Essential Utilities (WTRG) president reports award and tax share disposition

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Essential Utilities, Inc. executive Colleen Arnold, President - Aqua, reported equity award activity in company common stock. She acquired 2,747 shares on February 22, 2026 as a grant/award with a price of $0.00 per share, increasing her holdings to 22,157 shares.

According to the footnotes, these shares were earned upon the vesting of performance-based share units granted on February 22, 2023, with vesting determined at 63.58% by the Compensation Committee on February 4, 2026. On the same date, 2,053 shares were disposed of at $38.78 per share in a tax-withholding transaction to the issuer, leaving her with 20,104 directly owned shares.

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^*

Arnold Colleen

(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)
	President - Aqua

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		2,747(1)	A	$0	22,157	D
Common Stock	02/22/2026		F		2,053(2)	D	$38.78	20,104	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 Ms. Arnold	02/24/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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FAQ

What did Essential Utilities (WTRG) executive Colleen Arnold report on this Form 4?

Colleen Arnold reported both an equity award and related tax-withholding disposition. She acquired 2,747 common shares through vesting of performance-based units, then transferred 2,053 shares to the issuer for tax obligations, resulting in 20,104 shares owned directly after these transactions.

How many Essential Utilities (WTRG) shares did Colleen Arnold acquire in the latest filing?

She acquired 2,747 common shares at a stated price of $0.00 per share. The footnotes explain these came from the earning and vesting of performance-based share units granted in February 2023, following a Compensation Committee determination of 63.58% vesting on February 4, 2026.

Why did Colleen Arnold dispose of Essential Utilities (WTRG) shares in this Form 4?

She disposed of 2,053 common shares at $38.78 per share to the issuer for tax obligations. The footnotes state this was for taxes tied to vesting of restricted stock units and performance-based share units, rather than an open-market sale to outside investors.

What is Colleen Arnold’s Essential Utilities (WTRG) share ownership after these transactions?

After the award and tax-withholding disposition, she directly owns 20,104 common shares. Her holdings first rose to 22,157 shares after vesting, then decreased when 2,053 shares were surrendered to the issuer to satisfy tax liabilities associated with the equity awards.

What do the performance-based share unit details mean for Essential Utilities (WTRG)?

The filing notes performance-based share units granted on February 22, 2023 vested at 63.58%. This means only a portion of the original award converted into common shares, following a Compensation Committee determination made on February 4, 2026 based on plan performance criteria.

Is Colleen Arnold’s share disposition in Essential Utilities (WTRG) an open-market sale?

No, the disposition is described as to the issuer for tax obligations. The transaction code F and footnote clarify shares were delivered back to Essential Utilities to cover tax liabilities from vesting awards, rather than being sold on the open market to third-party buyers.