Zacks Research Issues Positive Forecast for WTRG Earnings

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Investment analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q4 2024 earnings estimates for Essential Utilities in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, January 15th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $0.53 for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $0.51. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $1.99 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q2 2025 earnings at $0.34 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.65 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $0.65 EPS.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.24 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 $435.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $416.95 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.30 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis.

WTRG has been the subject of several other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $44.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Essential Utilities from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $43.00 to $39.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $43.00.

Essential Utilities Price Performance

WTRG stock opened at $35.07 on Friday. Essential Utilities has a one year low of $33.18 and a one year high of $41.78. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $37.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $38.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.63 billion, a PE ratio of 17.54, a P/E/G ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Utilities

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 14,243 shares of the company’s stock valued at $549,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 61.4% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 773 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the period. Tompkins Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 21.7% in the third quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 1,685 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Utilities by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,946 shares of the company’s stock worth $180,000 after buying an additional 332 shares during the period. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Utilities by 10.6% during the 3rd quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,477 shares of the company’s stock worth $134,000 after buying an additional 333 shares during the period. 74.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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 issued a dividend of $0.3255 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio is 65.00%.

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.