Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) Shares Acquired by Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) by 11.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 47,087 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,666 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Essential Utilities were worth $1,816,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Essential Utilities by 4.5% during the second quarter. Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 6,947 shares of the company’s stock worth $259,000 after buying an additional 297 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 10.6% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,477 shares of the company’s stock worth $134,000 after acquiring an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. boosted its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 5.4% in the first quarter. Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Inc. now owns 6,491 shares of the company’s stock worth $240,000 after acquiring an additional 334 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in Essential Utilities by 5.5% in the first quarter. Meeder Advisory Services Inc. now owns 6,506 shares of the company’s stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares during the period. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in Essential Utilities by 8.7% during the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,416 shares of the company’s stock worth $165,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.78% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. Bank of America restated a “buy” rating and issued a $45.00 price objective on shares of Essential Utilities in a report on Friday, September 20th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Essential Utilities from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Essential Utilities in a report on Monday, October 7th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $44.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Essential Utilities presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $44.80.

Essential Utilities Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE WTRG opened at $38.24 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $10.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.65, a PEG ratio of 3.35 and a beta of 0.84. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $38.99 and its 200-day simple moving average is $38.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. Essential Utilities, Inc. has a 52 week low of $33.28 and a 52 week high of $41.78.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 5th. The company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.30 by ($0.02). Essential Utilities had a return on equity of 8.16% and a net margin of 28.74%. The firm had revenue of $434.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $442.76 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Essential Utilities, Inc. will post 1.99 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.3255 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.40%. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio is presently 63.41%.

Essential Utilities Profile

Essential Utilities, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates regulated utilities that provide water, wastewater, or natural gas services in the United States. The company operates through Regulated Water and Regulated Natural Gas segments. It offers water services through operating and maintenance contract with municipal authorities and other parties.