Dean Capital Bets Big on Energy Delivery With a 28,000 Share Investment in Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) Worth $3.5 Million

What happened

According to a new 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated Feb. 20, 2026, Dean Capital Management disclosed a new position in Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK +0.70%), acquiring 27,851 shares. The estimated value of the trade was $3.47 million, calculated using the average closing price for the quarter. The stake’s quarter-end value also totaled $3.47 million, reflecting both the share addition and market movement during the period.

What else to know

• This new position accounts for 1.48% of Dean Capital Management’s reportable U.S. equity assets under management
• Top five holdings after the filing:
  • NYSE:HP: $4.14 million (1.8% of AUM)
  • UNK:BELFB: $3.99 million (1.7% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:SHOO: $3.98 million (1.7% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:VIAV: $3.95 million (1.7% of AUM)
  • NASDAQ:AEIS: $3.94 million (1.7% of AUM)
• As of Feb. 20, 2026, shares of Chesapeake Utilities were priced at $134.39, up 11.1% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 1.87 percentage points
• The company’s indicated dividend yield was 2.0% as of the same date

Company Overview

Company Snapshot

• Provides regulated natural gas and electric distribution, regulated and unregulated gas transmission, propane operations, and energy-related services across the eastern United States.
• Generates revenue primarily from regulated utility operations, supplemented by unregulated energy services such as propane, natural gas supply, and infrastructure solutions.
• Serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Delaware, Maryland, Florida, Ohio, and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company with a focus on regulated and unregulated utility services. Its strategy leverages a balanced portfolio of natural gas, electric, and propane operations to serve a broad geographic footprint.

What this transaction means for investors

Dean Capital’s new Chesapeake position isn’t the only new bet the firm made on utility businesses during the fourth quarter. It also added new shares of Portland General Electric (POR +0.51%) worth about 3.8 million to the portfolio. Its new Portland General Electric position is the portfolio’s sixth largest out of about 125 holdings. Its new Chesapeake Utilities position is the portfolio’s 11th largest.

Chesapeake Utilities plans to report results for the fourth quarter of 2025 on Feb. 25 after the market closes. When it does, Dean Capital will probably look for a continuation of profit growth that’s been much faster than you’d expect from a utilities business. During the first nine months of the year, the company reported adjusted net income that rose 10.1% year over year to $4.03 per share. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share grew 8.0% year over year.

Chesapeake Utilities is predicting steady growth in the years ahead. When delivering third-quarter results, it reaffirmed its 2028 earnings guidance range of $7.75 to $8.00 per share.