Research Analysts Set Expectations for WTRG FY2025 Earnings

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their FY2025 earnings estimates for shares of Essential Utilities in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, January 15th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will earn $2.11 per share for the year, down from their previous forecast of $2.12. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $1.99 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q2 2026 earnings at $0.39 EPS.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last released its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 the consensus estimate of $416.95 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.30 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Essential Utilities from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $43.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $44.00 to $41.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $43.00.

Essential Utilities Price Performance

Shares of NYSE WTRG opened at $35.07 on Monday. Essential Utilities has a 52 week low of $33.18 and a 52 week high of $41.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.71.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 14,243 shares of the company’s stock worth $549,000 after buying an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Essential Utilities by 61.4% in the 3rd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 773 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares during the period. Tompkins Financial Corp increased its stake in Essential Utilities by 21.7% in the third quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 1,685 shares of the company’s stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in Essential Utilities by 7.2% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,946 shares of the company’s stock valued at $180,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares during the period. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased 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 last quarter. 74.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be issued a $0.3255 dividend. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. Essential Utilities’s 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.