Zacks Research Analysts Decrease Earnings Estimates for WTRG

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research cut their Q2 2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Essential Utilities in a report released on Monday, March 17th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the company will post earnings of $0.32 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $0.34. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $1.99 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q4 2025 earnings at $0.66 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $2.10 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $0.39 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $0.70 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.39 EPS.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The company reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.01. Essential Utilities had a return on equity of 7.89% and a net margin of 27.84%. The business had revenue of $604.38 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $698.77 million.

WTRG has been the subject of several other reports. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded Essential Utilities from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $41.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. UBS Group reduced their target price on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Essential Utilities from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $43.50.

Essential Utilities Stock Performance

NYSE:WTRG opened at $38.82 on Wednesday. Essential Utilities has a 1-year low of $33.18 and a 1-year high of $41.78. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $36.52 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.85. The firm has a market cap of $10.67 billion, a PE ratio of 19.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.39.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 13th will be issued a $0.3255 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 13th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.35%. Essential Utilities’s payout ratio is 59.91%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WTRG. Glenmede Trust Co. NA raised its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NA now owns 51,881 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,001,000 after acquiring an additional 803 shares during the period. Synergy Asset Management LLC raised its position in Essential Utilities by 92.8% in the fourth quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 148,009 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,529,000 after purchasing an additional 71,222 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 16.7% during the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 6,811,851 shares of the company’s stock worth $247,134,000 after purchasing an additional 972,803 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities in the fourth quarter worth about $638,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 8.7% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,871,932 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,200,000 after buying an additional 149,162 shares in the last quarter. 74.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Essential Utilities Company 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.