Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG)
NYSE:WTRG
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WTRG Stock Chart & Stats
$39.00
-$0.32(-0.91%)
At close: 4:00 PM EST
$39.00
-$0.32(-0.91%)
Day’s Range― - ―
52-Week Range$36.11 - $42.37
Previous CloseN/A
Volume278.91K
Average Volume (3M)2.05M
Market Cap
$10.51B
Enterprise Value$18.83B
Total Cash (Recent Filing)$75.93M
Total Debt (Recent Filing)$8.44B
Price to Earnings (P/E)18.8
Beta-0.18
Next Earnings
Aug 05, 2026EPS Estimate
0.4Next Dividend Ex-DateN/A
Dividend Yield3.48%
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)1.97
Shares Outstanding283,633,000
10 Day Avg. Volume1,408,304
30 Day Avg. Volume2,048,923
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio12.61
Price to Book (P/B)1.57
Price to Sales (P/S)4.34
P/FCF Ratio-25.61
Enterprise Value/Market Cap1.79
Enterprise Value/Revenue7.38
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit15.71
Enterprise Value/Ebitda14.02
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$40.50Price Target Upside3.85% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering3
EPS Forecast (FY)2.25
Revenue Forecast (FY)$2.62B
Bulls Say, Bears Say
Bulls Say
Regulated Essential-service Business ModelEssential Utilities’ core regulated model creates durable, predictable cash flows because rates and allowed returns are set by state commissions. Being an essential-service provider across water, wastewater and gas reduces demand variability, supporting long-term revenue stability and planning for multi-year infrastructure work.
High Operating Profitability And MarginsSustained strong operating margins reflect the franchise and regulatory economics that allow recovery of costs plus returns on invested capital. High margins support earnings quality, provide buffer versus cost inflation, and underpin the company’s ability to finance regulated investments and maintain dividend programs over the medium term.
Large Capex Program And Acquisition PipelineA sizeable, multi-year capital plan expands the regulated rate base and supports recurring revenue growth as investments become rate‑earning assets. PFAS remediation and meter upgrades improve compliance and efficiency, while acquisitions add customers and scale—structural drivers that can sustain the company’s 5%–7% EPS growth target.
Bears Say
Persistent Negative Free Cash FlowChronic negative free cash flow means internal funds do not cover capital needs and dividends, forcing ongoing external financing. Over months this raises refinancing and execution risk, increases sensitivity to capital markets conditions, and constrains flexibility if permitting or rate recoveries are delayed.
Moderate Leverage Limits FlexibilityA ~1.2x debt-to-equity position is typical for utilities but, combined with heavy capex and negative FCF, reduces headroom for additional borrowing. This magnifies funding risk if rates rise or credit markets tighten, and elevates interest expense and refinancing pressure over the medium term.
Regulatory And Political Uncertainty In PennsylvaniaLarge pending rate requests and heightened political focus on affordability can delay or reduce recoveries and allowed returns. Protracted regulatory outcomes would slow rate base roll‑forward and cash collection, increasing the timing and execution risk of the company’s investment and dividend plans over the coming quarters.
Essential Utilities News
WTRG FAQ
What was Essential Utilities, Inc.’s price range in the past 12 months?
Essential Utilities, Inc. lowest stock price was $36.10 and its highest was $42.37 in the past 12 months.
What is Essential Utilities, Inc.’s market cap?
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s market cap is $10.51B.
When is Essential Utilities, Inc.’s upcoming earnings report date?
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s upcoming earnings report date is Aug 05, 2026 which is in 62 days.
How were Essential Utilities, Inc.’s earnings last quarter?
Essential Utilities, Inc. released its earnings results on May 06, 2026. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.905 by -$0.075.
Is Essential Utilities, Inc. overvalued?
According to Wall Street analysts Essential Utilities, Inc.’s price is currently Undervalued.
Does Essential Utilities, Inc. pay dividends?
Essential Utilities, Inc. pays a Quarterly dividend of $0.343 which represents an annual dividend yield of 3.48%. See more information on Essential Utilities, Inc. dividends here
What is Essential Utilities, Inc.’s EPS estimate?
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s EPS estimate is 0.4.
How many shares outstanding does Essential Utilities, Inc. have?
Essential Utilities, Inc. has 283,633,000 shares outstanding.
What happened to Essential Utilities, Inc.’s price movement after its last earnings report?
Essential Utilities, Inc. reported an EPS of $0.83 in its last earnings report, missing expectations of $0.905. Following the earnings report the stock price went up 0.427%.
Which hedge fund is a major shareholder of Essential Utilities, Inc.?
Currently, no hedge funds are holding shares in WTRG
What is the TipRanks Smart Score and how is it calculated?
Smart Score combines eight research factors - such as analyst recommendations, hedge fund trends, and technical indicators - to measure a stock’s outlook. These signals are unified into a single score that reflects bullish or bearish momentum. See detailed methodology
Essential Utilities Stock Smart Score
Neutral
1
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10
Analyst Consensus
Moderate Buy
Average Price Target:
$40.50 (3.85% Upside)
$40.50 (3.85% Upside)
Blogger Sentiment
Bullish
WTRG Sentiment 70%
Sector Average 74%
Sector Average 74%
Hedge Fund Trend
Decreased
By 39.7K Shares
Last Quarter.
Last Quarter.
Crowd Wisdom
Very Negative
Last 7 Days ▼ 0.2%
Last 30 Days ▼ 3.9%
Last 30 Days ▼ 3.9%
News Sentiment
Very Bullish
Bullish news 100%
Bearish news 0%
Bearish news 0%
Technicals
SMA
Negative
20 days / 200 days
Momentum
-0.40%
12-Months-Change
Fundamentals
Return on Equity
8.16%
Trailing 12-Months
Asset Growth
7.93%
Trailing 12-Months
Company Description
Essential Utilities, Inc.
Essential Utilities, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates regulated utilities that provide water, wastewater, or natural gas services in the United States. It offers water services through operating and maintenance contract with municipal authorities and other parties. The company also provides non-utility raw water supply services for firms in the natural gas drilling industry; and water and sewer line protection solutions, and repair services to households through a third-party. It serves approximately 7.5 million residential water, commercial water, fire protection, industrial water, wastewater, and other water and utility customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky under the Aqua and Peoples brands. The company was formerly known as Aqua America, Inc. and changed its name to Essential Utilities, Inc. in February 2020. Essential Utilities, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
WTRG Company Deck
WTRG Earnings Call
Q1 2026
0:00 / 0:00
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call presented a mix of clear strategic progress and near-term operational and financial headwinds. Positive long‑term developments include strong merger milestones (95% shareholder approval and Kentucky regulatory approval), a sizable acquisition pipeline (~400k customers), active environmental remediation work (PFAS projects) and a reaffirmed 5%–7% EPS growth target. Near-term challenges included a Q1 EPS decline (~23% vs prior Q1) driven by nonrecurring comparisons, merger-related costs (~$16.3M), weather-driven incremental expenses (~$3M) and regulatory uncertainty in Pennsylvania (pending large rate cases and political focus on affordability). Management expressed confidence in meeting full‑year capital and EPS goals, and emphasized operational resilience and continued investment, which suggests the negatives are viewed as temporary and manageable.View all WTRG earnings summariesWTRG Stock 12 Month Forecast
Average Price Target
$40.50
▲(3.85% Upside)
Technical Analysis
American States Water
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American Water
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California Water Service
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Companhia De Saneamento
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Middlesex Water Company
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Ownership Overview
0.26% Insiders
16.27% Mutual Funds
12.60% Other Institutional Investors
41.48% Public Companies and
Individual Investors