Essential Utilities hikes dividend by 7%

Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG), formerly Aqua America (WTR) will raise its quarterly dividend by another 7 percent to $0.287 per share in 2022. This follows similar dividend increases by the water utility in each of the past four years and marks 32 straight years of dividend growth.

Essential Utilities, Inc., formerly Aqua America, Inc., is the holding company for regulated utilities providing water or wastewater services to people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana and Virginia. In addition, the company’s market-based activities are conducted through Aqua Infrastructure, LLC and Aqua Resources, Inc. Aqua Infrastructure provides non-utility raw water supply services for firms in the natural gas drilling industry. Aqua Resources provides water service through operating and maintenance contracts with a municipal authority and another party close to our utility companies’ service territory; and offers, through a third-party, water and sewer line protection solutions and repair services to households. The company has paid a dividend to shareholders every year since at least 1945.