These are single quarters, not a trailing year — the figures elsewhere on this site cover twelve months and will be much larger. A seasonal business swings a long way between the two: ServiceNow earns $2.0B of free cash flow in its December quarter and $0.5B in its June one.

Compared against the same quarter a year earlier, not against an analyst forecast. A “beat” or “miss” needs a consensus estimate, which is licensed data we do not carry — and getting it wrong is worse than leaving it out.

How the share price reacted

Releases land before the open or after the close, so the window runs from the close before the report day to the close of the session after it — the reaction is inside it either way.

What Essential Utilities, Inc. does

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater, and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting thousands of acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across nine states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S . Learn more at www.essential.co .

The company’s own description, as it appears at the foot of the release.