WTRG

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.

Essential Utilities (WTRG) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) rating, reflecting upward trends in earnings estimates. The water utility is expected to earn $2.22 per share for fiscal year 2026 with no year-over-year change, though analysts have steadily raised estimates over the past three months by 0.2%. The upgrade positions the stock in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for near-term price appreciation.