Zacks Research Analysts Increase Earnings Estimates for WTRG

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Analysts at Zacks Research lifted their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Essential Utilities in a report issued on Thursday, December 19th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the company will earn $0.51 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.50. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $2.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q4 2025 earnings at $0.64 EPS.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 27.84% and a return on equity of 7.89%. The business had revenue of $435.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $416.95 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.30 earnings per share. Essential Utilities’s revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Bank of America restated a “buy” rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Essential Utilities in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $41.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $44.00.

Essential Utilities Stock Performance

Shares of Essential Utilities stock opened at $36.25 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $39.19 and a 200-day moving average of $38.94. The company has a market cap of $9.95 billion, a PE ratio of 18.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. Essential Utilities has a 1-year low of $33.57 and a 1-year high of $41.78.

Essential Utilities Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a dividend of $0.3255 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio is currently 65.00%.

Institutional Trading of Essential Utilities

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in WTRG. Glenmede Trust Co. NA raised its position in Essential Utilities by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 51,881 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,001,000 after purchasing an additional 803 shares during the last quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 2.5% during the second quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 881,658 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,912,000 after acquiring an additional 21,804 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 18.6% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,500,150 shares of the company’s stock worth $56,002,000 after acquiring an additional 234,857 shares during the period. Empower Advisory Group LLC increased its position in Essential Utilities by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,585,475 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,152,000 after purchasing an additional 84,596 shares during the period. Finally, MBB Public Markets I LLC bought a new position in Essential Utilities during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $708,000. 74.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Essential Utilities

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.