WTRG Just did my Yield on Cost, it raised its dividend BTW
WTRG is merging with AWK in 2027. I will receive 0.305 shares of AWK for each WTRG I own, plus my dividend will go down.
It was known as Philadelphia Suburban when I started, then changed to Aqua America. then changed to Essential Utilities.
I think the merger with AWK is a take under unless AWK goes up wildly in the next year. (It won't)
WTRG just raised their quarterly dividend 5.25% to $0.3606 per share, up from the previous $0.3426 per share. The dividend is payable on September 1, 2026, to shareholders of record as of August 11, 2026.
WTRG has raised its dividend 35 times in the last 34 years.
There have been at least three splits since I have owned this stock. A 5/4, 4/3, and a 5/4.
My yield on Cost is now 15.72%. Hard to find an investment paying 15.72%. The dividends are Qualified Dividends.
If you do the math, my cost per share is 9.18. A boring water company(and natural gas) share price right now at 40.53, which is a 340% return on share price. On a water utility.
Is this a great stock? No, it is not. I call it a foundation stock. I know that owning this stock I have a solid foundation and can count on it to not belly up. Merging with AWK sort of guarantees it I guess.