Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Market Price (7/26/2026): $39.615 | Market Cap: $11.2 BilSector: Utilities | Industry: Water Utilities
Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Market Price (7/26/2026): $39.615Market Cap: $11.2 BilSector: UtilitiesIndustry: Water Utilities
Investment Highlights Why It Matters Detailed financial logic regarding cash flow yields vs trend-riding momentum.
Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 8.4%, Dividend Yield is 3.4%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 4.1% Attractive operating marginsOp Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 35% Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 38% Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 22% Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Water Infrastructure, and Smart Grids & Grid Modernization. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, Show more. | Trading close to highsDist 52W High is -4.0%, Dist 3Y High is -4.0% Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -30%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -57% | Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 75% Not cash flow generativeFCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -18% Key risksWTRG key risks include [1] adverse regulatory actions and rising environmental compliance costs and [2] intense competition and integration difficulties impacting its acquisition-based growth strategy. |
| Attractive yieldTotal YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 8.4%, Dividend Yield is 3.4%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 4.1% |
| Attractive operating marginsOp Mgn LTMOperating Margin = Operating Income / Revenue Reflects profitability before taxes and before impact of capital structure (interest payments). is 35% |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 38% |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 22% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include Water Infrastructure, and Smart Grids & Grid Modernization. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, Show more. |
| Trading close to highsDist 52W High is -4.0%, Dist 3Y High is -4.0% |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -30%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -57% |
| Debt is significantNet D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 75% |
| Not cash flow generativeFCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -18% |
| Key risksWTRG key risks include [1] adverse regulatory actions and rising environmental compliance costs and [2] intense competition and integration difficulties impacting its acquisition-based growth strategy. |
Qualitative Assessment
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Essential Utilities (WTRG) stock has remained largely at the same level since 3/31/2026 because of the following key factors:
1. Essential Utilities (WTRG) reported a significant earnings miss for fiscal Q1 2026. The company announced adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.83 on May 6, 2026, which fell short of the consensus estimate of $0.8901 by 11.25%. While revenue increased by 10.0% to $861.8 million, exceeding analyst estimates, the lower-than-expected EPS contributed to a stock decline of approximately 1.9% in the immediate aftermath of the earnings report. This also represented a 21% decrease in GAAP net income for fiscal Q1 2026 compared to the same period in the prior year.
2. The broader utilities sector experienced underperformance during fiscal Q2 2026. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) declined by 0.96% in the second quarter of 2026, significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which gained 13.16% over the same period. This sector-wide weakness, attributed in part to weak performance from key stocks and limited exposure to the AI/data-center narrative, created a headwind for individual utility stocks like Essential Utilities.
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Essential Utilities (WTRG) stock has remained largely at the same level since 3/31/2026 because of the following key factors:
1. Essential Utilities (WTRG) reported a significant earnings miss for fiscal Q1 2026. The company announced adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.83 on May 6, 2026, which fell short of the consensus estimate of $0.8901 by 11.25%. While revenue increased by 10.0% to $861.8 million, exceeding analyst estimates, the lower-than-expected EPS contributed to a stock decline of approximately 1.9% in the immediate aftermath of the earnings report. This also represented a 21% decrease in GAAP net income for fiscal Q1 2026 compared to the same period in the prior year.
2. The broader utilities sector experienced underperformance during fiscal Q2 2026. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) declined by 0.96% in the second quarter of 2026, significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which gained 13.16% over the same period. This sector-wide weakness, attributed in part to weak performance from key stocks and limited exposure to the AI/data-center narrative, created a headwind for individual utility stocks like Essential Utilities.
3. Rising interest rates and expectations of further hikes created macroeconomic pressure on utility stocks. Throughout fiscal Q2 2026, the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed steadily as the bond market priced in expectations of two Federal Reserve rate hikes by the end of the year. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintained the federal funds rate at 3.50%-3.75% in fiscal Q1 2026, with projections suggesting higher core inflation and only a single 0.25% rate cut anticipated for 2026. Higher interest rates generally increase borrowing costs for capital-intensive utility companies, making their stable dividends less attractive compared to rising bond yields, thereby exerting downward pressure on stock valuations.
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Stock Movement Drivers
Fundamental Drivers
The -0.7% change in WTRG stock from 3/31/2026 to 7/25/2026 was primarily driven by a -12.4% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).| (LTM values as of) | 3312026 | 7252026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 39.90 | 39.61 | -0.7% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 2,475 | 2,553 | 3.2% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 24.9% | 21.8% | -12.4% |
| P/E Multiple | 18.3 | 20.1 | 9.9% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 283 | 283 | 0.0% |
| Cumulative Contribution | -0.7% |
Market Drivers
3/31/2026 to 7/25/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| WTRG | -0.7% | |
| Market (SPY) | 13.6% | -33.2% |
| Sector (XLU) | 0.9% | 53.4% |
Fundamental Drivers
The 5.2% change in WTRG stock from 12/31/2025 to 7/25/2026 was primarily driven by a 26.8% change in the company's P/E Multiple.| (LTM values as of) | 12312025 | 7252026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 37.66 | 39.61 | 5.2% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 2,380 | 2,553 | 7.3% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 28.1% | 21.8% | -22.3% |
| P/E Multiple | 15.9 | 20.1 | 26.8% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 282 | 283 | -0.5% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 5.2% |
Market Drivers
12/31/2025 to 7/25/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| WTRG | 5.2% | |
| Market (SPY) | 8.7% | -29.9% |
| Sector (XLU) | 9.2% | 51.6% |
Fundamental Drivers
The 10.5% change in WTRG stock from 6/30/2025 to 7/25/2026 was primarily driven by a 25.3% change in the company's P/E Multiple.| (LTM values as of) | 6302025 | 7252026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 35.83 | 39.61 | 10.5% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 2,258 | 2,553 | 13.1% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 27.2% | 21.8% | -19.7% |
| P/E Multiple | 16.1 | 20.1 | 25.3% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 275 | 283 | -2.8% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 10.5% |
Market Drivers
6/30/2025 to 7/25/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| WTRG | 10.5% | |
| Market (SPY) | 20.6% | -23.4% |
| Sector (XLU) | 15.8% | 42.4% |
Fundamental Drivers
The 10.1% change in WTRG stock from 6/30/2023 to 7/25/2026 was primarily driven by a 10.5% change in the company's Net Income Margin (%).| (LTM values as of) | 6302023 | 7252026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Price ($) | 35.99 | 39.61 | 10.1% |
| Change Contribution By: | |||
| Total Revenues ($ Mil) | 2,315 | 2,553 | 10.3% |
| Net Income Margin (%) | 19.8% | 21.8% | 10.5% |
| P/E Multiple | 20.8 | 20.1 | -3.1% |
| Shares Outstanding (Mil) | 264 | 283 | -6.7% |
| Cumulative Contribution | 10.1% |
Market Drivers
6/30/2023 to 7/25/2026| Return | Correlation | |
|---|---|---|
| WTRG | 10.1% | |
| Market (SPY) | 72.6% | 2.0% |
| Sector (XLU) | 53.8% | 55.9% |
Price Returns Compared
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| WTRG Return | 16% | -8% | -19% | 1% | 9% | 5% | -1% |
| Peers Return | 22% | -6% | -9% | 4% | 8% | 12% | 31% |
| S&P 500 Return | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 8% | 97% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| WTRG Win Rate | 67% | 42% | 33% | 42% | 50% | 71% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 57% | 52% | 50% | 48% | 57% | 69% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 75% | 42% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 43% | |
Max Drawdowns [4] | |||||||
| WTRG Max Drawdown | -14% | -25% | -32% | -12% | -11% | -12% | |
| Peers Max Drawdown | -17% | -27% | -24% | -15% | -13% | -12% | |
| S&P 500 Max Drawdown | -5% | -25% | -10% | -8% | -19% | -9% | |
[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2021
[2] Peers: AWK, ATO, CWT, AWR, OGS.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2026 data is for the year up to 7/24/2026 (YTD)
How Low Can It Go
| Event | WTRG | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Summer-Fall 2023 Five Percent Yield Shock | ||
| % Loss | -22.8% | -9.5% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 29.6% | 10.5% |
| Time to Breakeven | 288 days | 24 days |
| 2023 SVB Regional Banking Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -14.3% | -6.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 16.7% | 7.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | 980 days | 31 days |
| 2020 COVID-19 Crash | ||
| % Loss | -39.1% | -33.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 64.2% | 50.9% |
| Time to Breakeven | 638 days | 140 days |
| Q4 2018 Fed Policy Error / Growth Scare | ||
| % Loss | -11.8% | -19.2% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 13.3% | 23.8% |
| Time to Breakeven | 106 days | 105 days |
| 2011 US Debt Ceiling Crisis & European Contagion | ||
| % Loss | -13.3% | -17.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 15.4% | 21.8% |
| Time to Breakeven | 21 days | 123 days |
| 2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -31.6% | -53.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 46.2% | 114.4% |
| Time to Breakeven | 133 days | 1085 days |
In The Past
Essential Utilities's stock fell 0.0% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 0.0% gain to breakeven.
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| Event | WTRG | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Summer-Fall 2023 Five Percent Yield Shock | ||
| % Loss | -22.8% | -9.5% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 29.6% | 10.5% |
| Time to Breakeven | 288 days | 24 days |
| 2020 COVID-19 Crash | ||
| % Loss | -39.1% | -33.7% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 64.2% | 50.9% |
| Time to Breakeven | 638 days | 140 days |
| 2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -31.6% | -53.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 46.2% | 114.4% |
| Time to Breakeven | 133 days | 1085 days |
In The Past
Essential Utilities's stock fell 0.0% during the 2025 US Tariff Shock. Such a loss loss requires a 0.0% gain to breakeven.
Preserve Wealth
Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth.
Asset Allocation
Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.
About Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) is a public utility company that primarily provides regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas services across multiple U.S. states. Operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands, the company focuses on delivering essential infrastructure services to a wide base of customers.
Its core offerings include the distribution and maintenance of regulated water services, wastewater treatment, and natural gas supply. Beyond these primary utilities, Essential Utilities also engages in non-utility raw water supply, specifically catering to the natural gas drilling industry. Additionally, through a third-party, it offers water and sewer line protection solutions and repair services to households, complementing its core utility operations.
The company serves a substantial customer base of approximately 7.5 million, encompassing residential, commercial, fire protection, industrial, and other utility customers. Its operational footprint spans across ten states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, establishing it as a significant regional utility provider.
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Here are 1-2 brief analogies for Essential Utilities (WTRG):
- Like an AT&T or Verizon, but for water, wastewater, and natural gas utility services.
- Similar to Waste Management, but providing essential water, wastewater, and natural gas services to homes and businesses.
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- Regulated Water Utility Services: Provides essential water distribution and supply to residential, commercial, industrial, and other utility customers.
- Regulated Wastewater Utility Services: Offers wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services.
- Regulated Natural Gas Utility Services: Delivers natural gas to homes and businesses.
- Raw Water Supply Services: Provides raw water to firms primarily in the natural gas drilling industry.
- Water and Sewer Line Protection & Repair Services: Offers solutions and repair services to households for their water and sewer lines, typically through a third party.
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Essential Utilities (WTRG) primarily sells to individuals and various types of businesses directly through its utility services. Its major customer categories include:
- Residential customers
- Commercial customers
- Industrial customers
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Mr. Franklin has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Essential Utilities, Inc. since July 2015 and December 2017, respectively, and is a 30-year veteran of the company. Since his appointment as CEO, the company's market capitalization more than tripled, and its customer base nearly doubled through a growth-through-acquisition program. He spearheaded the acquisition of the natural gas company Peoples. Mr. Franklin has been at the helm of seven different companies and holds positions as Director and Vice President at the National Association of Water Cos. His past career includes serving as Chairman of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry and holding executive roles at PECO Energy Co. and the Pennsylvania Business Council. He was recognized with the EY "Entrepreneur of the Year" award.
Mr. Schuller is responsible for all financial operations of Essential Utilities, Inc., including accounting, SEC reporting, financial planning and analysis, tax, treasury, rates, and internal audit. He joined the company in 2015 as executive vice president of strategy and corporate development and assumed his current role in October 2018. Mr. Schuller played a pivotal role in developing the company's growth strategy and led its expansion into natural gas. In 2019, he managed the successful $2 billion secondary public equity offering and a $900 million initial public debt offering to finance the Peoples acquisition. Prior to joining Essential Utilities, he was an investment principal with J.P. Morgan Asset Management – Infrastructure Investments Group from 2007 to 2015, where he provided strategic leadership as a director of portfolio companies, including SouthWest Water Company and Summit Utilities, indicating a pattern of involvement with investment-backed companies. He has been recognized as a "CFO of the Year" by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Ms. Arnold leads the regulated water and wastewater operations for Essential Utilities' Aqua brand, which serves approximately 3 million people.
Mr. Huwar is responsible for the regulated natural gas segment of Essential Utilities, operating under the Peoples brand, which serves over 740,000 customers.
Mr. Luning oversees all legal and governance matters for Essential Utilities, Inc.
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Here are the key risks to Essential Utilities (WTRG):
-
Regulatory and Compliance Risks: As a highly regulated utility, Essential Utilities is significantly exposed to changes in federal and state laws and the decisions of regulatory bodies. Compliance with environmental standards, such as new PFAS limits, and safety regulations can lead to increased capital and operating costs. Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals for rate increases (known as regulatory lag) can prevent the company from recovering these substantial investments and rising operational costs from customers, directly impacting profitability and operational efficiency. The ongoing scrutiny around utility affordability at national and state levels further influences future rate cases and revenue recovery.
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High Capital Expenditures and Financing Costs: Essential Utilities' business is highly capital-intensive, requiring significant ongoing investments to maintain and expand its vast water, wastewater, and natural gas infrastructure, and to comply with evolving regulatory mandates. The company plans to invest billions in infrastructure improvements over the next several years. This necessitates substantial indebtedness, making the company vulnerable to fluctuations in capital markets, rising interest rates, and competition for capital. Increased borrowing costs can adversely affect its financial condition, limit flexibility, and potentially strain its ability to fund growth initiatives and dividend payments.
-
Acquisition and Integration Risks: Essential Utilities pursues a growth strategy that includes acquiring smaller water and wastewater systems. Furthermore, the company has announced a significant all-stock merger with American Water Works Company, expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027. Such large-scale acquisitions and mergers carry inherent integration risks, including potential delays in obtaining necessary regulatory clearances, complexities in combining operational frameworks, and challenges in realizing anticipated synergies. Failure to effectively integrate acquired entities or delays in closing the merger could hinder growth strategies, impact financial performance, and divert management attention and resources.
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Essential Utilities (NYSE: WTRG) operates in several addressable markets across the United States for its main products and services:
- Regulated Water and Wastewater Services: The U.S. water utilities industry recorded revenues of approximately $563.7 billion in 2024. This market size encompasses the broad range of water utility services, including infrastructure and operations.
- Natural Gas Services: The U.S. natural gas distribution market was valued at $170.0 billion in 2024, with projections to increase to $186.0 billion by 2032.
- Non-Utility Raw Water Supply Services (for natural gas drilling industry): The addressable market for industrial water treatment in the U.S., which includes raw water supply, generated a revenue of approximately $9.53 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach approximately $13.22 billion by 2033.
- Water and Sewer Line Protection Solutions and Repair Services to Households: A precise market size specifically for household water and sewer line protection solutions and repair services in the U.S. was not readily available. However, the global Sewer Line Repair Service market is estimated at $262.85 million in 2025. A related but broader market, the U.S. Water & Sewer Line Construction market, was estimated at $68.0 billion in 2025.
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- Regulatory Rate Increases and Recoveries: The company consistently secures regulatory recoveries and rate awards across its water, wastewater, and natural gas segments. These rate increases are a significant component of revenue growth, with Essential Utilities having completed regulatory recoveries totaling $12.4 million across its businesses in 2026, and a requested annualized revenue increase of $101.9 million for its Water and Wastewater segment alone.
- Infrastructure Investments: Essential Utilities plans substantial capital expenditures to improve and modernize its regulated water and natural gas infrastructure systems. These investments, projected to be $1.7 billion in 2026 and approximately $7.8 billion through 2029, grow the company's rate base, allowing for higher regulated returns and, consequently, increased revenue.
- Strategic Acquisitions and Customer Growth: Essential Utilities actively pursues a strategy of acquiring regulated water and wastewater systems, which expands its customer base and service footprint. In 2025 alone, the company added over 12,700 new customers through acquisitions and organic growth. The anticipated merger with American Water, expected to close by the first quarter of 2027, is also poised to be a transformative growth driver, significantly enhancing market position.
- Increased Natural Gas Volumes and Commodity Prices: The natural gas segment contributes to revenue growth through higher gas volumes and increases in gas commodity prices, which are typically passed through to customers. This factor notably drove revenue increases in 2025.
- Operational Efficiency and Technology Upgrades: Investments in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and other operational efficiencies are part of the company's growth strategy. These improvements can enhance billing accuracy, provide real-time consumption data, and ultimately contribute to revenue stability and growth by optimizing service delivery and supporting rate case justifications.
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Share Repurchases
- Essential Utilities made relatively minor share repurchases between March 2021 and June 2023, with the largest quarterly amount being approximately $3.91 million in March 2023.
Share Issuance
- In 2025, Essential Utilities issued 7.67 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of $300 million under its 2024 At-The-Market (ATM) program.
- The company expected to raise approximately $350 million in equity in 2025, including $25 million to finance a data center investment, and plans to raise equity via its ATM program through 2027.
- Shares outstanding increased by 2.26% in 2025 to 0.281 billion, by 2.53% in 2024, and by 1.82% in 2023.
Inbound Investments
- No significant inbound investments by third parties into Essential Utilities were identified within the last 3-5 years. The company is, however, being acquired by American Water Works Company, Inc. in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $20.24 billion, announced in October 2025.
Outbound Investments
- In 2025, Essential Utilities completed three acquisitions of water and wastewater systems, adding over 12,700 new customers for an approximate investment of $58 million.
- The company has signed agreements for four additional system acquisitions, including DELCORA for $276 million, expected to serve around 203,000 customers.
- Essential Utilities made a $26 million investment in a major data center in Western Pennsylvania in 2025.
Capital Expenditures
- Essential Utilities invested over $1.4 billion in regulated infrastructure improvements in 2025, focusing on its water and natural gas systems.
- The company plans to invest approximately $1.7 billion in regulated infrastructure improvements in 2026.
- Essential Utilities anticipates investing about $7.8 billion from 2025 through 2029 and approximately $8.7 billion from 2026 through 2030 to enhance water and natural gas systems, including pipeline replacement, PFAS treatment, and lead service line removal.
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Peer Comparisons
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Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 83.47 |
| Mkt Cap | 8.1 |
| Rev LTM | 2,438 |
| Op Inc LTM | 680 |
| FCF LTM | -338 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | -331 |
| CFO LTM | 727 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 695 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 8.5% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 6.1% |
| Rev Chg Q | 5.4% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 1.2% |
| Op Inc Chg LTM | 7.7% |
| Op Inc Chg 3Y Avg | 12.0% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 32.9% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 32.5% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.1% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 38.0% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 34.0% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | -19.9% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | -20.4% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 8.1 |
| P/S | 4.7 |
| P/Op Inc | 15.0 |
| P/EBIT | 13.8 |
| P/E | 23.0 |
| P/CFO | 12.2 |
| Total Yield | 6.6% |
| Dividend Yield | 2.4% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | -4.3% |
| D/E | 0.6 |
| Net D/E | 0.6 |
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment| $ Mil | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated Water | 1,327 | 1,222 | 1,153 | 1,083 | 980 |
| Regulated Natural Gas | 1,118 | 843 | 864 | 1,143 | 860 |
| Other and Eliminations | 30 | 21 | 37 | 62 | 38 |
| Total | 2,475 | 2,086 | 2,054 | 2,288 | 1,878 |
| $ Mil | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated Water | 402 | 397 | 358 | 338 | 327 |
| Regulated Natural Gas | 186 | 57 | |||
| Other and Eliminations | 14 | -19 | -18 | -15 | 2 |
| Total | 603 | 435 | 340 | 323 | 329 |
| $ Mil | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated Water | 411 | 350 | 341 | 314 | 294 |
| Regulated Natural Gas | 267 | 294 | 201 | 185 | 148 |
| Other and Eliminations | -62 | -49 | -43 | -34 | -10 |
| Total | 616 | 595 | 498 | 465 | 432 |
| $ Mil | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated Water | 9,386 | 8,793 | 8,404 | 7,838 | 7,269 |
| Regulated Natural Gas | 6,965 | 6,529 | 5,961 | 5,304 | |
| Other and Eliminations | 490 | 398 | 294 | 564 | 2,093 |
| Total | 16,841 | 15,719 | 14,658 | 13,705 | 9,362 |
Price Behavior
| Market Price | $39.61 | |
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 11.2 | |
| First Trading Date | 12/30/1987 | |
| Distance from 52W High | -4.0% | |
| 50 Days | 200 Days | |
| DMA Price | $37.85 | $38.50 |
| DMA Trend | indeterminate | indeterminate |
| Distance from DMA | 4.6% | 2.9% |
| 3M | 1YR | |
| Volatility | 21.4% | 21.8% |
| Downside Capture | -95.28 | -49.50 |
| Upside Capture | -73.56 | -27.87 |
| Correlation (SPY) | -37.2% | -23.5% |
| 1M | 2M | 3M | 6M | 1Y | 3Y | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.39 | -0.39 | -0.50 | -0.44 | -0.37 | 0.04 |
| Up Beta | -0.28 | -0.55 | -0.54 | -0.65 | -0.42 | 0.07 |
| Down Beta | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.14 | -0.34 | -0.47 | -0.11 |
| Up Capture | -38% | -38% | -44% | -25% | -13% | 2% |
| Bmk +ve Days | 11 | 24 | 40 | 67 | 140 | 429 |
| Stock +ve Days | 11 | 19 | 27 | 57 | 120 | 373 |
| Down Capture | -81% | -73% | -90% | -57% | -62% | 24% |
| Bmk -ve Days | 10 | 17 | 23 | 58 | 112 | 321 |
| Stock -ve Days | 10 | 22 | 36 | 68 | 129 | 373 |
[1] Upside and downside betas calculated using positive and negative benchmark daily returns respectively
Based On 1-Year Data
| Annualized Return | Annualized Volatility | Sharpe Ratio | Correlation with WTRG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTRG | 8.9% | 21.8% | 0.31 | - |
| Sector ETF (XLU) | 12.1% | 14.9% | 0.55 | 42.1% |
| Equity (SPY) | 17.6% | 12.7% | 1.00 | -23.5% |
| Gold (GLD) | 19.2% | 28.1% | 0.61 | -5.8% |
| Commodities (DBC) | 34.7% | 19.1% | 1.42 | -9.9% |
| Real Estate (VNQ) | 13.8% | 14.1% | 0.69 | 36.3% |
| Bitcoin (BTCUSD) | -46.2% | 42.9% | -1.32 | -13.3% |
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Based On 5-Year Data
| Annualized Return | Annualized Volatility | Sharpe Ratio | Correlation with WTRG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTRG | -0.8% | 22.4% | -0.09 | - |
| Sector ETF (XLU) | 10.0% | 17.3% | 0.43 | 65.6% |
| Equity (SPY) | 12.8% | 17.1% | 0.58 | 26.1% |
| Gold (GLD) | 17.0% | 18.4% | 0.75 | 12.0% |
| Commodities (DBC) | 9.6% | 19.5% | 0.38 | 4.1% |
| Real Estate (VNQ) | 3.0% | 18.9% | 0.06 | 57.8% |
| Bitcoin (BTCUSD) | 15.3% | 53.4% | 0.47 | 6.8% |
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Based On 10-Year Data
| Annualized Return | Annualized Volatility | Sharpe Ratio | Correlation with WTRG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTRG | 4.4% | 24.9% | 0.18 | - |
| Sector ETF (XLU) | 9.3% | 19.3% | 0.41 | 76.2% |
| Equity (SPY) | 14.9% | 17.9% | 0.71 | 44.4% |
| Gold (GLD) | 11.3% | 16.1% | 0.57 | 12.5% |
| Commodities (DBC) | 7.2% | 17.9% | 0.32 | 10.0% |
| Real Estate (VNQ) | 5.2% | 20.7% | 0.21 | 63.5% |
| Bitcoin (BTCUSD) | 58.1% | 66.2% | 0.98 | 8.0% |
Smart multi-asset allocation framework can stack odds in your favor. Learn How
Returns Analyses
Earnings Returns History
Updated 6/10/2026| Forward Returns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
| 5/7/2026 | 0.4% | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| 2/26/2026 | -0.3% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| 11/5/2025 | 3.3% | 2.8% | -0.2% |
| 8/1/2025 | 3.7% | 4.4% | 8.3% |
| 5/12/2025 | -4.0% | -3.9% | -5.3% |
| 2/27/2025 | 0.2% | 2.6% | 3.0% |
| 11/5/2024 | 3.9% | 3.0% | 2.2% |
| 8/6/2024 | -2.7% | -2.8% | -2.2% |
| ... | |||
| SUMMARY STATS | |||
| # Positive | 10 | 13 | 16 |
| # Negative | 14 | 11 | 8 |
| Median Positive | 2.3% | 3.0% | 2.6% |
| Median Negative | -1.5% | -3.7% | -4.4% |
| Max Positive | 4.1% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
| Max Negative | -4.0% | -5.9% | -12.5% |
| Forward Returns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Date | 1D Returns | 5D Returns | 21D Returns |
| 5/7/2026 | 0.4% | 1.9% | 0.4% |
| 2/26/2026 | -0.3% | 0.9% | 2.2% |
| 11/5/2025 | 3.3% | 2.8% | -0.2% |
| 8/1/2025 | 3.7% | 4.4% | 8.3% |
| 5/12/2025 | -4.0% | -3.9% | -5.3% |
| 2/27/2025 | 0.2% | 2.6% | 3.0% |
| 11/5/2024 | 3.9% | 3.0% | 2.2% |
| 8/6/2024 | -2.7% | -2.8% | -2.2% |
| 5/3/2024 | 0.3% | 3.7% | 1.1% |
| 2/23/2024 | -2.7% | -3.7% | 1.4% |
| 11/7/2023 | -0.8% | -4.3% | 3.9% |
| 8/8/2023 | -1.1% | -3.9% | -12.5% |
| 5/9/2023 | -1.0% | -1.3% | -2.0% |
| 2/27/2023 | -2.2% | -5.4% | -5.1% |
| 11/7/2022 | -0.5% | 6.7% | 9.9% |
| 8/4/2022 | -0.7% | -0.8% | -3.7% |
| 5/9/2022 | -2.7% | 2.3% | 7.5% |
| 2/24/2022 | 4.1% | 5.5% | 9.2% |
| 11/1/2021 | -0.0% | 1.2% | 1.0% |
| 8/5/2021 | 2.7% | -1.4% | 1.7% |
| 5/6/2021 | 1.2% | -0.9% | 4.0% |
| 2/25/2021 | -1.9% | -5.9% | 0.0% |
| 11/4/2020 | -2.7% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
| 8/6/2020 | 1.9% | 3.0% | -5.5% |
| SUMMARY STATS | |||
| # Positive | 10 | 13 | 16 |
| # Negative | 14 | 11 | 8 |
| Median Positive | 2.3% | 3.0% | 2.6% |
| Median Negative | -1.5% | -3.7% | -4.4% |
| Max Positive | 4.1% | 9.5% | 14.1% |
| Max Negative | -4.0% | -5.9% | -12.5% |
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 03/31/2026 | 05/07/2026 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2025 | 02/26/2026 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2025 | 11/05/2025 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2025 | 08/04/2025 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2025 | 05/12/2025 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2024 | 02/27/2025 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2024 | 11/06/2024 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2024 | 08/06/2024 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2024 | 05/08/2024 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2023 | 02/29/2024 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2023 | 11/07/2023 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2023 | 08/08/2023 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2023 | 05/09/2023 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2022 | 03/01/2023 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2022 | 11/09/2022 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2022 | 08/09/2022 | 10-Q |
| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 03/31/2026 | 05/07/2026 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2025 | 02/26/2026 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2025 | 11/05/2025 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2025 | 08/04/2025 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2025 | 05/12/2025 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2024 | 02/27/2025 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2024 | 11/06/2024 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2024 | 08/06/2024 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2024 | 05/08/2024 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2023 | 02/29/2024 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2023 | 11/07/2023 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2023 | 08/08/2023 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2023 | 05/09/2023 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2022 | 03/01/2023 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2022 | 11/09/2022 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2022 | 08/09/2022 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2022 | 05/10/2022 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2021 | 03/01/2022 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2021 | 11/05/2021 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2021 | 08/06/2021 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2021 | 05/10/2021 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2020 | 03/01/2021 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2020 | 11/06/2020 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2020 | 08/06/2020 | 10-Q |
| 03/31/2020 | 05/08/2020 | 10-Q |
| 12/31/2019 | 02/28/2020 | 10-K |
| 09/30/2019 | 11/05/2019 | 10-Q |
| 06/30/2019 | 08/08/2019 | 10-Q |
Recent Forward Guidance
Updated 7/15/2026Latest: Q1 2026 Earnings Reported 5/7/2026
| Forward Guidance | Guidance Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Low | Mid | High | % Chg | % Delta | Change | Prior |
| 2027 EPS Growth | 5.0% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 0.0% | Affirmed | Guidance: 6.0% for 2027 | |
| 2026 Capital Expenditures | 1.70 Bil | 0.0% | Affirmed | Guidance: 1.70 Bil for 2026 | |||
Prior: Q4 2025 Earnings Reported 2/26/2026
| Forward Guidance | Guidance Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Low | Mid | High | % Chg | % Delta | Change | Prior |
| 2027 EPS Growth | 5.0% | 6.0% | 7.0% | ||||
| 2026 Capital Expenditures | 1.70 Bil | ||||||
Q3 2025 Earnings Reported 11/5/2025
| Forward Guidance | Guidance Change | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | Low | Mid | High | % Chg | % Delta | Change | Prior |
| 2025 GAAP EPS | 2.07 | 2.09 | 2.11 | 0 | Affirmed | Guidance: 2.09 for 2025 | |
| 2025 Regulated Infrastructure Investments | 1.40 Bil | 1.45 Bil | 1.50 Bil | 0 | Affirmed | Guidance: 1.45 Bil for 2025 | |
| 2029 Regulated Infrastructure Investments | 7.80 Bil | 0 | Affirmed | Guidance: 7.80 Bil for 2029 | |||
| 2029 Regulated Water Segment Rate Base Growth | 6.0% | 0 | Affirmed | Guidance: 6.0% for 2029 | |||
| 2029 Regulated Natural Gas Segment Rate Base Growth | 11.0% | 0 | Affirmed | Guidance: 11.0% for 2029 | |||
| 2029 Combined Regulated Utility Rate Base Growth | 8.0% | 0 | Affirmed | Guidance: 8.0% for 2029 | |||
| 2029 Regulated Water Customer Base Growth | 2.0% | 2.5% | 3.0% | ||||
| 2025 Equity Issuance | 350.00 Mil | 11.1% | Raised | Guidance: 315.00 Mil for 2025 | |||
Investor Activity (13F)
Updated Jul 26, 2026Active managers (13F portfolio over $250M, at least 3 holdings) with a position over $5M that is either over 10% of their portfolio or held in a concentrated book of 50 or fewer total positions. Index/ETF, sovereign, bank, community-bank and charitable/donor-advised filers are excluded.
| Active Manager |
|---|
Industry Resources
| Utilities Resources |
| Data.gov Energy Infrastructure |
| Data.gov Energy Resources |
| Utility Dive |
| Water Utilities Resources |
| American Water Works Association (AWWA) |
| WaterWorld |
| Water & Wastes Digest (WWD) |
External Quote Links
| Y Finance | Barrons |
| TradingView | Morningstar |
| SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
| Motley Fool | Robinhood |
| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |
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