Essential Utilities (WTRG) EVP granted 4,531 restricted stock units

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Essential Utilities, Inc. executive Christopher Paul Luning, EVP and General Counsel, reported an equity award of Common Stock. He received 4,531 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one share of Common Stock at a reference price of $39.73 per share. The filing notes these restricted stock units vest in three equal installments on each anniversary of the grant. Following this award and additional shares acquired under the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, his directly held Common Stock position is reported at 83,268.5 shares.

Insider Trade Summary

1 transaction reported

Mixed 1 txn

Insider Luning Christopher Paul

Role EVP, General Counsel

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Common Stock	4,531	$39.73	$180K

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock — 83,268.5 shares (Direct)

Footnotes (1)

1. Represents the award of restricted stock units. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock. The restricted stock units vest one-third each year on the anniversary. Includes additional shares acquired under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan since the date of the reporting person's last ownership report.

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

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

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

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^*

Luning Christopher Paul

(Last) (First) (Middle)

762 W. LANCASTER AVE

(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)
	EVP, General Counsel

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/17/2026

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	02/17/2026		A		4,531(1)	A	$39.73	83,268.5(2)	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 the award of restricted stock units. Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock. The restricted stock units vest one-third each year on the anniversary.

2. Includes additional shares acquired under the Issuer's Employee Stock Purchase Plan since the date of the reporting person's last ownership report.

	Kimberly A. Joyce, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Luning	02/19/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Essential Utilities (WTRG) report for Christopher Paul Luning?

Essential Utilities reported that EVP and General Counsel Christopher Paul Luning received an equity award of 4,531 restricted stock units of Common Stock. These units are a form of compensation, not an open‑market stock purchase or sale, and each unit represents one future share.

How many shares does Christopher Paul Luning hold after this Form 4 for Essential Utilities (WTRG)?

After the reported award, Christopher Paul Luning is shown holding 83,268.5 shares of Essential Utilities Common Stock directly. This total includes the new restricted stock units and additional shares accumulated through the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan since his last ownership report.

Was the Essential Utilities (WTRG) Form 4 a stock purchase or a grant for Christopher Paul Luning?

The Form 4 reflects a grant categorized as a “grant, award, or other acquisition,” not an open‑market stock purchase. Luning received 4,531 restricted stock units as part of his compensation, which vest over time and convert into shares upon satisfying the vesting schedule.

What are the vesting terms of Christopher Paul Luning’s restricted stock unit award at Essential Utilities (WTRG)?

The restricted stock units granted to Christopher Paul Luning vest in three equal installments. One‑third of the award vests on each anniversary of the grant date, meaning full vesting occurs over three years if he remains eligible under the plan’s terms.

What price per share is associated with the restricted stock units granted to Christopher Paul Luning at Essential Utilities (WTRG)?

The award references a price of $39.73 per share for the 4,531 restricted stock units. This price is used for reporting purposes in the Form 4 and does not indicate a cash purchase transaction by the executive in the open market.