Investor Info 2000

For Immediate Release:  November 7, 2000

Contact: Maurice L. Arel, President and Chief Executive Officer

Charles J. Staab, VP, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Phone: 603-882-5191

Fax: 603-882-4125

Pennichuck Corporation Announces Results of Operations for Nine Months Ended September 30, 2000

 

Maurice L. Arel, President and CEO of Pennichuck Corporation, announced today that the Company's consolidated net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 rose 4.8% over the same period last year to $2.2 million, based primarily on continued strong results in the real estate development sector. Basic earnings per share increased to $1.25 from $1.21 last year.

 

For the first nine months of 2000, consolidated revenues increased 5.8% or $800,000 over last year to $14.5 million. Mr. Arel indicated that there was a significant change in revenues among the Company's primary business segments from 1999 to 2000. Revenues from the Company's water utility operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2000 decreased 3.9% or $487,000 to $12.15 million from the same period in 1999 while revenues from the Company's real estate and other activities increased $1.29 million to $2.38 million. The decrease in water utility revenues resulted from a 6% drop in consumption reflecting the damper and cooler than normal weather conditions experienced in June and July 2000 compared to the drier and hotter than normal weather for the same months in 1999. The current year’s real estate revenues include approximately $705,000 from the sale of a tract of land in July 2000 as well as increased residential sales by two joint ventures in which the Company's real estate subsidiary is a 50% owner.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2000, basic earnings per share increased to $.65 based on net income of $1.15 million, compared to $.50 per basic share based on net income of $870,000 for the comparable period in 1999. Consolidated revenues for the third quarter in 2000 increased to $5.95 million from $5.13 million last year. The improvement in third quarter revenues and net income from 1999 to 2000 resulted principally from additional real estate sales discussed previously. Revenues from real estate and other operations increased over $1 million to $1.37 million from $337,000, while revenues from water utility operations declined over $220,000 to $4.57 million from $4.79 million in the same period last year.

Pennichuck Corporation is a holding company located in Nashua, New Hampshire with diversified operating subsidiaries involved in water supply and distribution, water-related contract operations and real estate management and development. The Company is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System and trades under the symbol “PNNW.”

 

Pennichuck Corporation

Financial Data

   
2000 
1999
Quarter Ended September 30:
Consolidated Revenues
$5,945,000
$5,131,000
  Net Income
$1,150,000
$870,000
Earnings Per Share:
  Basic
$.65
$.50
  Diluted
$.64
$.50
Average Shares Outstanding:
  Basic
1,772,280
1,749,252
  Diluted
1,777,789
1,759,287
   
Nine Months Ended September 30:
Consolidated Revenues
$14,533,000
$13,733,000
  Net Income
$2,206,000
$2,103,000
Earnings Per Share:
  Basic
$1.25
$1.21
  Diluted
$1.24
$1.20
Average Shares Outstanding:
  Basic
1,768,831
1,740,983
  Diluted
1,774,340
1,751,018