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Unitil Corp (UTL)
NYSE:UTL
US Market

Unitil (UTL) AI Stock Analysis

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UTL

Unitil

(NYSE:UTL)

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Neutral 69 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:69Neutral
Price Target:
$52.00
▲(6.12% Upside)
Unitil's overall score reflects strong earnings growth and strategic acquisitions, balanced by high leverage and liquidity concerns. The technical analysis suggests potential undervaluation, while valuation metrics indicate reasonable pricing. The positive earnings call sentiment further supports the stock's potential.
Positive Factors
Strategic Acquisitions
The acquisitions support a 10% annual rate base growth through 2029, enhancing market position and service capabilities.
Sustainability Initiatives
Commitment to sustainability enhances long-term operational efficiency and aligns with regulatory trends, improving public perception.
Equity Offering and Balance Sheet
The equity offering strengthens financial flexibility, supporting future growth and acquisition funding without excessive debt.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
Significant leverage could pose financial risks if not managed properly, potentially limiting future investment capabilities.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Negative free cash flow indicates potential liquidity issues, affecting the company's ability to fund operations and growth internally.
Increased Operational Costs
Rising operational costs can pressure margins and profitability, necessitating efficiency improvements to maintain financial health.

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

Unitil Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionUnitil Corporation (UTL) is a public utility holding company that provides electricity and natural gas services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in New England. With operations primarily in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine, Unitil focuses on delivering reliable energy services while promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. The company is committed to enhancing the quality of life in the communities it serves through innovative energy solutions and investments in infrastructure.
How the Company Makes MoneyUnitil generates revenue primarily through the provision of utility services, which includes the sale of electricity and natural gas to its customers. The company's revenue model is mainly based on regulated utility rates set by state public utility commissions. These rates allow Unitil to recover its costs and earn a regulated return on its investments in infrastructure. Key revenue streams include distribution charges for electricity and natural gas, as well as additional fees for energy efficiency programs and services. Unitil may also engage in partnerships with local governments and organizations to develop energy efficiency initiatives, which can provide additional revenue opportunities. Factors contributing to its earnings include customer growth, energy demand, regulatory approval of rate increases, and efficient operational management.

Unitil Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 03, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a generally positive outlook with significant achievements in acquisitions, earnings growth, and sustainability progress. However, the increase in operational and interest costs presents areas of concern.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Increased Adjusted Earnings
The company announced adjusted net income of $0.4 million and adjusted earnings per share of $0.03 for Q3 2025, representing an increase of $0.01 per share compared to Q3 2024.
Successful Acquisitions and Integrations
Unitil successfully integrated Bangor Natural Gas and closed the acquisition of Maine Natural Gas, with plans to file a base rate case in 2027.
Strong Gas Adjusted Gross Margin Growth
Gas adjusted gross margin was $134.7 million for the first 9 months of 2025, an increase of $19.1 million or 16.5% compared to the same period in 2024.
Sustainability Progress
The company is on track to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050, with excellent safety metrics and customer satisfaction.
Equity Offering and Balance Sheet Strength
A $72 million equity offering was completed, enhancing the balance sheet and fulfilling equity needs for recent acquisitions.
Reaffirmed Earnings Guidance
The company reaffirmed its 2025 earnings guidance range of $3.01 to $3.17 per share.
Negative Updates
Increased Operational Costs
Operation and maintenance expenses increased by $8.7 million compared to the same period in 2024, partially due to transaction costs and higher labor costs.
Higher Depreciation and Interest Expenses
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $10.5 million, and interest expenses increased by $5.2 million due to higher levels of long-term debt.
Company Guidance
During Unitil's Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided several key financial updates and forward-looking statements. Unitil announced an adjusted net income of $0.4 million, with adjusted earnings of $0.03 per share for Q3 2025, marking an increase of $0.01 per share compared to Q3 2024. For the first nine months of 2025, adjusted net income reached $33.5 million, or $2.03 per share, an increase of $1.4 million or $0.03 per share year-over-year. The company highlighted its strategic acquisitions, including the integration of Bangor Natural Gas and the recent closing of Maine Natural Gas, which are expected to support a 10% annual rate base growth through 2029. With the completion of a $72 million equity offering, Unitil's funds from operations to debt ratio stood at approximately 17% as of September 30, 2025. The call also covered significant investments such as a utility-scale solar project and an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project, alongside updates on ongoing regulatory proceedings and capital investments, with a reaffirmation of their 2025 earnings guidance range of $3.01 to $3.17 per share.

Unitil Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Unitil shows solid profitability and operational efficiency with strong margins and stable revenue growth. However, high leverage and negative free cash flow present potential risks, necessitating improved cash flow management and debt reduction.
Income Statement
75
Positive
Unitil's income statement shows a stable revenue growth trajectory with a TTM revenue growth rate of 1.66%. The company maintains healthy profitability with a gross profit margin of 41.84% and a net profit margin of 9.54% for the TTM. EBIT and EBITDA margins are strong at 19.98% and 36.89%, respectively, indicating efficient operations. However, the revenue growth has been inconsistent over the years, with some periods of decline.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54 in the TTM, indicating significant leverage, which could pose a risk if not managed properly. Return on equity is moderate at 9.05%, showing decent profitability relative to equity. The equity ratio stands at 30.71%, suggesting a balanced capital structure but with room for improvement in reducing debt levels.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals challenges with negative free cash flow, although there is a positive growth rate of 18.29% in the TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.49, indicating that operating cash flows are not fully covering net income. The negative free cash flow to net income ratio highlights potential liquidity concerns.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue502.00M494.80M557.10M563.20M473.30M418.60M
Gross Profit190.20M196.60M183.00M169.00M161.80M149.80M
EBITDA188.00M174.90M160.70M143.50M134.30M123.30M
Net Income46.80M47.10M45.20M41.40M36.10M32.20M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.94B1.79B1.67B1.59B1.54B1.52B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments14.60M6.30M6.50M9.00M6.50M6.00M
Total Debt795.30M755.80M681.60M616.10M570.10M591.90M
Total Liabilities1.35B1.28B1.18B1.12B1.09B1.13B
Stockholders Equity597.20M512.50M489.30M467.60M448.50M389.20M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-49.80M-44.00M-34.00M-24.40M-7.20M-46.90M
Operating Cash Flow133.20M125.90M107.00M97.70M107.80M75.70M
Investing Cash Flow-254.40M-169.90M-141.00M-122.10M-115.00M-122.60M
Financing Cash Flow129.50M43.80M31.50M26.90M7.70M47.70M

Unitil Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price49.00
Price Trends
50DMA
48.59
Positive
100DMA
47.78
Positive
200DMA
50.68
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.31
Negative
RSI
64.11
Neutral
STOCH
84.74
Negative
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 49 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 49.20, above the 50-day MA of 48.59, and below the 200-day MA of 50.68, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.31 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 64.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 84.74 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for UTL.

Unitil Risk Analysis

Unitil disclosed 17 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Unitil reported the most risks in the "Macro & Political" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Unitil Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$3.13B16.357.31%5.09%2.14%-6.51%
74
Outperform
$4.02B18.537.62%4.02%4.90%-4.42%
72
Outperform
$3.55B12.7816.10%2.48%-3.18%-8.62%
69
Neutral
$891.26M17.198.51%3.58%1.03%-0.78%
67
Neutral
$2.93B21.7710.80%2.28%8.26%12.47%
66
Neutral
$17.65B18.105.60%3.62%6.62%11.55%
52
Neutral
$2.04B15.777.14%-16.62%
* Utilities Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
UTL
Unitil
50.33
-2.05
-3.91%
AVA
Avista
38.79
4.70
13.79%
HE
Hawaiian Electric
11.97
2.27
23.40%
MGEE
MGE Energy
81.31
-10.66
-11.59%
NWE
Northwestern
65.74
15.60
31.11%
OTTR
Otter Tail
86.04
13.00
17.80%

Unitil Corporate Events

Executive/Board Changes
Unitil Appoints New Senior Vice President
Neutral
Nov 4, 2025

On October 29, 2025, Unitil Corporation appointed Carleton B. Simpson as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Simpson, who has a strong background in engineering, regulatory, and legal roles, previously served as Vice President of Energy Transformation at Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company and as a Commissioner of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.

Private Placements and FinancingM&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
Unitil Completes Acquisition of Maine Natural Gas
Positive
Nov 3, 2025

On October 31, 2025, Unitil Corporation completed its acquisition of Maine Natural Gas Company from Avangrid Enterprises, Inc. for $86 million, plus an additional $7.1 million for working capital. This acquisition, funded through a term loan from Scotiabank, is expected to enhance Unitil’s natural gas distribution operations in Maine, adding approximately 6,300 customers and 230 miles of distribution mains. The acquisition aligns with Unitil’s strategy to expand its customer base and improve service delivery in the region.

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: Dec 09, 2025