Zacks Research Has Optimistic Outlook of WTRG Q4 Earnings

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG - Free Report) - Investment analysts at Zacks Research upped their Q4 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Essential Utilities in a report issued on Wednesday, January 15th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the company will earn $0.53 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast 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 - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $435.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $416.95 million. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 27.84% and a return on equity of 7.89%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.30 EPS.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on WTRG. Bank of America restated a "buy" rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Essential Utilities from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $44.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of 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 shares of Essential Utilities from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $43.00 to $39.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Finally, UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Essential Utilities presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $43.00.

Essential Utilities Stock Performance

NYSE:WTRG traded down $0.07 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $35.07. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,524,066 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,442,697. The business's fifty day moving average is $37.65 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.70. The stock has a market cap of $9.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.54, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.86. 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 has a 1 year low of $33.18 and a 1 year high of $41.78.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a dividend of $0.3255 per share. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.71%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. Essential Utilities's dividend payout ratio is presently 65.00%.

Institutional Trading of Essential Utilities

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Secure Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. Secure Asset Management LLC now owns 45,332 shares of the company's stock worth $1,646,000 after buying an additional 4,920 shares during the last quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $491,000. Cetera Trust Company N.A boosted its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 41.7% in the fourth quarter. Cetera Trust Company N.A now owns 6,325 shares of the company's stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 1,860 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 50,150 shares of the company's stock worth $1,821,000 after purchasing an additional 1,490 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Essential Utilities by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,919 shares of the company's stock valued at $397,000 after purchasing an additional 856 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.78% of the company's stock.

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.