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WTRG Stock Chart & Stats
$39.61
$0.07(0.18%)
At close: 4:00 PM EDT
$39.61
$0.07(0.18%)
Day’s Range― - ―
52-Week Range$36.11 - $42.37
Previous CloseN/A
Volume581.63K
Average Volume (3M)2.12M
Market Cap
$11.45B
Enterprise Value$19.40K
Total Cash (Recent Filing)$8.63M
Total Debt (Recent Filing)$8.52B
Price to Earnings (P/E)20.9
Beta-0.22
Next Earnings
Nov 09, 2026EPS Estimate
0.34Next Dividend Ex-DateN/A
Dividend Yield3.38%
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)1.96
Shares Outstanding283,778,600
10 Day Avg. Volume1,988,222
30 Day Avg. Volume2,120,661
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 Cap<0.01
Enterprise Value/Revenue<0.01
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit<0.01
Enterprise Value/Ebitda<0.01
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$43.00Price Target Upside8.56% Upside
Rating ConsensusHold
Number of Analyst Covering2
EPS Forecast (FY)2.23
Revenue Forecast (FY)$2.57B
Bulls Say, Bears Say
Bulls Say
Regulated Utility ModelEssential operates regulated water, wastewater and gas networks with state-approved rate mechanisms. That model yields durable, recurring revenue, predictability in cash flows and allowed returns on invested capital, supporting steady earnings and funding for infrastructure over the medium term.
Record Capital InvestmentA front-loaded, record capital program expands the regulated rate base and supports future authorized returns. Sustained capex can drive multi-year EPS growth under rate-recovery frameworks and underpins long-term service reliability and regulatory justification for higher rates.
Acquisitions And BD PipelineActive bolt-on acquisitions and a sizable municipal pipeline increase scale and regulated customer count, enabling rate base growth and operational synergies. Over time this diversifies geography and revenue, supporting steady rate-case testimony and incremental normalized EPS contribution.
Bears Say
Consistent Negative Free Cash FlowDespite improving operating cash flow, persistent negative free cash flow means capex and investing needs exceed internal generation. This increases reliance on external financing, constrains balance-sheet flexibility, and elevates execution risk during large integration or rate-timing delays.
Rising LeverageLeverage has increased alongside heavy capital investment and acquisitions. A ~1.2x debt-to-equity posture is typical for the sector but amplifies sensitivity to higher interest rates, limits borrowing capacity for opportunistic investments, and raises interest expense that can compress net margins over time.
Regulatory And Transaction Timing RiskHeightened regulatory scrutiny and stalled municipal deals create timing and outcome uncertainty for rate recovery and planned customer additions. Delays or adverse outcomes in key jurisdictional proceedings can defer returns on invested capital and complicate merger/integration economics over the medium term.
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 $11.45B.
When is Essential Utilities, Inc.’s upcoming earnings report date?
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s upcoming earnings report date is Nov 09, 2026 which is in 80 days.
How were Essential Utilities, Inc.’s earnings last quarter?
Essential Utilities, Inc. released its earnings results on Aug 04, 2026. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.371 by $0.009.
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 $0.361 which represents an annual dividend yield of 3.38%. See more information on Essential Utilities, Inc. dividends here
What is Essential Utilities, Inc.’s EPS estimate?
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s EPS estimate is 0.34.
How many shares outstanding does Essential Utilities, Inc. have?
Essential Utilities, Inc. has 283,778,600 shares outstanding.
What happened to Essential Utilities, Inc.’s price movement after its last earnings report?
Essential Utilities, Inc. reported an EPS of $0.38 in its last earnings report, beating expectations of $0.371. Following the earnings report the stock price went up 0.077%.
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
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Analyst Consensus
Hold
Average Price Target:
$43.00 (8.56% Upside)
$43.00 (8.56% Upside)
Blogger Sentiment
Bullish
WTRG Sentiment 67%
Sector Average ―
Sector Average ―
Hedge Fund Trend
Decreased
By 39.7K Shares
Last Quarter.
Last Quarter.
Insider Transactions
Sold Shares
Worth $112.9K over
the Last 3 Months
the Last 3 Months
Crowd Wisdom
Very Negative
Last 7 Days ▼ 1.7%
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
Positive
20 days / 200 days
Momentum
10.46%
12-Months-Change
Fundamentals
Return on Equity
3.38%
Trailing 12-Months
Asset Growth
7.48%
Trailing 12-Months
Company Description
Essential Utilities, Inc.
Essential Utilities, Inc. is a diversified utility enterprise that, through its various operating units, delivers vital water, wastewater, and natural gas services within the United States. Its operations extend beyond direct utility provision, encompassing contractual management and maintenance of water systems for municipal authorities and other organizations. The company also offers specialized non-utility services, such as providing untreated water resources for the natural gas drilling sector and, via a third-party partner, supplying protective and repair solutions for household water and sewer lines. Catering to an extensive client base of approximately 7.5 million residential, commercial, industrial, fire protection, and general utility customers, Essential Utilities operates under the well-known Aqua and Peoples brands across a significant geographic footprint. This footprint includes Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Founded in 1886, the corporation is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and adopted its current name, Essential Utilities, Inc., in February 2020, previously being known as Aqua America, Inc.
WTRG Company Deck
WTRG Earnings Call
Q2 2026
0:00 / 0:00
Earnings Call Sentiment|Positive
The call presented a generally positive operational and strategic picture: merger integration is progressing, capital investment is strong with a record-year plan, rate case progress is delivering material annualized revenue, acquisitions and a sizable BD pipeline are in place, and the dividend was increased. Offsetting these positives are modest near-term earnings pressure (GAAP EPS down $0.01 year-over-year), O&M increases driven by labor and medical costs, higher depreciation/interest reducing EPS, regulatory scrutiny in Pennsylvania and some transactional timing risks (DELCORA). On balance the company reaffirmed its 5%–7% EPS growth target and highlighted constructive regulatory and integration progress, leading to a net constructive tone.View all WTRG earnings summariesWTRG Stock 12 Month Forecast
Average Price Target
$43.00
▲(8.56% 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
0.24% Insiders
16.23% Mutual Funds
12.37% Other Institutional Investors
41.02% Public Companies and
Individual Investors