AWK

Essential Utilities' Aqua New Jersey subsidiary completed the acquisition of Lake Tamarack Water Corporation's water system for $113,000, adding 255 customers and planning $1.4M in infrastructure investments. The company continues its expansion strategy, having added over 138,000 customers since 2015. American Water Works' proposed merger with Essential Utilities remains on track for Q1 2027, creating a combined utility serving 4.7 million connections.

American Water Works (AWK) added approximately 52,700 customers through acquisitions and 9,000 organically in the first half of 2026, with 19 pending acquisitions representing 56,600 potential customers. The company plans to invest $19-$20 billion through 2030 to support 8-9% rate-base growth. However, AWK is trading at a premium valuation (P/E 20.03X vs. industry 16.02X) and carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) rating, with shares declining 6.9% in the past three months.