Tearsheet

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 7.4%, Dividend Yield is 2.9%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 3.3%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -60%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -96%
Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 52%
1 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 36%
  Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 5.7x
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 41%
  Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -28%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 23%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, and Wastewater Management.
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 7.4%, Dividend Yield is 2.9%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 3.3%
1 Attractive operating margins
Op Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 36%
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 41%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 23%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, and Wastewater Management.
5 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -60%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -96%
6 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 52%
7 Expensive valuation multiples
P/SPrice/Sales ratio is 5.7x
8 Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -28%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

YORW Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

The York Water Company's (YORW) stock movement of 5.2% from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025, can be attributed to several key factors. 1. Positive Analyst Sentiment and Upgrade: Zacks upgraded York Water (YORW) to a "Buy" rating on September 8, 2025, driven by an upward trend in earnings estimates. This was further reinforced by articles, including one from The Motley Fool on December 3, 2025, highlighting YORW as a "screaming buy" due to its robust dividend history, regulated utility model, and growth initiatives.

2. Strong Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Per Share: On November 6, 2025, York Water reported adjusted earnings of $0.43 per share for the third quarter of 2025, exceeding the analyst forecast of $0.38 per share. This beat on profitability, despite a slight revenue miss, likely contributed positively to investor confidence.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
YORW Return3%9%-8%-12%-13%0%-22%
Peers Return6%27%-6%17%-12%10%43%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
YORW Win Rate50%50%50%50%42%50% 
Peers Win Rate58%62%47%52%42%48% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
YORW Max Drawdown-22%-12%-24%-20%-13%-8% 
Peers Max Drawdown-26%-9%-28%-21%-20%-7% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: CWT, MSEX, CWCO, AWK, WTRG.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventYORWS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-33.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven51.2%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-28.2%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven39.3%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven123 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-29.1%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven41.1%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven565 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-46.1%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven85.4%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1297 days1480 days

Compare to CWT, MSEX, CWCO, AWK, WTRG


In The Past

York Water's stock fell -33.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 9/2/2021. A -33.8% loss requires a 51.2% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

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About York Water (YORW)

Better Bets than York Water (YORW)

Latest Trefis Analyses

TitleTopic
0DASHBOARDS 
1How Low Can York Water Stock Really Go?Return
Title
0ARTICLES

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to YORW. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.9%-0.9%-0.9%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
1.9%1.9%0.0%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
7.4%7.4%-3.2%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.9%-0.9%-0.9%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
1.9%1.9%0.0%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
7.4%7.4%-3.2%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for York Water

Peers to compare with:

Financials

YORWCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameYork Wat.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
Mkt Price32.4444.5151.1433.98130.9738.8641.69
Mkt Cap0.52.70.90.525.511.01.8
Rev LTM771,0021951295,0702,380599
Op Inc LTM2818954161,874921121
FCF LTM-21-181-3121-1,097-428-106
FCF 3Y Avg-27-173-3017-1,006-422-101
CFO LTM3232366302,035952194
CFO 3Y Avg3026958241,886863163

Growth & Margins

YORWCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameYork Wat.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
Rev Chg LTM3.6%-2.6%6.2%-26.3%12.3%21.4%4.9%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg9.5%8.2%7.3%28.4%10.0%5.0%8.9%
Rev Chg Q3.3%3.9%-1.8%3.4%9.7%9.6%3.7%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM0.8%1.2%-0.5%0.9%2.6%1.8%1.0%
Op Mgn LTM36.4%18.9%27.6%12.1%37.0%38.7%32.0%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg38.7%17.0%26.3%15.5%36.1%34.9%30.6%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.5%-0.3%0.2%0.1%0.5%-0.1%0.0%
CFO/Rev LTM41.1%32.2%33.6%23.3%40.1%40.0%36.8%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg40.5%28.4%31.8%16.8%41.3%39.1%35.4%
FCF/Rev LTM-27.6%-18.0%-16.0%16.2%-21.6%-18.0%-18.0%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-37.0%-18.9%-16.6%11.5%-22.0%-19.4%-19.2%

Valuation

YORWCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameYork Wat.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
Mkt Cap0.52.70.90.525.511.01.8
P/S5.72.75.03.75.44.74.9
P/EBIT14.912.516.025.213.411.814.2
P/E21.920.022.830.224.416.822.3
P/CFO13.98.515.015.913.311.813.6
Total Yield7.4%7.6%6.9%4.7%5.8%9.2%7.1%
Dividend Yield2.9%2.7%2.5%1.4%1.7%3.3%2.6%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-5.3%-6.1%-2.7%3.9%-3.8%-4.1%-3.9%
D/E0.50.60.40.00.60.70.5
Net D/E0.50.50.4-0.20.60.70.5

Returns

YORWCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameYork Wat.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
1M Rtn3.9%-1.0%3.2%-1.5%4.6%2.9%3.0%
3M Rtn7.4%-3.6%-2.9%4.8%-6.3%1.5%-0.7%
6M Rtn2.6%-1.4%-7.7%26.3%-4.5%6.0%0.6%
12M Rtn-4.9%-7.9%-16.1%33.0%0.1%1.5%-2.4%
3Y Rtn-24.1%-25.9%-40.1%140.8%-9.0%-11.3%-17.7%
1M Excs Rtn3.9%-1.0%3.2%-1.4%4.7%3.0%3.1%
3M Excs Rtn0.9%-9.4%-8.6%-3.6%-12.2%-4.8%-6.7%
6M Excs Rtn-12.1%-16.1%-22.4%11.6%-19.2%-8.8%-14.1%
12M Excs Rtn-20.5%-24.2%-33.3%14.8%-15.6%-13.0%-18.0%
3Y Excs Rtn-96.4%-99.0%-113.7%77.3%-79.3%-82.9%-89.6%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Residential46    
Commercial and industrial20    
Fire protection43333
Rents from regulated property00111
Billing and revenue collection services00000
Other revenue00000
Collection services00000
Wastewater utility service Commercial and industrial 1000
Wastewater utility service Residential 4221
Water utility service Commercial and industrial 16151414
Water utility service Residential 35343432
Total7160555452


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity434,160
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202511.7%
Average Daily Volume95,935
Days-to-Cover Short Interest4.53
Basic Shares Quantity14,412,114
Short % of Basic Shares3.0%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251106202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025812202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025506202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024304202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241107202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024802202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024507202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023305202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231103202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023502202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022307202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221103202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022804202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022503202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021308202210-K 12/31/2021