Independent
Tenure on this board
7.9 yrs
Meeting calendar
WTRG · Annual meeting · Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Essential Utilities Inc
7 nominees · 3 ballot items.
Elect seven directors; non-binding advisory vote to approve 2025 named executive officers’ compensation (Say-on-Pay); ratify PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2026.
Market cap
$11.3B
1Y TSR
+6.4%
Board grade
C-
Record date
Mar 2, 2026
Filing
DEF 14A
Meeting concluded · Apr 29, 2026
Follow how the vote landed and what changed on Essential Utilities Inc’s board — director track records, governance grades, and ongoing monitoring — on the Boardroom Alpha platform.
Proposals
On the ballot3
- 1
Election of Directors
ManagementBoard: FORElect seven nominees to the Board of Directors to serve one-year terms.
- 2
Advisory Vote to Approve Named Executive Officers’ 2025 Compensation
ManagementBoard: FORNon-binding, advisory (Say-on-Pay) vote to approve executive compensation for 2025 as described in the CD&A and related tables.
More detail
The Board seeks a non-binding advisory approval of the Company’s 2025 executive compensation (Say-on-Pay) as disclosed in the CD&A, compensation tables and narrative. Management is asking shareholders to endorse the pay program which emphasizes pay-for-performance and a majority of compensation at risk; metrics include adjusted EPS, TSR, rate base growth, O&M controls, safety and customer metrics. The Executive Compensation Committee changed the long-term incentive mix in 2025 (50% PSUs, 35% RSUs, 15% options) and increased CEO LTI target to align pay with peers; they also engaged in extensive shareholder outreach after lower prior support and enhanced disclosure of PSU targets. The vote is advisory only; the Board and Compensation Committee will consider the results when setting future compensation. The Board unanimously recommends a vote FOR, citing alignment with shareholder interests, rigorous metrics, clawback policies, and shareholder engagement.
- 3
Ratification of Appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
ManagementBoard: FORRatify the Audit Committee’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2026.
Director elections
Nominees on the ballot7
Independent
Tenure on this board
2.2 yrs
Independent
Tenure on this board
5.0 yrs
Also a director at
Marzetti Co (MZTI)
Not independent
Tenure on this board
10.8 yrs
Also a director at
Centerpoint Energy Inc (CNP)
Independent
Tenure on this board
9.1 yrs
Independent
Tenure on this board
3.7 yrs
Independent
Tenure on this board
2.2 yrs
Ownership
Latest 13F quarterTop institutional holders10
| # | Owner | % of shares | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC | 5.8% | 16,489,351 | $664M |
| 2 | BlackRock, Inc. | 5.7% | 16,208,577 | $653M |
| 3 | VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | 4.5% | 12,661,679 | $510M |
| 4 | STATE STREET CORP | 4.4% | 12,431,482 | $501M |
| 5 | BlackRock, Inc. | 3.0% | 8,581,226 | $346M |
| 6 | NORDEA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AB | 1.5% | 4,335,742 | $175M |
| 7 | GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | 1.5% | 4,140,038 | $167M |
| 8 | MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC | 1.4% | 4,062,482 | $164M |
| 9 | BlackRock, Inc. | 1.4% | 3,867,664 | $156M |
| 10 | Invesco Ltd. | 1.3% | 3,826,227 | $154M |
Peers
Nearest market capOther Utilities sector meetings6
Upcoming shareholder meetings at Essential Utilities Inc’s closest sector peers — compare boards, ballots, and ownership across the cohort.
Reference
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Essential Utilities Inc 2026 annual meeting?
- Essential Utilities Inc (WTRG) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
- What is the record date for the Essential Utilities Inc 2026 meeting?
- The record date for the Essential Utilities Inc 2026 meeting is Monday, March 2, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
- Who are the director nominees for Essential Utilities Inc's 2026 meeting?
- The board is presenting 7 director nominees at the Essential Utilities Inc 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
- What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Essential Utilities Inc 2026 meeting?
- Shareholders will vote on 3 proposals at the Essential Utilities Inc 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
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