Research Analysts Offer Predictions for WTRG Q4 Earnings

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG - Free Report) - Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Essential Utilities in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, December 19th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will earn $0.51 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $0.50. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities' current full-year earnings is $2.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities' Q4 2025 earnings at $0.64 EPS.

WTRG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Bank of America reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Essential Utilities in a report on Friday, September 20th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Essential Utilities from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $44.00 to $41.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Utilities presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $44.00.

Essential Utilities Trading Down 0.3 %

Essential Utilities stock traded down $0.11 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $36.25. The stock had a trading volume of 1,134,885 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,526,132. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $39.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.94. Essential Utilities has a 52 week low of $33.57 and a 52 week high of $41.78. The stock has a market cap of $9.95 billion, a PE ratio of 18.13, a PEG ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.85. 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 (NYSE:WTRG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 27.84% and a return on equity of 7.89%. The firm had revenue of $435.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $416.95 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.30 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Utilities

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Friedenthal Financial bought a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in Essential Utilities during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Essential Utilities during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Essential Utilities by 61.4% during the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 773 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Essential Utilities in the third quarter worth about $42,000. 74.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Essential Utilities Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.3255 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.59%. Essential Utilities's dividend payout ratio (DPR) 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.