Investor FAQs

Dividend Reinvestment FAQ

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What is your symbol and on what exchange do you trade?
The company's ticker symbol is WTRG.
Essential Utilities is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and registered on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
Who is the transfer agent for Essential's common stock?
Computershare is the transfer agent for Essential's common stock. Inquiries relating to stockholder accounting records, stock transfer, dividends (including dividend reinvestment) and direct stock purchase for Essential's common stock should be directed to:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006
http://www.computershare.com
What is the toll-free number?
Shareholder Relations is 1-800-205-8314
 
Who can invest in the Plan?
You may participate in the Plan if you own at least 5 shares of Essential common stock that are registered in your name. You may also participate by making an initial minimum investment of at least $500 through automatic withdrawal form your U.S. bank account, by check or by a one-time online bank debit through the Buy Stock Direct option on our web sites home page.
What is the minimum and maximum you can invest?
The minimum initial investment is $500. After initial investment, you may invest as little as $50 whenever you'd like. The annual maximum investment is $250,000.
Is there a discount on the purchase of the stock?
No, there is no discount on the purchase of stock. Dividends are reinvested at a five percent discount if you elect to have your dividends reinvested.
Are there any fees to participate in the Plan?
We pay for all transaction fees and per share fees (which include any brokerage commissions the Administrator is required to pay) associated with the reinvestment of dividends and the making of optional cash investments. For each batch order sale of whole shares from your Plan account, you will be charged a $25.00 transaction fee and a per share fee of $0.12. For each market order sale of whole shares from your Plan account, you will be charged a $25.00 transaction fee and a per share fee of $0.12. For each limit order sale of whole shares from your Plan account, you will be charged a $25.00 transaction fee and a per share fee of $0.12. For each GTC limit order sale of whole shares from your Plan account, you will be charged a $25.00 transaction fee and a per share fee of $0.12. All sales requests processed over the telephone by a customer service representative entail an additional fee of $15.00.  Fees are collected by the Administrator from your account.
Where do I send my check?
Make check or money order payable to "Computershare - Essential Utilities" and mail to:
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006
When is the stock purchased?
Computershare purchases Common shares of Essential in the open market twice each week, Tuesday and Friday. After your purchase, you will receive a statement indicating the price you paid per share and the total number of shares purchased.
How do I sell my stock?
You can sell some or all of your shares held in the Plan account, or any other book-entry shares of Essential, by accessing your Plan account through the Internet at the Administrator's web site, http://www.computershare.com, by calling the Administrator at 1-800-205-8314, by providing written instructions to the Administrator or by mailing the form attached to your Plan statement to:

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
P.O. Box 43006
Providence, RI 02940-3006

Sale orders placed over the phone may be subject to a limit established by the Administrator. We are not responsible for trading fees incurred in the sale of shares.
When will the stock be sold and at what price?
The Administrator will sell shares in a timely manner upon receipt of your instructions. Sales will be made at least weekly and more frequently if volume dictates. The sale price for Plan Participants will be the weighted average sale price received by the Administrator for all sales during the period required to complete the sales. You will receive the proceeds of the sale, minus a $25.00 transaction fee, brokerage commissions of $0.12 per each share sold and any applicable transfer taxes.

Please note that the Administrator is not able to accept instructions to sell on a specific day or at a specific price or through a specific broker or dealer. If you prefer to have complete control over the exact timing and sales prices, you can withdraw the shares and sell them through a broker of your own choosing.
Frequently asked questions by registered shareholders
http://www.computershare.com

Stock Split FAQ

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How many times has Essential stock split?
There have been eight stock splits since 1981 and prior to September 1, 2013:
Effective Date/Split Ratio
September 1, 1986 2 for 1
June 18, 1996 3 for 2
January 12, 1998 4 for 3
December 1, 2000 5 for 4
December 1, 2001 5 for 4
December 1, 2003 5 for 4
December 1, 2005 4 for 3
September 1, 2013 5 for 4
What are the key dates for a stock split?
1. The Record Date - determines which shareholders are entitled to receive additional shares due to the split.
2. The Split Date -  the effective date of the stock split.
3. The Ex Date -  the date determined by NYSE when common shares start trading at the new split-adjusted price.
How does a stock split actually work?
A 5-for-4 split means that a new share of stock is issued for every four shares in existence prior to the split. Each share is now worth 80 percent of what it was worth immediately prior to the split.

Here is an example of how the stock split was affected. Assume that as of the record date, an investor owned 100 shares of Essential common stock and that the market price of Essential stock was $30 per share, therefore the investment in Essential was worth $3,000. Assuming that Essential stock price didn't move up or down between the record date and the date on which the split actually took place, immediately after the split, the investor owned 125 shares of Essential stock, but the market price would be $24 per share. The investor's total investment value in Essential would remained the same at $3,000 unless the stock price moved up or down with normal market movements.
Are there any personal income tax consequences as a result of Essential's stock splits?
The Company has been advised by its tax advisor that under Federal income tax laws receipt of additional shares will not constitute taxable income to the shareholder. The cost or other tax basis to a shareholder of each share held immediately after the split is equal to 80 percent of the tax basis of the corresponding shares held immediately prior to the split. For example, if you owned 100 shares before the split with a tax basis of $20 per share, after the split you would own 125 shares of stock with a tax basis of $16 per share. For capital gains purposes, the holding period for each of the shares will include the period for which the corresponding pre-split shares were held. Any cash paid in lieu of fractional shares results in the recognition of gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount of such cash and the basis of the fractional share redeemed and will result in a Form 1099-B for the tax year for the amount of cash paid. Cash-in-lieu is calculated based upon the split-adjusted closing price as of the record date. Foreign residents should consult their local tax advisors.
Should I have received an updated share certificate following a split?
Shareholders that hold all of their shares in certificate form prior to the split were issued a certificate for the additional shares resulting from the split. All other holders received the additional shares in electronic form. If you held your Essential shares in a brokerage account immediately prior to a split, the additional shares were deposited into that account.
Where are shareholder notices from Essential Utilities, Inc. mailed?
If you have stock certificates or hold shares directly with Computershare Investor Services, any shareholder mailings from Essential are sent to the address that Computershare has on file. To verify your address you can call Computershare directly at 1-800-205-8314. It is your responsibility to ensure that your address is current with Computershare at all times. If Computershare is unable to contact you with shareholder notices because your current address is not on file with them, you run the risk of having your shares escheated to the state of your last known residence and losing all rights to your shares in accordance with certain state laws.

If you hold your Essential shares through a brokerage account, all mailings from Essential will be sent to the address for you that your brokerage has on file.
How do I contact the Stock Transfer Agent?
For registered shareholders that hold their shares directly in the company, you can reach Computershare (Essential's Stock Transfer Agent) as follows:
Email: web.queries@computershare.com
Phone: 1-800-205-8314 (toll-free)
Address: Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
150 Royall Street, Suite 101
Providence, RI 02021
My shares are held by a brokerage firm. How do my shares get adjusted for a stock split?
If your Essential shares are held in a brokerage account, they split automatically on the split date.
How does a stock split affect the number of shares outstanding and the future calculation of earnings per share?
As a result of a stock split on a 5-for-4 basis, for example,  the number of shares outstanding increases by 25 percent. Earnings per share are 80 percent of what they otherwise would have been as net income is divided into 125 percent as many shares.
What if I previously held Aqua America stock or own paper stock certificates under the ticker symbol WTR?
If you previously held Aqua America stock under the ticker symbol WTR, your stock has automatically changed over to the new ticker symbol WTRG. If you have paper stock certificates, they are still valid and do not need to be exchanged.