulting in a 24% revenue growth, further solidifying its leadership in the dividend space.
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Analyst Views on YORW
About YORW
The York Water Company is an investor-owned water utility in the United States. The primary business of the Company is to impound, purify to meet or exceed safe drinking water standards and distribute water. The Company owns and operates wastewater collection and treatment systems. It operates within its franchised water and wastewater territory, which covers portions of over 57 municipalities within four counties in south-central Pennsylvania. It covers the areas of billing, payment procedures, dispute processing, terminations, service territory, debt and equity financing and rate setting. It obtains the bulk of its water supply for its primary system for York and Adams Counties from both the South Branch and East Branch of the Codorus Creek. It has two reservoirs, Lake Williams and Lake Redman, which together hold up to over 2.5 billion gallons of water. It also has the Houston Run Community Water System in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
York Water: The Steadiest Dividend Stock Outpacing Giants
- Dividend Continuity: York Water's announcement of its 210th consecutive year of dividend payments far surpasses Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil, which have maintained dividends for 64 and 135 years respectively, showcasing its exceptional stability and reliability.
- Market Positioning: Serving 58 municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania, York Water operates with a modest market cap of $455 million, yet its predictable operating model ensures stable cash flow, enhancing investor confidence in its performance.
- Regulatory Advantage: As a regulated utility, York Water must obtain approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise rates, a mechanism that, while seemingly restrictive, protects it from volatile wholesale pricing, thereby maintaining profitability.
- Future Growth Potential: Starting in 2026, York Water is set to increase rates for water and wastewater services, projected to add $18.85 million in annual revenue, resulting in a 24% revenue growth, further solidifying its leadership in the dividend space.
See More
The Investment Value of Quality Dividend Stocks
- Long-Term Dividend Advantage: Buying and holding high-quality dividend stocks is regarded as one of the best long-term investment strategies on Wall Street, particularly for the rare companies that have paid dividends for over 100 years, highlighting their scarcity and stability.
- York Water's Outstanding Performance: York Water Company boasts 210 consecutive years of dividend payments, surpassing industry giants like Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil, and despite its modest market cap of $455 million, its stable cash flow and consistent demand ensure sustainable dividends.
- Future Revenue Growth Potential: York Water is set to raise rates for water and wastewater services starting in 2026, which is expected to add $18.85 million in annual revenue, increasing the company's revenue by 24%, further solidifying its leadership in dividend payments.
- Competitive Industry Advantage: As a regulated utility, York Water's operating model is highly predictable, with virtually no competitors in its service areas, allowing it to maintain stable profitability and dividend payments even in volatile market conditions.
See More
Oversold Utility Stocks Present Buying Opportunities
- Oversold Stocks Overview: In the utilities sector, stocks with an RSI below 30 are considered oversold, indicating potential undervaluation and presenting buying opportunities for investors seeking gains.
- Individual Stock Analysis: Korea Electric Power Corp (KEP) and York Water Co (YORW) are on the oversold list, with YORW showing an RSI of 28.3, suggesting a possible short-term rebound.
- York Water Company Update: On March 3, York Water posted mixed quarterly results, leading to a 6% decline in its stock price over the past five days, currently trading at $31.07, near its 52-week low of $29.68.
- Market Sentiment and Investment Strategy: With the oversold condition in utility stocks, investors can leverage this opportunity, using momentum scores (26.12) and value scores (62.68) to evaluate potential investment prospects.
See More
York Water Releases Q4 2023 Financial Results
- Earnings Performance: York Water reported a GAAP EPS of $0.36 for Q4 2023, which, while slightly below market expectations, demonstrates the company's ongoing ability to generate stable profits, thereby bolstering investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $19.4 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting an increase compared to the same period last year, indicating sustained demand in the water services sector and further solidifying its market position.
- Dividend History: York Water has paid dividends for 210 consecutive years, showcasing its strong cash flow and shareholder return capabilities, which attract income-seeking investors and enhance the company's market appeal.
- Future Outlook: While the current return on investment is decent, analysts generally believe that York Water has significant growth potential ahead, particularly with ongoing investments and expansion plans in the water sector, which could yield higher returns for shareholders.
See More
York Water Company Reports 2025 Financial Results
- Revenue Growth: York Water Company's operating revenues for 2025 reached $77.488 million, an increase of $2.529 million from 2024, primarily driven by growth in the customer base and revenues from the Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC), indicating stable growth potential in the water utility market.
- Net Income Decline: Despite the revenue increase, net income for 2025 was $20.058 million, down $267,000 from 2024, reflecting pressures on profitability from rising operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation, and interest on debt, prompting investors to focus on cost control measures.
- Capital Investment: The company invested $48.7 million in 2025 on infrastructure projects, including main extensions and upgrades to the enterprise software system, aimed at enhancing service quality and operational efficiency to meet the growing customer demand.
- Future Outlook: York Water anticipates investing approximately $48 million annually in 2026 and 2027 for projects such as water treatment plant construction and pipeline replacements, ensuring a safe and adequate drinking water supply while supporting the company's long-term sustainable growth.
See More
YORK WATER CO EXPECTS TO INVEST AROUND $48 MILLION IN BOTH 2026 AND 2027
- Investment Plans: York Water anticipates investments of approximately $48 million for each of the years 2026 and 2027.
- Financial Outlook: The planned investments are aimed at enhancing the company's infrastructure and services.
See More
York Water: The Steadiest Dividend Stock Outpacing Giants
- Dividend Continuity: York Water's announcement of its 210th consecutive year of dividend payments far surpasses Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil, which have maintained dividends for 64 and 135 years respectively, showcasing its exceptional stability and reliability.
- Market Positioning: Serving 58 municipalities in South-Central Pennsylvania, York Water operates with a modest market cap of $455 million, yet its predictable operating model ensures stable cash flow, enhancing investor confidence in its performance.
- Regulatory Advantage: As a regulated utility, York Water must obtain approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to raise rates, a mechanism that, while seemingly restrictive, protects it from volatile wholesale pricing, thereby maintaining profitability.
- Future Growth Potential: Starting in 2026, York Water is set to increase rates for water and wastewater services, projected to add $18.85 million in annual revenue, resulting in a 24% revenue growth, further solidifying its leadership in the dividend space.
See More
The Investment Value of Quality Dividend Stocks
- Long-Term Dividend Advantage: Buying and holding high-quality dividend stocks is regarded as one of the best long-term investment strategies on Wall Street, particularly for the rare companies that have paid dividends for over 100 years, highlighting their scarcity and stability.
- York Water's Outstanding Performance: York Water Company boasts 210 consecutive years of dividend payments, surpassing industry giants like Coca-Cola and ExxonMobil, and despite its modest market cap of $455 million, its stable cash flow and consistent demand ensure sustainable dividends.
- Future Revenue Growth Potential: York Water is set to raise rates for water and wastewater services starting in 2026, which is expected to add $18.85 million in annual revenue, increasing the company's revenue by 24%, further solidifying its leadership in dividend payments.
- Competitive Industry Advantage: As a regulated utility, York Water's operating model is highly predictable, with virtually no competitors in its service areas, allowing it to maintain stable profitability and dividend payments even in volatile market conditions.
See More
Oversold Utility Stocks Present Buying Opportunities
- Oversold Stocks Overview: In the utilities sector, stocks with an RSI below 30 are considered oversold, indicating potential undervaluation and presenting buying opportunities for investors seeking gains.
- Individual Stock Analysis: Korea Electric Power Corp (KEP) and York Water Co (YORW) are on the oversold list, with YORW showing an RSI of 28.3, suggesting a possible short-term rebound.
- York Water Company Update: On March 3, York Water posted mixed quarterly results, leading to a 6% decline in its stock price over the past five days, currently trading at $31.07, near its 52-week low of $29.68.
- Market Sentiment and Investment Strategy: With the oversold condition in utility stocks, investors can leverage this opportunity, using momentum scores (26.12) and value scores (62.68) to evaluate potential investment prospects.
See More
York Water Releases Q4 2023 Financial Results
- Earnings Performance: York Water reported a GAAP EPS of $0.36 for Q4 2023, which, while slightly below market expectations, demonstrates the company's ongoing ability to generate stable profits, thereby bolstering investor confidence.
- Revenue Growth: The company achieved revenue of $19.4 million in the fourth quarter, reflecting an increase compared to the same period last year, indicating sustained demand in the water services sector and further solidifying its market position.
- Dividend History: York Water has paid dividends for 210 consecutive years, showcasing its strong cash flow and shareholder return capabilities, which attract income-seeking investors and enhance the company's market appeal.
- Future Outlook: While the current return on investment is decent, analysts generally believe that York Water has significant growth potential ahead, particularly with ongoing investments and expansion plans in the water sector, which could yield higher returns for shareholders.
See More
York Water Company Reports 2025 Financial Results
- Revenue Growth: York Water Company's operating revenues for 2025 reached $77.488 million, an increase of $2.529 million from 2024, primarily driven by growth in the customer base and revenues from the Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC), indicating stable growth potential in the water utility market.
- Net Income Decline: Despite the revenue increase, net income for 2025 was $20.058 million, down $267,000 from 2024, reflecting pressures on profitability from rising operation and maintenance expenses, depreciation, and interest on debt, prompting investors to focus on cost control measures.
- Capital Investment: The company invested $48.7 million in 2025 on infrastructure projects, including main extensions and upgrades to the enterprise software system, aimed at enhancing service quality and operational efficiency to meet the growing customer demand.
- Future Outlook: York Water anticipates investing approximately $48 million annually in 2026 and 2027 for projects such as water treatment plant construction and pipeline replacements, ensuring a safe and adequate drinking water supply while supporting the company's long-term sustainable growth.
See More
YORK WATER CO EXPECTS TO INVEST AROUND $48 MILLION IN BOTH 2026 AND 2027
- Investment Plans: York Water anticipates investments of approximately $48 million for each of the years 2026 and 2027.
- Financial Outlook: The planned investments are aimed at enhancing the company's infrastructure and services.
See More
