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Unitil (UTL) AI Stock Analysis

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UTL

Unitil

(NYSE:UTL)

Select Model
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:$60.00â–²(7.60% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:11/04/26

UTL’s score is led by solid operating performance and a positive earnings outlook (reaffirmed guidance and rate-base/capex-driven growth), supported by constructive technical trends and a reasonable dividend-backed valuation. The biggest restraint is financial quality: consistently negative free cash flow and elevated leverage increase dependence on financing markets and reduce flexibility.

Positive Factors
Regulated utility modelRegulated electric and natural gas distribution provides a durable operating framework, with infrastructure investment generally supported through approved rates and an allowed return. This can make revenue and earnings more predictable while linking long-term growth to rate-base expansion.
Negative Factors
Negative free cash flowPersistent negative free cash flow shows that capital spending exceeds internally generated cash, increasing reliance on debt or equity to fund infrastructure investment. This can reduce financial flexibility and make execution more dependent on continued access to external capital.

Unitil Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Operating Revenue by SegmentShows how revenue is split across Unitil’s business lines—electric delivery, natural gas delivery, and any non-regulated energy services. Highlights which segments drive sales, how weather and customer usage affect topline stability, and how rate decisions or customer growth in a particular segment could lift or weaken overall revenue.

$0.00$50.00M$100.00M$150.00M$200.00MMar 21Jun 21Sep 21Dec 21Mar 22Jun 22Sep 22Dec 22Mar 23Jun 23Sep 23Dec 23Mar 24Jun 24Sep 24Dec 24Mar 25Jun 25Sep 25Dec 25Mar 26Jun 26Sep 26
Chart Insights

Gas is now the primary growth and volatility driver—winter peaks have become larger and more pronounced as customer additions, Maine Natural Gas and recent NH rate actions/acquisitions boost gas receipts, while electric margins also show steady improvement. Management’s bigger capex and rate‑base expansion underpin upside, but regulatory timing, higher O&M/depreciation and ongoing rate cases will dictate when that revenue converts to durable, accretive EPS—monitor Northern Utilities rulings and AMI completion for realization risk and timing.

Data provided by:The Fly

Unitil (UTL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-5%0%5%10%15%20%25%UTL+20.53%SPY+14.55%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$1.03B
Dividend Yield
3.42%
Average Volume (3M)
131.01K
Price to Earnings (P/E)
17.9
Beta (1Y)
-0.10
Revenue Growth
21.12%
EPS Growth
6.40%
Country
US
Employees
601
Sector
Utilities
Sector Strength
66
Industry
Diversified Utilities

Unitil Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Unitil Corporation functions as a public utility holding company, with its primary operations centered on the provision of electricity and natural gas. The company's activities are categorized into three main divisions: Utility Electric Operations, U...

How the Company Makes Money

Unitil primarily makes money through state-regulated utility operations. The core revenue streams are (1) electric distribution revenue and (2) natural gas distribution revenue, earned by delivering energy to residential, commercial, and industrial c...

Unitil Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 02, 2026(Q3-2026)|% Change Since:-0.35%|Next Earnings Date:Feb 16, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call was predominantly positive. Unitil reported 4.4% year-to-date adjusted earnings-per-share growth, reaffirmed its 2026 and long-term guidance, delivered double-digit electric and gas adjusted gross margin growth, completed major integrations, expanded its rate base and capital plan, progressed on rate cases and infrastructure projects, and maintained a strong financial profile. The principal negatives were higher operating expenses, increased depreciation and taxes, a nonrecurring $0.7 million FERC transmission revenue reduction, acquisition-related transaction costs, and the expectation that the water acquisition will be earnings neutral in 2026.

Positive Updates

Year-to-Date Earnings Growth
Adjusted net income for the first nine months of 2026 was $38.3 million, or $2.12 per share, an increase of $4.8 million and $0.09 per share, or 4.4%, compared with the first nine months of 2025.

Negative Updates

Higher Operating and Maintenance Expenses
Operation and maintenance expenses increased by $8.2 million, including $5.1 million of higher utility operating costs and $3.8 million of higher labor and other costs, partially offset by $0.7 million of lower acquisition costs. The increase included $3.9 million related to Maine Natural Gas and $1.2 million related to the Aquarion New Hampshire companies.

Company Guidance

Unitil reaffirmed its 2026 guidance of $3.20 to $3.36 per share, with a midpoint of $3.28, and long-term earnings growth of 5% to 7%; the Aquarion New Hampshire acquisition is expected to be earnings neutral in 2026, New Hampshire meter replacement is expected to be completed by the end of 27, the current 5-year capital investment plan through 2030 totals approximately $1.2 billion, the dividend payout ratio target range remains at 55% to 65%, company wide direct greenhouse gas emissions are targeted to be reduced by 50% by 2030 and to be net zero by 2050, and all remaining leak-prone pipe is expected to be replaced by 2035.

Unitil Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Profitability is solid with improving TTM revenue and stronger margins (gross ~43%, operating ~19%), but the overall financial profile is constrained by structurally negative free cash flow (TTM about -$40M) and rising leverage (total debt up to ~$996M TTM; debt-to-equity ~1.55), implying ongoing reliance on external financing.

Income Statement

78Positive

Balance Sheet

60Neutral

Cash Flow

42Neutral
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue608.00M536.00M494.80M557.10M563.20M473.30M
Gross Profit323.60M221.20M196.60M183.00M169.00M161.80M
EBITDA212.10M198.00M174.90M160.70M143.50M134.30M
Net Income55.40M50.20M47.10M45.20M41.40M36.10M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.28B2.13B1.79B1.67B1.59B1.54B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments12.90M15.60M6.30M6.50M9.00M6.50M
Total Debt995.60M933.20M755.80M681.60M616.10M578.20M
Total Liabilities1.64B1.52B1.28B1.18B1.12B1.09B
Stockholders Equity640.50M609.60M512.50M489.30M467.60M448.50M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-39.90M-53.80M-44.00M-34.00M-24.40M-7.20M
Operating Cash Flow162.20M131.30M125.90M107.00M97.70M107.80M
Investing Cash Flow-333.70M-345.50M-169.90M-141.00M-122.10M-115.00M
Financing Cash Flow169.80M223.50M43.80M31.50M26.90M7.70M

Unitil Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price55.76

Price Trends

50DMA52.98Positive
100DMA52.99Positive
200DMA51.79Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.80Positive
RSI60.87Neutral
STOCH33.02Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For UTL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 55.76 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 54.86, above the 50-day MA of 52.98, and above the 200-day MA of 51.79, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.80 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 60.87 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 33.02 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for UTL.

Unitil Risk Analysis

Unitil disclosed 19 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Unitil reported the most risks in the "Production" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Production - Risks related to the company’s ability to manufacture goods and services

Latest Risks Added

3 New Risks
1.A substantial disruption or lack of growth in interstate natural gas pipeline transmission and storage capacity and electric transmission capacity may impair the Company's ability to meet customers' existing and future requirements.Q4, 2025
2.The Company's electric and natural gas distribution activities (including storing natural gas and supplemental gas supplies) involve numerous hazards and operating risks that may result in accidents and other operating risks and costs. Any such accident or costs could adversely affect the Company's financial position or results of operations.Q4, 2025
3.The Company has made and may make acquisitions and may pursue other strategic transactions, which could impact the Company's financial condition or results of operations.Q4, 2024

Unitil Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)

Financial Indicators

UTL against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
BKHBKH76Outperform$6.70B20.748.05%3.21%2.80%5.11%
CPKCPK69Neutral$3.43B21.999.20%2.03%13.91%12.26%
UTLUTL68Neutral$1.03B17.948.76%3.42%21.12%6.40%
MDUMDU66Neutral$4.17B21.066.65%2.88%-0.72%12.71%
Sector *66Neutral$17.65B18.105.60%3.62%6.62%11.55%
AVAAVA64Neutral$3.37B13.598.87%4.81%-1.36%27.24%
NWNNWN63Neutral$2.18B16.898.23%3.79%3.16%20.58%

* Utilities Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-10%0%10%20%UTLAVABKHCPKMDUNWNDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
UTL and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
UTLUnitil55.769.4620.43%
AVAAvista40.911.914.90%
BKHBlack Hills86.7019.1228.29%
CPKChesapeake Utilities140.108.536.48%
MDUMdu Res19.59-0.29-1.44%
NWNNorthwest Natural Gas52.116.5114.28%

Unitil Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing

Unitil shifts from bridge financing to long-term notes

Positive
Oct 26, 2026

On October 21, 2026, Unitil subsidiary Maine Natural Gas Corporation issued and sold $40 million of 5.95% senior unsecured notes due October 21, 2031 to a group of institutional investors under a private offering exemption. The long‑term financing is...

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing

Unitil Issues $60 Million in Long-Term Mortgage Bonds

Positive
Oct 19, 2026

On October 14, 2026, Unitil Energy Systems issued and sold $60 million of first mortgage bonds in two series to a group of institutional investors in a private offering exempt from SEC registration. The Series T bonds carry a 5.72% coupon and mature...

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing

Unitil Issues Senior Notes to Strengthen Capital Structure

Positive
Sep 29, 2026

On September 24, 2026, Unitil Corporation entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with a group of institutional investors and issued $27 million of 5.42% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2031 and $33 million of 5.79% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2036. The not...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Nov 04, 2026