Essential Utilities posts higher Q3 profit as merger advances

Essential Utilities reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $508.3 million, up from $477.0 million a year earlier, while GAAP diluted EPS rose to $0.36 from $0.33. Adjusted diluted EPS, excluding American Water merger costs, was $0.38. The company said it expects the American Water transaction to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to remaining approvals.

The results provide investors with a quarterly update ahead of the proposed merger and show higher earnings alongside continued capital spending. Essential Utilities expects the transaction to close in the first quarter of 2027, while the revenue result was below the $567.31 million estimate reported by Investing.com.

  • 1Revenue increased to $508.3 million from $477.0 million in the year-ago quarter.
  • 2GAAP diluted EPS was $0.36, compared with $0.33 a year earlier.
  • 3Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.38 after excluding costs tied to the pending American Water merger.
  • 4Essential Utilities invested approximately $1.1 billion in infrastructure during the first nine months of 2026 and has a $1.7 billion full-year investment target.
  • 5The proposed merger received regulatory approval in Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia, with settlements reached in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Texas.
  • 6The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3606.

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