Federal and state income tax expense increased $0.5 million, or 7.1%, primarily due to higher pre-tax income, partially offset by higher regulatory deferred income tax amortization in 2025 compared to 2024.

Property and other taxes increased $0.1 million, or 1.2%, primarily due to a reassessment and tax rate changes in New Castle County, Delaware, partially offset by an increase in utility plant subject to taxation.

Other income increased $0.7 million, primarily due to an increase in allowance for funds used during construction, or AFUDC, as a result of higher long-term construction activity subject to AFUDC.

Interest charges decreased $0.1 million, primarily due to a decrease in long-term debt interest related to lower borrowing levels.

Fourth Quarter Results

Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2025 was $4.1 million, a $0.3 million, or 7.5%, increase compared to net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024. Diluted net income per share increased 8.1% to $0.40, compared to $0.37 for the same period in 2024.

Revenues totaled $28.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, $1.2 million, or 4.3%, more than revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2024.

Water sales revenue increased $0.6 million, or 2.9%, primarily the result of two temporary rate increases as permitted under Delaware law until permanent rates are determined by the DEPSC, as well as an increase in the number of customers served.

Other utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.4 million, or 10.2%, primarily due to an increase in wastewater revenue associated with customer growth.

Non-utility operating revenue increased approximately $0.2 million, or 10.0%, primarily due to an increase in SLP Plan revenue, primarily the result of an increase in fees that was placed into effect on December 1, 2024 and an increase in the number of customers participating in the plans.

Operating expenses, excluding depreciation and income taxes, increased $1.0 million, or 5.8%, for the three months ended December 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Utility operating expenses increased $0.6 million, which increase consists of a $0.4 million increase in payroll and employee benefit costs, a $0.2 million increase in supply and treatment costs, a $0.1 million increase in purchased power costs, and a $0.1 million increase in administrative costs, partially offset by a $0.1 million decrease in transmission, distribution and collection system costs.

Property and other taxes increased $0.3 million, or 17.7%, primarily due to a reassessment and tax rate changes in New Castle County, Delaware and an increase in payroll taxes.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.1 million, or 2.5%, primarily due to additional depreciation from continued investment in utility plant related to providing supply, treatment, storage and distribution of water to customers and service to our wastewater customers.

Other income increased $0.1 million, primarily due to an increase in AFUDC, as a result of higher long-term construction activity subject to AFUDC.

Capital Expenditures

As part of Artesian's ongoing effort to ensure high-quality, reliable service to customers, $58.8 million was invested in water and wastewater infrastructure projects during 2025. These investments included renewals associated with the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure, installation of new mains, construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, upgrading elevated storage tanks, upgrading and replacing our meter reading equipment, and upgrading existing pumping and treatment stations, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment upgrades, to better serve our customers.

"Our continued investment in critical water and wastewater infrastructure supports sustainable growth and reliable, environmentally responsible service" said Nicki Taylor, Chair, President and CEO. "With the completion of our wastewater facility in Milton, Delaware, and recent regulatory approval from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to expand treatment capacity in Sussex County, we are enhancing system resilience, modernizing our infrastructure, and positioning our operations to meet growing demand while delivering long-term value to customers and shareholders."

About Artesian Resources
Artesian Resources Corporation operates as a holding company of wholly-owned subsidiaries offering water and wastewater services, and several other related core business services, on the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Water Company, the principal subsidiary, is the oldest and largest regulated water utility on the Delmarva Peninsula and has been providing water service since 1905. Artesian Water Company supplies 9.4 billion gallons of water per year through 1,515 miles of main to over a third of Delawareans.

Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, our growth strategy, our expectations regarding infrastructure investments, our ability to comply with future regulatory standards, continued growth in our business and the number of customers served, and our continued provision of high-quality, reliable service to customers. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: changes in weather, changes in our contractual obligations, changes in government policies, the timing and results of our rate requests, failure to receive regulatory approvals, changes in economic and market conditions generally and other matters discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While the Company may elect to update forward-looking statements, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so and you should not rely on any forward-looking statement as representation of the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

Contact:
Virginia Eisenbrey
(302) 453-6900
VEisenbrey@artesianwater.com