Capital expenditure requirements frequently outpace internal cash generation, as evidenced by the $217.9 million investment in 2025Q3 which significantly exceeded the company's quarterly operating cash flow.
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | 245.33M | 244.8M | 195.53M | 190.83M | 166.2M | 130.04M | 104.05M | 130M | 91.34M | 101.11M | 114.57M | 98.15M | 65.91M | 63.42M | 74.37M | 64.2M | 37.17M | 54.55M | 51.79M | 42.03M | 44.52M | 42.62M | 41.23M | 42.02M | 29.09M | 25.45M | 24.03M | 23.58M | 26.93M | 23.9M | 19.3M |
| Operating CF Growth % | 122.11% | 25.2% | 2.46% | 14.82% | 27.81% | 24.98% | -19.96% | 42.33% | -9.66% | -11.75% | 16.73% | 48.92% | 3.92% | -14.71% | 15.83% | 72.74% | -31.86% | 5.32% | 23.22% | -5.6% | 4.46% | 3.37% | -1.89% | 44.46% | 14.29% | 5.91% | 1.93% | -12.45% | 12.69% | 23.83% | -13.06% |
| Operating CF / Revenue % | 30.05% | 30.58% | 26.12% | 28.47% | 26.78% | 22.67% | 18.43% | 30.92% | 22.97% | 25.98% | 33.73% | 32.17% | 20.62% | 22.91% | 28.43% | 26.87% | 17.24% | 25.24% | 23.5% | 20.34% | 23.53% | 23.66% | 24.7% | 27.93% | 19.87% | 18.7% | 19.51% | 20.15% | 25.41% | 21.71% | 18.81% |
| Net Income | 105.04M | 102.58M | 93.97M | 84.99M | 73.83M | 60.48M | 61.52M | 23.63M | 38.77M | 61.1M | 52.84M | 37.88M | 51.81M | 22.38M | 22.32M | 20.88M | 24.41M | 15.17M | 21.46M | 19.32M | 38.58M | 21.84M | 19.79M | 18.68M | 14.23M | 14.02M | 10.66M | 15.88M | 16.02M | 15.2M | 18.6M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 124.63M | 120.49M | 115.05M | 108.14M | 106.44M | 96.47M | 91.62M | 68.49M | 56.91M | 50.5M | 46.3M | 42.33M | 39.49M | 36.59M | 34.63M | 32.71M | 29.76M | 25.64M | 24.04M | 22.85M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 5.28M | 5.18M | 10.36M | -8.51M | -3.24M | -2.85M | -5.5M | -1.25M | -9.49M | -436K | 4.8M | 15.63M | 26.07M | 11.57M | 12.23M | 16.46M | 8.08M | 6.3M | 6.08M | -1.78M | 10.77M | 1.92M | 10.11M | 6.4M | 3M | 1.99M | -1.54M | 813K | 1.65M | 1.9M | 300K |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -41.75M | -6.24M | -25.69M | -2.11M | -7.75M | -11.14M | -7.2M | -909K | 414K | -19.4M | -13.62M | -1.89M | -2.57M | -1.06M | -910K | 23K | -15.37M | 0 | -1.22M | 0 | 5.84M | 20.57M | 16.34M | 14.86M | 14.01M | 13.24M | 11.85M | 7.17M | 7.96M | 8.8M | 3.4M |
| Working Capital Changes | 45.68M | 16.34M | -3.78M | 3.68M | -7.87M | -17.17M | -39.95M | 36.64M | 2.62M | 6.71M | 22.56M | 2.6M | -49.91M | -6.97M | 5.53M | -6.51M | -10.52M | 6.53M | 832K | 977K | -10.67M | -1.7M | -5.01M | 2.08M | -2.15M | -3.8M | 3.06M | -288K | 1.3M | -2M | -3M |
| Capital Expenditures | -217.87M | -522.9M | -380.64M | -290.72M | -244.24M | -253.81M | -214.97M | -1.02B | -148.34M | -152.41M | -145.58M | -110.45M | -103.49M | -97.02M | -106.76M | -71.57M | -100.66M | -64.16M | -71.54M | -74.38M | -71.76M | -51.77M | -42.26M | -62.25M | -37.6M | -48M | -33.77M | -32.36M | -38.72M | -24.2M | -21.1M |
| CapEx / Revenue % | 8.06% | 0% | 50.86% | 43.37% | 39.35% | 44.24% | 38.08% | 242.05% | 37.3% | 39.16% | 42.85% | 36.2% | 32.37% | 35.04% | 40.82% | 29.95% | 46.68% | 27.14% | 32.47% | 36% | 37.92% | 28.74% | 25.32% | 41.37% | 25.69% | 35.27% | 27.42% | 27.66% | 36.52% | 21.98% | 20.57% |
| CapEx / D&A | 0.53x | 0.00x | 3.31x | 2.69x | 2.29x | 2.63x | 2.35x | 14.86x | 2.61x | 3.02x | 3.14x | 2.61x | 2.62x | 2.65x | 3.08x | 2.19x | 3.38x | 2.29x | 2.98x | 3.25x | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| CapEx Coverage (OCF/CapEx) | 3.73x | - | 0.51x | 0.66x | 0.68x | 0.51x | 0.48x | 0.13x | 0.62x | 0.66x | 0.79x | 0.89x | 0.64x | 0.65x | 0.70x | 0.90x | 0.37x | 0.93x | 0.72x | 0.57x | 0.62x | 0.82x | 0.98x | 0.68x | 0.77x | 0.53x | 0.71x | 0.73x | 0.70x | 0.99x | 0.91x |
| Cash from Investing | -528.27M | -520.1M | -340.1M | -322.27M | -244.33M | -260M | -214.26M | -1.02B | -146.84M | -113.87M | -122.13M | -110.61M | -97.64M | -95.77M | -104.2M | -75.72M | -74.76M | -64.16M | -66.65M | -91.36M | -65.31M | -48.51M | -35.48M | -57.66M | -38.95M | -49.3M | -34.44M | -28.36M | -36.13M | -31.7M | -9.3M |
| Acquisitions | 0 | 0 | 0 | -7.54M | -433K | -23.59M | 1.15M | -834.72M | 1.62M | -1.15M | -1.07M | -991K | -1.77M | -3.35M | -2.28M | -4.04M | -3.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.08M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purchase of Investments | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -116K | -328K | -1.1M | -13K | -4.23M | -678K | -156K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -48.24M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sale of Investments | 2.8M | 2.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.11M | 0 | 4.51M | 1.93M | 3.06M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33.94M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.3M |
| Other Investing | -465.27M | -522.9M | 40.54M | -24.01M | 344K | 17.4M | -435K | -137K | -4.24M | 39.8M | 20.34M | 0 | 4.57M | 8.83M | 5.52M | 43K | -4.54M | -5.51M | 4.89M | 31.26M | 2.37M | 3.26M | 6.78M | 4.59M | -1.35M | -1.3M | -678K | 4M | 2.59M | -7.5M | 7.5M |
| Cash from Financing | 412.26M | 284.87M | 145.96M | 128.82M | 78.35M | 132.81M | 101.53M | 484.99M | 468.42M | -4.79M | 27.67M | 15.3M | 31.83M | 32.12M | 5.62M | 36.52M | 37.91M | 7.62M | 15.91M | 47.9M | 15.17M | 4.39M | -5.13M | 25.4M | 5.16M | 28.09M | 11.07M | -3.16M | 13.43M | -300K | -5.5M |
| Dividends Paid | -60.41M | -58.65M | -52.13M | -47.91M | -43.58M | -40.14M | -36.51M | -34.13M | -23.07M | -21.33M | -16.56M | -15.88M | -15.18M | -14.44M | -13.23M | -12.82M | -12.6M | -12.2M | -11.88M | -11.09M | -10.33M | -9.78M | -9.32M | -8.86M | -8.4M | -7.83M | -7.49M | -7.38M | -7.42M | -7.2M | -7.2M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio % | - | 57.17% | 55.48% | 56.37% | 59.03% | 66.37% | 59.35% | 145.85% | 59.52% | 36.03% | 31.34% | 41.93% | 29.3% | 64.52% | 59.28% | 61.42% | 51.64% | 80.43% | 55.33% | 57.39% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Debt Issuance (Net) | 0 | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -252K | 1000K | -50K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | 1000K | -1000K | -1000K |
| Stock Issued | 384.86M | 122.81M | 85.01M | 80.66M | 39.09M | 91.03M | 0 | 0 | 411.38M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35.89M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 890K | 1.3M | 10K | 21K | 19K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -10K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -185K | -144K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -7.11M | -158K | 0 | -3.2M |
| Other Financing | 433.23M | 71.69M | 29.99M | 18.49M | 20.45M | 23.12M | 24.09M | 17.24M | 5.11M | 8.46M | 30.23M | 10.41M | 6.81M | 9.01M | 7.25M | 4.44M | 3.1M | 3.17M | 13.11M | 15.39M | 11.42M | 12.6M | 4.57M | 15.99M | 13.62M | 15.62M | 10.66M | 8.03M | 6M | 8.4M | 5.9M |
| Net Change in Cash | 129.31M | 9.57M | 1.39M | -2.62M | 225K | 1.64M | -8.68M | -407.78M | 412.92M | -17.55M | 20.11M | 2.84M | 100K | -223K | -24.21M | 25M | 314K | -1.99M | 1.05M | -1.43M | -5.61M | -1.5M | 621K | 9.77M | -4.7M | 4.24M | 659K | -7.94M | 4.23M | -8.1M | 4.5M |
| Exchange Rate Effect | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash at Beginning | 20.69M | 11.11M | 9.72M | 12.34M | 12.12M | 9.27M | 17.94M | 420.72M | 7.8M | 25.35M | 5.24M | 2.4M | 2.3M | 2.52M | 26.73M | 1.73M | 1.42M | 3.41M | 2.35M | 3.79M | 9.4M | 10.9M | 10.28M | 508K | 5.02M | 783K | 124K | 8.07M | 3.83M | 11.9M | 7.4M |
| Cash at End | 153.01M | 20.69M | 11.11M | 9.72M | 12.34M | 10.91M | 9.27M | 12.94M | 420.72M | 7.8M | 25.35M | 5.24M | 2.4M | 2.3M | 2.52M | 26.73M | 1.73M | 1.42M | 3.41M | 2.35M | 3.79M | 9.4M | 10.9M | 10.28M | 324K | 5.02M | 783K | 124K | 8.07M | 3.8M | 11.9M |
| Free Cash Flow | 27.45M | -278.1M | -185.11M | -99.89M | -78.04M | -123.77M | -110.92M | -887.77M | -56.99M | -51.3M | -31.01M | -12.29M | -37.58M | -33.59M | -32.39M | -7.36M | -63.49M | -9.61M | -19.75M | -32.35M | -27.23M | -9.15M | -1.03M | -20.22M | -8.51M | -22.55M | -9.73M | -8.78M | -11.78M | -300K | -1.8M |
| FCF Growth % | 113.48% | -50.23% | -85.31% | -28% | 36.95% | -11.58% | 87.51% | -1457.68% | -11.1% | -65.43% | -152.26% | 67.28% | -11.85% | -3.72% | -339.95% | 88.4% | -560.73% | 51.33% | 38.96% | -18.77% | -197.72% | -786.43% | 94.9% | -137.78% | 62.28% | -131.71% | -10.81% | 25.46% | -3827.33% | 83.33% | -156.25% |
| FCF Margin % | 3.36% | -34.74% | -24.73% | -14.9% | -12.57% | -21.57% | -19.65% | -211.13% | -14.33% | -13.18% | -9.13% | -4.03% | -11.75% | -12.13% | -12.38% | -3.08% | -29.44% | -4.45% | -8.96% | -15.66% | -14.39% | -5.08% | -0.62% | -13.44% | -5.81% | -16.57% | -7.9% | -7.51% | -11.12% | -0.27% | -1.75% |
| FCF / Net Income % | 26.14% | -271.11% | -197% | -117.54% | -105.71% | -204.65% | -180.32% | -3793.39% | -147.01% | -86.65% | -58.69% | -32.45% | -72.53% | -150.08% | -145.13% | -35.26% | -260.14% | -63.34% | -92% | -167.4% | -70.59% | -41.89% | -5.22% | -108.28% | -59.76% | -175.29% | -91.24% | -55.29% | -68.9% | -1.97% | -9.68% |
Regulatory lag and financing
According to quarterly financial data, HTO's operating cash flow has demonstrated significant inconsistency, ranging from a low of $31.5 million in 2023Q4 to a peak of $77.3 million in 2025Q3, reflecting the inherent difficulty in predicting cash generation within the current regulatory and seasonal environment.
The variability in operating cash flow suggests that HTO remains highly sensitive to seasonal demand patterns and the timing of regulatory true-ups. Investors should monitor whether the company can stabilize these inflows to better support its ongoing infrastructure commitments without relying on frequent external financing.
As reported in recent financial statements, HTO's capital expenditure reached a high of $217.9 million in 2025Q3, which significantly exceeds the company's quarterly operating cash flow, indicating a heavy reliance on external capital to fund the expansion of its rate base in high-growth corridors.
The aggressive investment profile appears necessary to support the company's expansion into the Texas market, yet it creates a persistent cash flow deficit. This level of spending implies that the company's growth is entirely dependent on its ability to secure capital on favorable terms while awaiting regulatory recovery.
Based on reported figures, HTO has frequently utilized net stock issuance to bridge its free cash flow deficits, with a notable $57.2 million issuance in 2025Q2, highlighting a potential reliance on equity markets to maintain liquidity amidst substantial capital expenditure requirements and fluctuating debt service obligations.
The company's reliance on equity issuance may indicate that traditional debt markets are either constrained or that management is prioritizing balance sheet flexibility. This strategy warrants further investigation, as persistent dilution could undermine the long-term earnings per share growth expected by shareholders.
Data from recent filings shows that HTO maintains an OCF-to-dividend coverage ratio that has fluctuated between 2.6 and 5.2, suggesting that while dividends are currently supported by operating cash, the sustainability of these payouts may be pressured by the company's ongoing, high-intensity capital investment cycle.
While the current coverage appears adequate, the volatility in operating cash flow means that any significant regulatory delay or operational disruption could tighten the margin of safety for dividend payments. Investors should monitor whether the company's dividend policy remains consistent as it navigates its national expansion strategy.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying HTO stock.
H2O America (HTO) generated $244.8M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
H2O America (HTO) reported negative free cash flow of $278.1M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
H2O America (HTO) spent $0.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.
In 2025, H2O America (HTO) returned $58.6M to shareholders via cash dividends. This shows the company's commitment to returning capital to its equity investors.