Welcome to our dedicated page for Essential Utilities news (Ticker: WTRG), a resource for investors and traders seeking the latest updates and insights on Essential Utilities stock.
Essential Utilities, Inc. (symbol: WTRG) is a key player in the United States utility sector, providing regulated water and wastewater services. Operating through its various subsidiaries, the company serves around three million residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers across multiple states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, and Virginia.
Headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Essential Utilities' history dates back to 1886, formerly known as Aqua America, Inc. The company underwent a rebranding in February 2020 to become Essential Utilities, Inc. The firm has a significant footprint in Pennsylvania, where nearly three-fourths of its water earnings are generated, primarily from suburban Philadelphia.
In addition to traditional water services, Essential Utilities provides non-utility raw water supply services to companies in the natural gas drilling industry. It also offers water and sewer line protection solutions and repair services to households through third-party agreements. Its Peoples subsidiary extends the company's reach into the natural gas sector, serving over 740,000 customers in Pennsylvania and Kentucky.
Over the years, Essential Utilities has consistently prioritized sustainable practices and infrastructure improvements. Recent projects include upgrading water treatment facilities and expanding service coverage to underserved areas. Financially, the company maintains a stable outlook supported by strong regulatory frameworks and long-term contracts.
Essential Utilities has also established several partnerships to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency. These partnerships allow the company to innovate and implement cutting-edge technologies in water treatment and distribution. Through these efforts, Essential Utilities continues to play a crucial role in ensuring access to safe and reliable water and wastewater services.
Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) reported Q3 2024 net income of $69.4 million, or $0.25 per share, compared to $80.1 million ($0.30/share) in Q3 2023. Revenues increased 6% to $435.3 million. The company reinstated its multi-year earnings guidance, projecting 5-7% EPS growth through 2027. Notable developments include PUC approval of the Peoples Natural Gas rate case with a $93 million revenue increase and a settlement reached for Aqua Pennsylvania's rate case. The company plans to invest nearly $8 billion in infrastructure over the next five years and maintains its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2035.
Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.3255 per share, payable December 2, 2024, to shareholders of record on November 12, 2024. This represents a 6.0% increase from the December 2023 dividend of $0.3071 per share. The company highlights its track record of paying consecutive quarterly cash dividends for 79 years.
Vision RNG has commenced commercial operations at its new Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility at the Laurel Ridge Landfill in Lily, Kentucky, in partnership with Waste Connections and Delta Gas. The facility processes about 2,250 standard cubic feet per minute of landfill gas, producing approximately 450,000 MMBtu of RNG annually, equivalent to 3.6 million gallons of gasoline. The RNG is injected into Delta Gas's pipeline network and can be used for transportation fuel, industrial applications, renewable energy production, and carbon footprint reduction. The project was completed ahead of schedule despite industry-wide challenges.
Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) has been recognized as a Champion of Board Diversity by The Forum of Executive Women for the sixth time since 2017. The company is one of 46 in the Greater Philadelphia area honored for promoting gender equity. This recognition is given to companies with at least 30% women on their boards.
Christopher Franklin, chairman and CEO of Essential Utilities, expressed pride in the company's focus on diversity not only on the Board but across the entire organization. He emphasized their commitment to reflecting the diverse communities they serve and continuing to work towards greater equity and inclusion.
Essential has also previously received a '3+' status from 50/50 Women on Boards, indicating at least three board seats held by women. The Forum of Executive Women, founded in 1977, is a membership organization uniting over 600 senior female leaders to empower women's influence in the workplace throughout the region.
Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) has announced its plans to report earnings for the third quarter of 2024 on November 4, 2024, after the market closes. The company will host a conference call for financial analysts on November 5, 2024, at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Investors can access the live webcast of the call and presentation on Essential.co through the Investors link. For those unable to attend live, the call will be archived in the Investor Relations section of the website. Additionally, an audio replay will be available from 2 p.m. on November 5, 2024, for seven days, accessible by dialing (800) 770-2030 (toll-free) or (609) 800-9909 with the pass code 9261648.
Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) has announced two key appointments to its finance team. Angela Jiang joins as vice president of tax, bringing 25 years of experience in utilities, chemical manufacturing, and energy sectors. She will oversee Essential's tax functions, including accounting, financial reporting, planning, and compliance. Hayley Diminick assumes the role of director of investor relations, responsible for developing relationships with shareholders and the financial community.
Jiang, previously senior tax director at Enviva, has held senior positions at various companies including W. R. Grace & Co. and Exelon Diminick brings 10 years of experience, most recently serving as VP of investor relations at Cloverlay. These appointments aim to strengthen Essential's leadership as it addresses water and natural gas infrastructure challenges.
Essential Utilities reminds customers to 'Call Before You Dig' for Safe Digging Day on August 11 (8/11). The company urges homeowners and contractors to call 811 at least three business days before any digging project, regardless of size. This free service prevents injuries, outages, and costly repairs. The process involves:
- Calling 811 before digging
- Waiting for utility companies to mark the site
- Respecting the markings during the project
- Digging with care
Essential Utilities CEO Christopher Franklin emphasizes safety as the top priority, noting that even small projects risk striking underground utility lines. Every six minutes, an underground utility line is damaged due to digging and excavation.
Aqua Pennsylvania has completed the installation of a PFAS treatment system at its Perkiomen Woods well station in Montgomery County. This marks the fourth PFAS treatment facility the company has implemented since 2018, all meeting the new national drinking water standard. The system serves approximately 1,100 people in Upper Providence Township and utilizes four 3-foot diameter filter vessels with anion exchange media.
The $1.3 million project demonstrates Aqua Pennsylvania's commitment to removing 'forever chemicals' from drinking water and complying with state and federal regulations. The company's engineering team devised an innovative solution to install the equipment through rooftop hatches, avoiding more costly construction options. The treatment system became fully operational on July 30, reinforcing Aqua's dedication to providing safe drinking water to its customers.
Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) reported Q2 2024 earnings of $0.28 per share, down from $0.34 in Q2 2023. Net income was $75.4 million, compared to $91.3 million last year. Revenues decreased 0.5% to $434.4 million. The company increased its quarterly dividend by 6.0% to $0.3255 per share.
Key factors affecting results include:
- Warmer-than-normal weather impacting natural gas segment
- Lower regulated natural gas and water segment volumes
- Increased revenues from regulatory recoveries and water customer growth
- Higher operations and maintenance expenses
Essential reaffirmed its 2024 guidance and long-term growth targets, including $1.3 to $1.4 billion in infrastructure investments for 2024 and $7.2 billion through 2028.
Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) has announced a 6% increase in its quarterly cash dividend. The board of directors declared a dividend of $0.3255 per share, payable on September 3, 2024, to shareholders of record as of August 12, 2024. This represents a $0.0184 increase over the September 2023 dividend of $0.3071 per share. The company has maintained a strong dividend history, having paid consecutive quarterly cash dividends for 79 years and increased the dividend 34 times in the last 33 years. This consistent dividend growth demonstrates Essential Utilities' commitment to delivering value to its shareholders.
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