York Water Company Overflows with Insider Buys

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Jan 21, 2013
Four insiders of Pennsylvania-based York Water Company (YORW, Financial) have reported purchasing company shares, reported Jan. 16 according to GuruFocus Insider Buys. The four buys will add onto the other eight purchases York insiders have made since the start of the year.





York Water Company has exhibited an active insider trade activity over the years. From the trend displayed in the chart, insider purchases seem to surge every couple of months for the company. The most occurred in July 2011, when 18 insiders purchased shares out of the entire month.


The four recent buys were relatively small in amount, consisting of:


· 199 shares by CFO Kathleen Miller


· 51 shares by Vice President of Engineering, Mark Snyder


· 120 shares by Vice President of Operations, John Strine


· 41 shares by Vice President of Human Resources, Bruce McIntosh


With a market cap of $236.6 million, York engages in the business of impounding, purifying and distributing water. The company operates entirely within its franchised territory, according to yorkwater.com, which covers 33 municipalities within York County, Pa.


In November, the company announced its third quarter earnings. York’s operating revenue of $11 million increased by $574,000, and its net income of $2.8 million increased by $396,000, both compared to the third quarter of 2011. Its earnings per share increased by 3 cents.


The company completed two water system acquisitions in 2012, which will upgrade its water treatment and enterprise systems and maintain proper handling and disposal of wastewater for the company’s growing customer base.


On Jan. 15, the company distributed $0.1238 per share, which is an increase from the previous payout by 3.5 percent. This is the company’s 568th dividend after 196 consecutive years, which the company promotes is the longest dividend record in America.


With a dividend yield of 2.95 percent, York’s 10-year revenue growth rate is 5.1 percent, and its 10-year EBITDA growth rate is 6.6 percent, according to 10-year financials.


GuruFocus ranks the company 5 stars in Business Predictability, 4 in Financial Strength and 8 in Profitability and Growth.


GAMCO’s Mario Gabelli is the only Guru right now who holds the stock, with 54,000 shares representing 0.42 percent of his portfolio.


In the last year, York’s market value has gone up about 5 percent. Currently, York’s stock is down 0.11 percent, at the price of $18.30.


View the rest of York Water Company’s insider activity on YORW: Insider Trades


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