Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) CAO logs stock award vesting and tax share disposition

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Essential Utilities, Inc. Chief Accounting Officer Bradley John Palmer reported routine equity compensation activity involving common stock. He acquired 246 shares on February 22, 2026 at $0.0000 per share as a grant/award, bringing his directly held balance to 2,428 shares.

According to the footnotes, these shares were earned and vested from performance-based share units granted on February 22, 2023, with vesting determined by the Compensation Committee on February 4, 2026 at a 63.58% vesting level. On the same date, 158 shares were disposed of at $38.78 per share as a tax-withholding disposition to the issuer to satisfy tax obligations upon vesting of restricted stock units and performance-based share units, leaving 2,270 shares directly owned afterward.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Palmer Bradley John

(Last) (First) (Middle)

762 W. LANCASTER AVENUE

(Street)

BRYN MAWR PA 19010

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Essential Utilities, Inc. [ WTRG ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Accounting Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/22/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	02/22/2026		A		246(1)	A	$0	2,428	D
Common Stock	02/22/2026		F		158(2)	D	$38.78	2,270	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents acquisition of shares upon the earning and vesting of performance-based share units awarded on 2/22/2023. Vesting determination was made by the Compensation Committee on 02/04/2026. Represents vesting at 63.58%.

2. Disposition to issuer for tax obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock units and performance-based share units.

	Kimberly A. Joyce, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Palmer	02/24/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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FAQ

What did Essential Utilities (WTRG) officer Bradley John Palmer report on this Form 4?

Bradley John Palmer reported routine equity compensation activity involving common stock. He received vested performance-based shares and surrendered some shares back to the company to cover tax obligations tied to those awards.

How many Essential Utilities (WTRG) shares did Bradley John Palmer acquire?

He acquired 246 shares of Essential Utilities common stock on February 22, 2026. The filing states this came from the earning and vesting of performance-based share units originally awarded on February 22, 2023.

Why were some Essential Utilities (WTRG) shares disposed of in Palmer’s Form 4?

The Form 4 shows a disposition of 158 shares as a tax-withholding transaction. These shares were delivered back to Essential Utilities to satisfy tax obligations when restricted and performance-based stock units vested.

Was Bradley John Palmer’s Essential Utilities (WTRG) Form 4 an open-market stock sale?

The Form 4 does not reflect an open-market sale. It shows an equity award vesting and a related tax-withholding disposition to the issuer, where shares are used to cover taxes rather than sold on the open market.

What vesting details are disclosed for Palmer’s Essential Utilities (WTRG) performance-based units?

The filing states the earned shares came from performance-based share units granted on February 22, 2023. The Compensation Committee determined vesting on February 4, 2026, with the performance-based units vesting at a 63.58% level.

How many Essential Utilities (WTRG) shares does Palmer hold after these transactions?

After the reported award and tax-withholding disposition, Palmer directly owns 2,270 shares of Essential Utilities common stock. This total reflects his position following the February 22, 2026 equity compensation events.