WTRG

Over the past six months, Essential Utilities (WTRG) stock has been impacted by several key events. A proposed merger with American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) saw the Hart-Scott-Rodino waiting period expire on August 17, 2026, with regulatory approvals received from Ohio and Virginia, and a critical settlement in Pennsylvania announced around September 10, 2026; the merger is targeted to close by Q1 2027, contributing to a stock rally since June. For Q2 2026, reported on August 4, 2026, GAAP earnings were $0.37 per share, with adjusted earnings of $0.38, and total operating revenue grew 3.1% year-over-year to $530.9 million, though it missed analyst consensus, with the Regulated Gas segment's revenue down due to milder weather. On July 29, 2026, the company increased its quarterly cash dividend by 5.25% to $0.3606 per share, continuing a long history of dividend payments and increases. Essential Utilities invested approximately $662.2 million in infrastructure in the first half of 2026, on track to invest $1.7 billion for the year. As of September 23, 2026, WTRG closed at $40.18, having gained 7.1% over the past 12 months, with a 52-week range between $36.11 and $42.51.