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Essential Utilities ( (WTRG) ) just unveiled an announcement.
On February 10, 2026, Essential Utilities held a special shareholder meeting at which 76.2% of outstanding shares were represented, and investors decisively approved the merger agreement with American Water Works Company, Inc. Shareholders also backed, on a non-binding basis, the proposed executive compensation tied to the deal, while a contingency proposal to adjourn the meeting was not needed due to the strong support for the transaction.
A joint announcement the same day confirmed that shareholders of both Essential Utilities and American Water overwhelmingly endorsed their merger-related proposals, with nearly 95% of Essential’s votes cast in favor of the deal. The merger, which aims to combine two of the largest regulated water and wastewater utilities in the U.S., still requires antitrust clearance and approvals from public utility commissions, leaving regulatory outcomes as the key remaining hurdle before an expected closing by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The most recent analyst rating on (WTRG) stock is a Sell with a $38.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Essential Utilities stock, see the WTRG Stock Forecast page.
Spark’s Take on WTRG Stock
According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, WTRG is a Neutral.
The overall score reflects strong corporate events and solid financial performance, offset by bearish technical indicators. The merger with American Water Works is a significant positive, but technical weaknesses and cash flow concerns temper the outlook.
To see Spark’s full report on WTRG stock, click here.
More about Essential Utilities
Essential Utilities, Inc., listed on the NYSE as WTRG, is a major U.S. provider of regulated water, wastewater and natural gas services. Operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands, the company serves about 5.5 million people across nine states, with a focus on sustainable growth, operational excellence, customer experience and environmental stewardship.
Average Trading Volume: 1,962,842
Technical Sentiment Signal: Sell
Current Market Cap: $10.59B
For detailed information about WTRG stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.