(WTRG) Essential Utilities - NYSE
Sector: Utilities | Industry: Utilities - Regulated Water | Exchange: NYSE (USA) | Market Cap: 10.597m USD | Total Return: 1.4% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 48.6M
EPS Trend: 76.8%
Qual. Beats: 0
Rev. Trend: 56.9%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
High Debt while negative Cash Flow
Tailwinds
No distinct edge detected
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) is a multi-utility holding company providing regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas services across nine U.S. states. Operating primarily under the Aqua and Peoples brands, the company manages infrastructure serving approximately 5.5 million customers. Its business model relies on a regulated rate structure, where capital investments in infrastructure are recovered through rates approved by state utility commissions.
The company’s portfolio includes service line protection, gas marketing, and natural gas distribution, following its 2020 rebranding from Aqua America. Regulated utilities often exhibit lower volatility than the broader market due to the essential nature of their services and geographic monopolies. Investors may find additional insights on the companys valuation and historical performance by visiting ValueRay.
Headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Essential Utilities has operated since 1886, maintaining a significant presence in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. The water utility sector is characterized by high capital intensity, requiring consistent investment in aging pipe networks and treatment facilities to meet federal environmental standards.
- Rate base growth via multi-state infrastructure investment and capital expenditure
- Regulatory approval of rate case filings determines earnings and dividend stability
- Municipal acquisitions expand customer base across water and wastewater segments
- Fluctuating natural gas prices impact volumetric demand and customer utility bills
- Interest rate sensitivity affects cost of capital for debt-heavy utility operations
| Net Income: 557.0m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: -0.03 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 0.26 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: -1.25% < 20% (prev -11.61%; Δ 10.36% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.05 > 3% & CFO 976.3m > Net Income 557.0m |
| Net Debt (8.39b) to EBITDA (1.34b): 6.25 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 0.95 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (283.6m) vs 12m ago 2.88% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 46.96% > 18% (prev 59.24%; Δ -12.28% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 13.40% > 50% (prev 12.32%; Δ 1.08% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: 2.73 > 6 (EBIT TTM 914.3m / Interest Expense TTM 334.3m) |
| A: -0.00 (Total Current Assets 622.6m - Total Current Liabilities 654.4m) / Total Assets 19.8b |
| B: 0.12 (Retained Earnings 2.31b / Total Assets 19.8b) |
| C: 0.05 (EBIT TTM 914.3m / Avg Total Assets 19.1b) |
| D: 0.53 (Book Value of Equity 6.89b / Total Liabilities 12.9b) |
| Altman-Z'' = 1.25 = BB |
| DSRI: 1.03 (Receivables 418.5m/360.4m, Revenue 2.55b/2.26b) |
| GMI: 1.26 (GM 59.24% / 46.96%) |
| AQI: 0.97 (AQ_t 0.24 / AQ_t-1 0.24) |
| SGI: 1.13 (Revenue 2.55b / 2.26b) |
| TATA: -0.02 (NI 557.0m - CFO 976.3m) / TA 19.8b) |
| Beneish M = -2.69 (Cap -4..+1) = A |
As of June 13, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 37.51 with a total of 1,296,614 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by +0.40%,
over one month by -1.24%,
over three months by -7.80% and
over the past year by +1.37%.
Essential Utilities has received a consensus analysts rating of 4.55. Therefore, it is recommended to buy WTRG.
- StrongBuy: 8
- Buy: 1
- Hold: 2
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 0
| Analysts Target Price | 40.8 | 8.8% |
P/E Trailing = 19.0612
P/E Forward = 16.6667
P/S = 4.151
P/B = 1.5372
P/EG = 3.5714
Revenue TTM = 2.55b USD
EBIT TTM = 914.3m USD
EBITDA TTM = 1.34b USD
Long Term Debt = 8.36b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 62.1m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 8.46b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 20.1m
Net Debt = 8.39b USD (calculated: Debt 8.46b - CCE 75.9m)
Enterprise Value = 19.0b USD (10.6b + Debt 8.46b - CCE 75.9m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 2.73 (Ebit TTM 914.3m / Interest Expense TTM 334.3m)
EV/FCF = -37.44x (Enterprise Value 19.0b / FCF TTM -507.0m)
FCF Yield = -2.67% (FCF TTM -507.0m / Enterprise Value 19.0b)
FCF Margin = -19.86% (FCF TTM -507.0m / Revenue TTM 2.55b)
Net Margin = 21.82% (Net Income TTM 557.0m / Revenue TTM 2.55b)
Gross Margin = 46.96% ((Revenue TTM 2.55b - Cost of Revenue TTM 1.35b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 39.06% (prev 35.97%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.96 (Enterprise Value 19.0b / Total Assets 19.8b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 3.95% (Interest Expense 334.3m / Debt 8.46b)
Taxrate = 5.18% (30.4m / 587.4m)
NOPAT = 866.9m (EBIT 914.3m * (1 - 5.18%))
Current Ratio = 0.95 (Total Current Assets 622.6m / Total Current Liabilities 654.4m)
Debt / Equity = 1.23 (Debt 8.46b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 6.89b)
Debt / EBITDA = 6.25 (Net Debt 8.39b / EBITDA 1.34b)
Debt / FCF = -16.54 (negative FCF - burning cash) (Net Debt 8.39b / FCF TTM -507.0m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 6.82b (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = 2.92% (Net Income 557.0m / Total Assets 19.8b)
RoE = 8.16% (Net Income TTM 557.0m / Total Stockholder Equity 6.82b)
RoCE = 6.02% (EBIT 914.3m / Capital Employed (Equity 6.82b + L.T.Debt 8.36b))
RoIC = 4.54% (NOPAT 866.9m / Invested Capital 19.1b)
WACC = 4.40% (E(10.6b)/V(19.1b) * Re(4.92%) + D(8.46b)/V(19.1b) * Rd(3.95%) * (1-Tc(0.05)))
Discount Rate = 4.92% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 100.00 | Cagr: 1.62%
[DCF] Fair Price = unknown (Cash Flow -507.0m)
EPS Correlation: 76.84 | EPS CAGR: 6.52% | SUE: -0.29 | # QB: 0
Revenue Correlation: 56.86 | Revenue CAGR: 6.28% | SUE: 0.72 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=0.41 | Chg30d=+1.75% | Revisions=+20% | Analysts=3
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=0.35 | Chg30d=+0.40% | Revisions=+20% | Analysts=3
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=2.23 | Chg30d=-0.92% | Revisions=-33% | GrowthEPS=+1.6% | GrowthRev=+3.8%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=2.40 | Chg30d=-0.83% | Revisions=-20% | GrowthEPS=+7.3% | GrowthRev=+1.2%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: -33%