Sign in

WTRG on NYSE

Essential Utilities

Logo: Aqua America, Inc., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons5

American utility company

Essential Utilities (formerly Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas) is an American utility company that has stakes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. The company provides drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and natural gas. Essential Utilities is the publicly traded ($WTRG) parent company that oversees the continued business of Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas, who both continue to do business under their original names.3 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Price unavailable

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1968Founded1

Compare with American Water Works, California Water Service Group or SJW Group, or pick any stock.

  • TickerWTRG on NYSE1
  • IndustryWater Supply1
  • HeadquartersBryn Mawr1
  • Websitewww.essential.co
  • Incorporated inPA6
  • Business address762 W. Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, Pa 19010-34896
  • Filer categoryLarge accelerated filer6
  • Legal formBusiness Corporation4
  • LEI549300ILTEOF3E3QY3574
  • StatusActive4
  • LEI statusIssued and current4
  • Registered addressC/O CT Corporation System, 19010 Bryn Mawr, United States4
  • Registered withPennsylvania Department of State, 2797574

See how the biggest companies compare on our leaderboards

Essential Utilities (formerly Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas) is an American utility company that has stakes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. The company provides drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and natural gas. Essential Utilities is the publicly traded ($WTRG) parent company that oversees the continued business of Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas, who both continue to do business under their original names.3

Financials

From the company’s reports to the SEC. Every number links to the filing it came from.

Key numbers, fiscal 2025

37.2%Operating margin9
24.9%Net margin9
18.6%Revenue growth, 20259
9.0%Return on equity9
1.18×Debt to equity9

What sells

Revenue by product, business segment and region, as the company reports it to the SEC.

Products and services

Natural Gas brought in 46% of the revenue Essential Utilities broke down this way in fiscal 2025.

  1. Natural Gas$1.1B946%up 35% from 2024
  2. Water$1.1B945%up 8% from 2024
  3. Wastewater$222.8M99%up 12% from 2024
  4. Other$10.9M90%down 3% from 2024
Products and services by year
Products and services202320242025
Natural Gas$861.7M$832.2M$1.1B
Water$948.8M$1.0B$1.1B
Wastewater$187.4M$199.4M$222.8M
Other$14.9M$11.2M$10.9M

Business segments

Water brought in 54% of the revenue Essential Utilities broke down this way in fiscal 2025.

  1. Water$1.3B954%up 9% from 2024
  2. Natural Gas$1.1B945%up 33% from 2024
  3. Other And Eliminations$30.1M91%up 42% from 2024
Business segments by year
Business segments202320242025
Water$1.2B$1.2B$1.3B
Natural Gas$863.8M$843.0M$1.1B
Other And Eliminations$36.7M$21.2M$30.1M

Where the money goes

Where each dollar of revenue went, fiscal 2025

  • Other costs62¢$1.5B
  • Interest13¢$329.1M
  • Income tax0¢$3.4M
  • Profit25¢$616.4M

Out of $2.5B in revenue.9

Where each dollar of operating cash went, fiscal 2025

  • Dividends paid37¢$373.8M
  • Share buybacks0¢$2.3M
  • Kept or used elsewhere63¢$634.4M

Out of $1.0B of cash from operations.9

Financial statements

Revenue101112139$2.5B in 2025+178% since 2019
0$1.0B$2.0B$3.0B2019: $889.7M$889.7M20192020: $1.5B$1.5B2020+64%2021: $1.9B$1.9B2021+28%2022: $2.3B$2.3B2022+22%2023: $2.1B$2.1B2023−10%2024: $2.1B$2.1B2024+2%2025: $2.5B$2.5B2025+19%
Operating income101112139$921.0M in 2025+171% since 2019
0$250.0M$500.0M$750.0M$1.0B2019: $340.2M$340.2M20192020: $434.7M$434.7M2020+28%2021: $602.7M$602.7M2021+39%2022: $661.2M$661.2M2022+10%2023: $692.1M$692.1M2023+5%2024: $757.7M$757.7M2024+9%2025: $921.0M$921.0M2025+22%
Net income101112139$616.4M in 2025+174% since 2019
0$200.0M$400.0M$600.0M$800.0M2019: $224.5M$224.5M20192020: $284.8M$284.8M2020+27%2021: $431.6M$431.6M2021+52%2022: $465.2M$465.2M2022+8%2023: $498.2M$498.2M2023+7%2024: $595.3M$595.3M2024+19%2025: $616.4M$616.4M2025+4%

Every line of the income statement as filed: the last 3 fiscal years, latest first.9

Period ending2025-12-312024-12-312023-12-31
Operating revenues$2.5B$2.1B$2.1B
Operations and maintenance$639.6M$587.2M$575.5M
Purchased gas$403.8M$277.0M$352.3M
Depreciation$403.2M$363.9M$338.7M
Amortization$14.3M$5.6M$5.0M
Taxes other than income taxes$92.8M$94.6M$90.2M
Total operating expenses$1.6B$1.3B$1.4B
Operating income$921.0M$757.7M$692.1M
Interest expense$329.1M$302.5M$283.4M
Interest income-$1.7M-$3.3M-$3.4M
Allowance for funds used during construction-$26.3M-$21.3M-$17.0M
Gain on sale of other assets-$1.3M-$92.2M-$65.0K
Other$1.3M-$1.4M-$2.6M
Income before income taxes$619.8M$573.5M$431.8M
Income tax expense (benefit)$3.4M-$21.8M-$66.4M
Net income$616.4M$595.3M$498.2M
Comprehensive income$616.4M$595.3M$498.2M
Basic$2.20$2.17$1.86
Diluted$2.20$2.17$1.86
Basic280.1M shares273.9M shares267.2M shares
Diluted280.6M shares274.4M shares267.7M shares

Compare Essential Utilities with another company

Corporate structure

Essential Utilities sits at the top of its group. 16 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

Major holders of Essential Utilities

  • Essential Utilities Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States
    • Aqua Illinois, Inc. Subsidiary · Illinois, United States
    • Aqua Indiana, Inc. Subsidiary · Indiana, United States
    • Aqua Infrastructure, LLC Subsidiary · Pennsylvania, United States
    • Aqua New Jersey, Inc. Subsidiary · New Jersey, United States
    • Aqua North Carolina, Inc. Subsidiary · North Carolina, United States
    • Aqua Ohio, Inc. Subsidiary · Ohio, United States
    • Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. Subsidiary · Pennsylvania, United States
    • Aqua Resources, Inc. Subsidiary · Delaware, United States
    • Aqua Services, Inc. Subsidiary · Pennsylvania, United States
    • Aqua Texas, Inc. Subsidiary · Texas, United States
    • Aqua Virginia, Inc. Subsidiary · Virginia, United States
    • Aqua Water Holdings, Inc. Subsidiary · Pennsylvania, United States
    • Essential Utilities Services, Inc. Subsidiary · Pennsylvania, United States
    • LDC Funding, LLC Subsidiary · Delaware, United States
    • Utility Insurance, LLC Subsidiary · Utah, United States

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 of annual reports filed with the SEC; major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

What it owns

What Essential Utilities reports owning in its annual reports to the SEC: buildings, land and equipment, real estate and locations, investments, intangible assets and inventory, at the end of its latest fiscal year and a year before.

Property and equipment

ItemLatestA year beforeChange
Property and equipment, before depreciation$17.7B9 Dec 31, 2025$16.3B9 Dec 31, 2024+8.7%
Accumulated depreciation$3.4B9 Dec 31, 2025$3.1B9 Dec 31, 2024+9.4%
Property and equipment, net$14.3B9 Dec 31, 2025$13.1B9 Dec 31, 2024+8.5%
Operating-lease assets (leased space)$25.9M9 Dec 31, 2025$31.3M9 Dec 31, 2024−17.1%

Investments

ItemLatestA year beforeChange
Cash and cash equivalents$34.8M9 Dec 31, 2025$9.2M9 Dec 31, 2024+279.8%
Debt securities available for sale$20.0M9 Dec 31, 2025$25.0M11 Dec 31, 2022−19.9%

Intangibles and goodwill

ItemLatestA year beforeChange
Goodwill$2.3B9 Dec 31, 2025$2.3B9 Dec 31, 2024+0.3%
Intangible assets, net (excluding goodwill)$3.0M9 Dec 31, 2025$3.3M9 Dec 31, 2024−9.7%

Properties, in its own words

Our Regulated Water properties consist of water transmission and distribution mains and wastewater collection pipelines, water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping facilities, wells, tanks, meters, pipes, dams, reservoirs, buildings, vehicles, land, easements, rights-of-way, and other facilities and equipment used for the operation of our systems, including the collection, treatment, storage, and distribution of water and the collection and treatment of wastewater. Substantially all of our treatment, storage, and distribution properties are owned by our subsidiaries, and a substantial portion of our property is subject to liens of mortgage or indentures. These liens secure bonds, notes and other evidences of long-term indebtedness of our subsidiaries. For some properties that we acquired through the exercise of the power of eminent domain and other properties we purchased, we hold title for water supply purposes only. We own, operate and maintain approximately 14,600 miles of transmission and distribution mains, 24 surface water treatment plants, many well treatment stations, and 206 wastewater treatment plants. A small portion of the properties are leased under long-term leases.

Our Regulated Natural Gas properties consist of approximately 15,100 miles of natural gas distribution mains, varying in size from one-half inch to 30 inches in diameter, 1,700 miles of gathering pipeline, 310 miles of intrastate transmission/storage pipeline, and both active and inactive gas storage wells. Further, in each of the cities, towns, and rural areas where we serve natural gas customers, we own the underground gas mains and service lines, metering, and regulating equipment located on customers’ premises and the district regulating equipment necessary for pressure maintenance. With a few exceptions, the measuring stations at which we receive gas from third parties are owned, operated, and maintained by others, and our distribution facilities begin at the outlet of the measuring equipment. These facilities, including odorizing equipment, are usually located on land owned by suppliers.

The rest of Item 2

The following table indicates our net property, plant and equipment, in thousands of dollars, as of December 31, 2025 in the principal states where we operate:

Net Property, Plant and Equipment

Pennsylvania · 10,064,571 · 70.6%

Texas · 899,352 · 6.3%

Ohio · 816,774 · 5.7%

Illinois · 735,376 · 5.2%

North Carolina · 666,981 · 4.7%

Other (1) · 1,080,628 · 7.5%

Consolidated · 14,263,682 · 100.0%

(1)Consists primarily of our operating subsidiaries in the following states: New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.

We believe that our properties are generally maintained in good condition and in accordance with current standards of good water, wastewater, and natural gas industry practice. We believe that our facilities are adequate and suitable for the conduct of our business and to meet customer requirements under normal circumstances.

Our corporate offices are leased from our subsidiary, Aqua Pennsylvania, and are located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Item 2 of the 10-K filed Feb 26, 2026.17

The story

The company began January 4, 1886, by the founding of the Springfield Water Company. The company changed its name to the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (PSW). By 1925 the company provided water to 58 municipalities.

The company was incorporated in 1989.

The current CEO, Christopher H. Franklin, took his position in 2015.

In late 2014, the company committed to transitioning its Pennsylvania vehicle fleet to compressed natural gas (CNG) within five years.

In October 2025, American Water Works agreed to acquire the company in an all-stock merger, creating a combined company valued at $63 billion, including debt. Upon completion of the deal, expected in early 2027, American Water shareholders would own about 69% of the combined company, with Essential shareholders owning the remainder.

From Wikipedia’s article on Essential Utilities, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7

Leadership

Who has led Essential Utilities, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chief executive

  1. Chris Franklin2015–now

Chair

  1. Nicholas Debenedictis2003–2015

President

  1. Richard Hugus2003–2006
  2. Morrison Coulter2003
  3. Nicholas Debenedictis2003–2015
  4. Karl Kyriss2004–2012
  5. Michael Huwar2022–now

Chief financial officer

  1. David Smeltzer2003–2018

Chief operating officer

  1. Chris Franklin2012–2015
  2. Richard Scott Fox2015–2022
197019801990200020102020
Board members and other officers (39)

Products and brands

The company's largest water subsidiary is Aqua Pennsylvania, which has been a part of Aqua America since 1996 and accounts for slightly more than half of 2007 operating revenue and provides water services to 50% of the company's total customer base. Aqua Pennsylvania operates in the greater urban and suburban Philadelphia area.

From Wikipedia’s article on Essential Utilities, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries (Exhibit 21)

  • Aqua Illinois, Inc. Illinois8
  • Aqua Indiana, Inc. Indiana8
  • Aqua Infrastructure, LLC Pennsylvania8
  • Aqua New Jersey, Inc. New Jersey8
  • Aqua North Carolina, Inc. North Carolina8
  • Aqua Ohio, Inc. Ohio8
  • Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. Pennsylvania8
  • Aqua Resources, Inc. Delaware8
  • Aqua Services, Inc. Pennsylvania8
  • Aqua Texas, Inc. Texas8
  • Aqua Virginia, Inc. Virginia8
  • Aqua Water Holdings, Inc. Pennsylvania8
  • Essential Utilities Services, Inc. Pennsylvania8
  • LDC Funding, LLC Delaware8
  • Utility Insurance, LLC Utah8

The subsidiaries the company lists in Exhibit 21 of its annual report, as filed.

Acquisitions

In the United States, many water utilities remain government-owned. Water was supplied by 55,000 separate water systems in 2006.

However, US and global companies have business models which involve the privatization of utilities to achieve profitability from economy of scale. Additionally, cash-strapped municipalities see benefit to selling their water supply assets.

From 1993 to 2013 Aqua America completed 300 acquisitions.

In recent years, the company has purchased smaller private utilities across 12 states, gradually extending southward. Such acquisitions comprise the bulk of Aqua America's stated business model.

Read the full text

In January 1998 Aqua America, then known as the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company (PSW) purchased the West Chester, PA municipal water utility assets.

Acquisitions of large private companies included the purchases of AquaSource in 2003, Heater and Florida Water Services in 2004, and the New York Water Service Corporation in 2007.

In October 2018 Aqua announced that it was going to purchase Peoples Natural Gas in Pittsburgh PA for $4.27 billion. This deal entered Aqua into the competitive Pittsburgh water market while taking their first step into gas utilities.

From Wikipedia’s article on Essential Utilities, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.7

Former names

  • AQUA AMERICA INCJan 22, 2004 to Jan 16, 20206
  • PHILADELPHIA SUBURBAN CORPMay 18, 1994 to Jan 16, 20046

Timeline

  1. Sep 17, 20268-K Other events66
  2. Aug 31, 20268-K Regulation FD disclosure67
  3. Aug 17, 20268-K Regulation FD disclosure68
  4. Aug 5, 20268-K Results of operations69
  5. May 15, 20268-K Regulation FD disclosure70
  6. May 8, 20268-K Regulation FD disclosure71
  7. May 7, 20268-K Results of operations72
  8. Apr 30, 20268-K Shareholder vote73
  9. Apr 22, 20268-K Regulation FD disclosure74
  10. Mar 25, 20268-K Regulation FD disclosure75
  11. Mar 9, 20268-K Entered a material agreement; Other events76
  12. Feb 26, 20268-K Results of operations77
  13. Jul 7, 2015New chief executive Chris Franklin becomes CEO18
  14. 1968Founded Founded1

Calendar

Coming up

  1. Nov 3, 2026 · After the closeReports results for the quarter ending Sep/2026 A year earlier it reported $0.33 a share, on Nov 4, 2025.78

When it reported results

  1. Aug 5, 2026Reported quarterly or annual results69
  2. May 7, 2026Reported quarterly or annual results72
  3. Feb 26, 2026Reported quarterly or annual results77
  4. Nov 5, 2025Reported quarterly or annual results79
  5. Aug 1, 2025Reported quarterly or annual results80
  6. May 12, 2025Reported quarterly or annual results81
  7. Feb 27, 2025Reported quarterly or annual results82
  8. Nov 5, 2024Reported quarterly or annual results83

Upcoming dates from Nasdaq's calendar; past results from the company's 8-K filings (Item 2.02). The full markets calendar

Filings

378 filings to the SEC since October 2021: 5 annual reports, 16 quarterly reports, 63 major events, 177 insider forms, 19 large holders, 98 other. The latest 20:

  1. Oct 15, 2026425 EDGAR
  2. Oct 8, 2026425 EDGAR
  3. Sep 29, 2026425 EDGAR
  4. Sep 17, 2026425 EDGAR
  5. Sep 17, 20268-K EDGAR
  6. Sep 9, 2026425 EDGAR
  7. Aug 31, 2026425 EDGAR
  8. Aug 31, 20268-K EDGAR
  9. Aug 17, 20268-K EDGAR
  10. Aug 14, 2026425 EDGAR
  11. Aug 11, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR
  12. Aug 7, 2026144 EDGAR
  13. Aug 5, 20268-K EDGAR
  14. Aug 5, 202610-Q EDGAR
  15. Jul 31, 2026425 EDGAR
  16. Jun 24, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR
  17. Jun 24, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR
  18. Jun 24, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR
  19. Jun 24, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR
  20. Jun 24, 20264 PRIMARY DOCUMENT EDGAR

The 378 filings since October 2021 can be filtered by form type and year here when JavaScript is on.

Every filing from the last five years, summarized. The full record is on SEC EDGAR.

Insider trades

13 open-market trades by officers, directors and large owners since October 2021: 2 buys and 11 sales. Grants, option exercises and gifts are left out.

DateWhoTradeSharesPriceValueFiling
Aug 7, 2026Arnold ColleenPresident - AquaSale2,855$39.55$112.9KForm 4
Mar 14, 2025Franklin ChrisChief Executive OfficerSale7,700$39.40$303.4KForm 4
Jul 1, 2024RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale2,342$37.43$87.7KForm 4
May 1, 2024RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale2,023$36.56$74.0KForm 4
May 1, 2024RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale2,023$36.56$74.0KForm 4
Apr 1, 2024RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale5,565$37.21$207.1KForm 4
Mar 11, 2024RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale3,551$36.00$127.8KForm 4
Mar 5, 2024RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale6,350$35.60$226.1KForm 4
Mar 5, 2024Amato Elizabeth BDirectorBuy3,100$35.02$108.6KForm 4
Jun 14, 2023Arnold ColleenPresident - AquaSale1,244$41.84$52.0KForm 4
Mar 8, 2023Franklin ChrisChief Executive OfficerBuy37,245$40.70$1.5MForm 4
Nov 28, 2022Ruff Ellen TDirectorSale8,560$47.96$410.5KForm 4
Dec 8, 2021RUBIN ROBERT ACHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICERSale1,954$51.00$99.7KForm 4

From Forms 4 filed with the SEC.

Major holders

Investors who own more than 5% of the shares must tell the SEC: a 13D if they may seek to influence the company, a 13G if they hold passively.

Executive pay

What the company paid its top executives, from the summary compensation table in its proxy statement. Total pay includes salary, bonus, stock and option awards and other pay, as the company valued them.

YearExecutiveAgeSalaryTotal pay
2025Christopher H. FranklinPresident and Chief Executive Officer$1.1M$9.2M90
2025Christopher P. LuningEVP and General Counsel$491.0K$3.0M90
2025Daniel J. SchullerEVP and Chief Financial Officer$583.0K$2.4M90
2025Colleen M. ArnoldPresident, Aqua$427.0K$1.2M90
2025Michael A. HuwarPresident, Peoples$391.3K$1.2M90
2024Christopher H. FranklinPresident and Chief Executive Officer$1.0M$6.2M90
2024Daniel J. SchullerEVP and Chief Financial Officer$521.8K$2.0M90
2024Christopher P. LuningEVP and General Counsel$450.2K$1.8M90
2024Colleen M. ArnoldPresident, Aqua$383.2K$994.2K90
2024Michael A. HuwarPresident, Peoples$363.3K$976.3K90
2023Christopher H. FranklinPresident and Chief Executive Officer$985.6K$7.7M90
2023Christopher P. LuningEVP and General Counsel$433.4K$1.8M90
2023Daniel J. SchullerEVP and Chief Financial Officer$500.6K$1.7M90
2023Colleen M. ArnoldPresident, Aqua$357.8K$881.6K90

Held by these funds

The largest holders among investment managers' 13F reports for the quarter ending Jun 30, 2026, the top 25 of 100. Change is in shares since the quarter before.

FundSharesValueShare of the fundChange
BlackRock, Inc.33,433,285$1.3B0.0%+1,863,880
Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC16,340,786$626.0M0.0%−148,565
State Street Corp13,119,170$502.6M0.0%+687,688
Vanguard Capital Management LLC12,782,196$489.7M0.0%+120,517
Norges Bank6,489,675$248.6M0.0%New
Geode Capital Management, LLC5,279,933$202.3M0.0%+55,890
Nordea Investment Management Ab5,119,221$197.0M0.2%−2,367,235
Amundi4,333,385$166.0M0.0%−206,168
Millennium Management LLC4,153,002$159.1M0.1%+90,520
AQR Arbitrage LLC3,858,057$147.8M2.5%+720,838
Legal & General Group Plc3,504,219$134.2M0.0%+95,371
Goldman Sachs Group Inc3,398,595$130.2M0.0%+559,317
Northern Trust Corp3,299,746$126.4M0.0%+97,899
Morgan Stanley3,276,730$125.5M0.0%+57,681
ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd3,266,286$125.1M2.3%+247,471
Balyasny Asset Management L.P.3,229,542$123.7M0.2%+140,917
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP3,006,373$115.2M0.0%+124,883
Jpmorgan Chase & Co2,753,727$106.3M0.0%+561,748
Pictet Asset Management Holding SA2,524,042$96.7M0.1%−1,081,409
Boston Trust Walden Corp2,463,461$94.4M0.7%−17,987
Bank of New York Mellon Corp2,413,662$92.5M0.0%−109,402
Invesco Ltd.2,401,088$92.0M0.0%−1,868,550
Nomura Asset Management International Inc.2,243,125$85.9M0.1%−110,480
First Trust Advisors LP2,092,331$80.2M0.0%+180,720
Arrowstreet Capital, Limited Partnership2,086,569$79.9M0.0%+804,561

13F reports cover disclosed long positions in U.S. stocks only.

Members of Congress who traded it

7 trades disclosed by members of Congress. “Vs S&P since” is the stock’s change since the trade minus the S&P 500’s.

DateMemberTradeAmountVs S&P sinceFiling
Oct 31, 2025Lisa C. McClainRepublican, HouseSale$1,001 - $15,000+9.9%Report
Oct 30, 2025Lisa C. McClainRepublican, HouseBuy$1,001 - $15,000−9.7%Report
Oct 30, 2025Lisa C. McClainRepublican, HouseSale$1,001 - $15,000+9.7%Report
Sep 25, 2025Lisa C. McClainRepublican, HouseBuy$1,001 - $15,000−10.7%Report
Apr 11, 2025Dan NewhouseRepublican, HousePartial sale$1,001 - $15,000+42.2%Report
Jan 11, 2023Michael GuestRepublican, HouseSale$1,001 - $15,000+112.8%Report
Mar 5, 2020Angus S. King, Jr.Independent, SenateSale$1,001 - $15,000+170.5%Report

Members report amounts as ranges, not exact figures. Returns are price-only (no dividends).

SEC filer profile

How Essential Utilities is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, from its EDGAR record and the cover page of its latest annual report.

  • Name on EDGAREssential Utilities, Inc.2
  • CIK0000078128
  • Employer ID (EIN)23-170259417
  • Filer statusLarge accelerated filer not an emerging growth company; not a smaller reporting company; a shell company17
  • Incorporated inPennsylvania17
  • Fiscal year endsDecember 312
  • Industry code (SIC)4941 Water Supply2
  • SEC reviewing officeOffice of Energy & Transportation, Division of Corporation Finance2
  • Business address762 W. Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-34892
  • Phone610-527-80002
  • Shares outstanding283,778,605 as of Jul 27, 202615
  • Public float$10.4B as of Jun 30, 202517
  • AuditorPricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PCAOB ID 238; it also attests to the company’s internal control over financial reporting17
  • On EDGAR sinceMar 8, 19942
  • Filings1,806 in all: 4 (867), 8-K (262), 10-Q (98), 425 (92), 4/A (46), SC 13G/A (37), 3 (36), 10-K (33)2
    All 53 form types

    11-K (33), 424B5 (33), DEF 14A (33), DEFA14A (25), 5 (20), SC 13G (17), S-3ASR (16), S-8 (14), 8-K/A (13), UPLOAD (13), CORRESP (11), FWP (9), SC 13D/A (9), 144 (8), 424B3 (7), S-3 (7), PRE 14A (6), ARS (5), S-3/A (5), 3/A (4), NO ACT (4), S-3D (4), S-4 (4), 10-Q/A (3), 11-K/A (3), SCHEDULE 13G/A (3), 424B1 (2), 424B4 (2), 8-A12B (2), EFFECT (2), POS AM (2), S-4/A (2), SCHEDULE 13G (2), 25 (1), 25-NSE (1), 305B2 (1), 8-A12B/A (1), CERT (1), DEFM14A (1), PX14A6G (1), RW (1), S-3DPOS (1), S-3MEF (1), SC 13D (1), SCHEDULE 13D/A (1)

  • Latest filingsAnnual report (10-K) Feb 26, 2026
    Quarterly report (10-Q) Aug 5, 2026
    Proxy statement (DEF 14A) Mar 17, 2026
    Latest 8-K (8-K) Sep 17, 2026

Securities registered for trading

ClassSymbolExchange
Common stock, par value $0.50 per shareWTRGNew York Stock Exchange

From the cover page of the 10-K filed Feb 26, 2026 (Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act).17

Risk factors and legal proceedings

The risks Essential Utilities names in Item 1A of its 10-K filed Feb 26, 2026: 50 risks under these headings, as written.17

  • In addition to the other information included in this Annual Report, the following factors should be considered in evaluating our business and future prospects. Any of the following risks, either alone or taken together, could materially harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed.
  • Risks Related to the Proposed Merger
  • The market price of shares of our common stock or American Water Common Stock will fluctuate and the Exchange Ratio will not be adjusted to reflect such fluctuations, and as a result, the Merger Consideration at the date of the closing of the Merger may vary significantly from the date the Merger Agreement was executed.
  • The Merger is subject to various remaining closing conditions, including the receipt of consents and approvals from various governmental and regulatory entities and third parties, and a failure to obtain all such remaining consents or approvals or to satisfy such other closing conditions could prevent or delay the completion of the Merger or impose conditions that could have a material adverse effect on us or the combined company.
  • The Merger may cause suppliers, strategic partners, certain customers, or others to delay or defer decisions regarding our business, and may adversely affect our ability to effectively manage our business.
  • The Merger Agreement contains provisions that limit our and American Water’s ability to pursue certain alternatives to the Merger, which could discourage a potential acquirer of either American Water or us from making an alternative transaction proposal and, in certain circumstances, could require us or American Water to pay to the other party a significant termination fee.
  • We may be the target of securities class action and derivative lawsuits which could result in substantial costs and may delay or prevent the Merger from being completed.
  • If completed, the Merger may not achieve its anticipated results, and American Water may not be able to integrate our operations and/or operate the combined company in the manner expected.
  • The companies may incur substantial and/or unexpected transaction fees and Merger-related costs in connection with the Merger.
  • The shares of American Water Common Stock to be received by our shareholders upon completion of the Merger will have different rights from shares of our common stock.
  • Current shareholders of each company will have reduced ownership and voting interests in their respective companies after the Merger.
  • If the Merger does not qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), the U.S. holders of Essential Common Stock may be required to pay additional U.S. federal income taxes.
The other 39 risks
  • The Merger may not be accretive to the combined company’s earnings and may adversely affect the combined company’s earnings per share, which may negatively affect the market price of the combined company’s common stock.
  • Uncertainties associated with the Merger may cause a loss of management personnel and other key employees, and American Water and Essential may have difficulty attracting and motivating management personnel and other key employees, which could adversely affect the future business and operations of the combined company.
  • The future results and market value of the combined company may be adversely impacted if the combined company does not effectively manage its expanded operations following the completion of the Merger or the combined company fails to successfully execute its business strategy and objectives.
  • The Merger will combine companies that are affected by developments in the water and wastewater utility industries and, additionally, with respect to Essential, the natural gas industry, including changes in regulation. Any failure to adapt to changing regulatory environments after the Merger could adversely affect the stability of the combined company’s earnings.
  • Risks Related to the Operation and Regulation of our Business
  • General economic conditions may affect our financial condition and results of operations.
  • Inflation, and the potential impact of new or sustained changes to tariffs, could adversely impact our ability to control costs, including operating expenses and capital costs.
  • The rates we charge our customers are subject to regulation. If we are unable to obtain government approval of our requests for rate increases, or if approved rate increases are untimely or inadequate to recover and earn a return on our capital investments, to recover expenses or taxes, or to take into account changes in water, wastewater, or natural gas usage, our profitability may suffer.
  • Changes in our earnings per share may differ from changes in our rate base.
  • Our ability to meet customers’ natural gas requirements may be impaired if contracted natural gas supplies and interstate pipelines services are not available, are not delivered in a timely manner or if federal regulations decrease its available capacity, which may result in a loss of customers and an adverse effect on our financial conditions and results of operations.
  • Any failure of our water and wastewater treatment plants, network of water and wastewater pipes, or water reservoirs could result in damages that may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
  • Our facilities could be the target of a possible terrorist or other deliberate attack which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
  • We are increasingly dependent on the continuous and reliable operation of our information technology systems, including those of our third-party vendors, and a disruption of these systems, resulting from cybersecurity attacks, risks associated with new systems implementation or integration, or other events, could harm our business.
  • Our business is impacted by weather conditions and is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which could harm demand for water and natural gas services and our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
  • Decreased residential customer water and natural gas usage as a result of conservation efforts, and the impact of more efficient appliances and furnaces, may harm demand for our utility services and may reduce our revenues and earnings.
  • Drought conditions and government-imposed water use restrictions may impact our ability to serve our current and future customers, and may impact our customers’ use of our water, which may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
  • The failure of, or the requirement to repair, upgrade or dismantle any of our dams or reservoirs may harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
  • Our operations are geographically concentrated in Pennsylvania, which make us susceptible to risks affecting Pennsylvania.
  • Federal and state environmental laws and regulations impose substantial compliance requirements on our operations. Our operating costs could be significantly increased in order to comply with new or stricter regulatory standards imposed by federal and state environmental agencies.
  • Our water or wastewater utility systems may be subject to condemnations or other methods of taking by governmental entities.
  • The final determination of our income tax liability may be materially different from our income tax provision.
  • Wastewater operations entail significant risks and may impose significant costs.
  • Work stoppages and other labor relations matters could harm our operating results.
  • Workforce-related risks, including risks due to uncertainties created by the proposed Merger, may affect our results of operations.
  • Significant or prolonged disruptions in the supply of important goods or services from third parties could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
  • We depend significantly on the services of the members of our management team, and the departure of any of those persons could cause our operating results to suffer.
  • We may incur significant costs and liabilities resulting from pipeline integrity and other similar programs and related repairs.
  • Our liquidity and, in certain circumstances, results of operations may be adversely affected by the cost of purchasing natural gas during periods in which natural gas prices are rising significantly.
  • An impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill could negatively impact our consolidated results of operations and net worth.
  • Risks Related to Health and Safety and Environmental Concerns
  • Worsening weather conditions, natural disasters, public health threats, or other catastrophic events, could negatively affect our business, outlook, financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.
  • Climate change laws and regulations have been passed and are being proposed that require compliance with greenhouse gas emissions standards, as well as other climate change initiatives and reporting, which could impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.
  • Climate change and other sustainability matters are increasingly important to many investors, and we may fail to provide information desired by all investors or achieve our sustainability goals.
  • Our water supply, including water provided to our customers, is subject to various potential contaminants which may result in disruption in our services, additional costs, loss of revenue, fines, laws and/or regulations, and litigation which could harm our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
  • Transporting, distributing and storing natural gas involves numerous risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs.
  • Risks Related to the Company’s Capital Needs and Common Stock
  • We have substantial indebtedness, as a result, it may be more difficult for the Company to pay or refinance its debts or take other actions, and the Company may need to divert cash to fund debt service payments. In addition, the proposed Merger may make it more difficult to raise significant debt and equity capital.
  • Our business requires significant capital expenditures that are partially dependent on our ability to secure appropriate funding. Disruptions in the capital markets may limit our access to capital. If we are unable to obtain sufficient capital, or if the cost of borrowing increases, it may harm our business, financial condition, results of operations, and our ability to pay dividends.
  • Our inability to comply with debt covenants under our loan and debt agreements could result in prepayment obligations.
  • The price of our common stock may be volatile. This volatility may affect the price at which one could sell our common stock, and the sale or resale of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
  • Risks Related to Acquisitions
  • One of the important elements of our growth strategy is the acquisition of regulated utility systems. Any acquisition we decide to undertake may involve risks. Further, competition for acquisition opportunities from other regulated utilities, governmental entities, and strategic and financial buyers may hinder our ability to grow our business. Lastly, competition and industry trends could impact our ability to retain existing customers or acquire new customers, which could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
  • The integration of acquisitions can be a multi-year activity depending upon the complexity and significance of the acquisition.

Legal proceedings

There are various legal proceedings in which we are involved. Although the results of legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, there are no pending legal proceedings to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party or to which any of our properties is the subject that we believe are material or are expected to materially harm our business, operating results, reputation, or financial condition.

The opening of Item 3, Legal Proceedings.17

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28
  29. 29
  30. 30
  31. 31
  32. 32
  33. 33
  34. 34
  35. 35
  36. 36
  37. 37
  38. 38
  39. 39
  40. 40
  41. 41
  42. 42
  43. 43
  44. 44
  45. 45
  46. 46
  47. 47
  48. 48
  49. 49
  50. 50
  51. 51
  52. 52
  53. 53
  54. 54
  55. 55
  56. 56
  57. 57
  58. 58
  59. 59
  60. 60
  61. 61
  62. 62
  63. 63
  64. 64
  65. 65
  66. 66
    SEC EDGAROther events
  67. 67
  68. 68
  69. 69
  70. 70
  71. 71
  72. 72
  73. 73
  74. 74
  75. 75
  76. 76
  77. 77
  78. 78
  79. 79
  80. 80
  81. 81
  82. 82
  83. 83
  84. 84
  85. 85
  86. 86
  87. 87
  88. 88
  89. 89
  90. 90