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Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG)

Utilities | Utilities - Regulated Water | Bryn Mawr, United States | NYSE
41.10 USD +0.55 (1.356%) ⇧ (Aug. 28, 2026, 4 p.m. EDT)
After hours: 41.25 +0.15 (0.365%) ⇧ (Aug. 28, 2026, 7:47 p.m. EDT)
Short-term:★★⯪☆☆Long-term:★★★☆☆Dividends:★★★⯪☆
Hot Take ↕ | Aug. 22, 2026, 5:04 a.m. EDT

Essential Utilities presents a classic defensive utility profile with a robust dividend history and stable cash flows, yet it is currently weighed down by significant leverage and stagnant growth. The company's balance sheet is strained, with debt-to-equity exceeding 120% and negative free cash flow, which limits its ability to aggressively reinvest or pay down obligations despite generating operating cash. While the dividend yield of roughly 3.6% is attractive and appears sustainable given the regulated nature of the business, the payout ratio is creeping toward 70%, leaving little room for error if margins compress. The recent price action shows a slight uptick, but the lack of meaningful revenue growth and the heavy debt load prevent a strong bullish case. For investors, this is a hold for income, but not a compelling growth or turnaround story.
Model Selection — Backtest MAE (log-scale, lower is better)
ModelMAE
MSTL ✓0.054311
AutoETS0.054651
AutoTheta0.083053
AutoARIMA0.107308

Forecast horizon: 45 days | Selected: MSTL

Forecast Reliability
Score 54%
H-stat 13.81
Ljung-Box p 0.000
Jarque-Bera p 0.411
Excess Kurtosis -0.96
Attribute Value
Sector Utilities
Ex Dividend Date 2026-08-10
Last Dividend Date 2026-08-10
Debt to Equity Ratio 121.656
Revenue per Share 9.08
Market Cap 11,663,299,584
Trailing P/E 21.08
Forward P/E 17.27
Beta 0.63
Profit Margins 21.60%
Website https://www.essential.co

As of Aug. 22, 2026, 5:04 a.m. EDT: Speculators are positioning defensively with heavy open interest in out-of-the-money puts relative to calls, creating a 'naked put' bias where sellers are betting on downside protection without hedging upside. While there is some volume in deep in-the-money calls, the overwhelming majority of option activity is concentrated in strikes far below the current price, suggesting a market consensus focused on downside risk rather than immediate upside momentum.

Dividend Data

Yield Summary
Last Yield 1yr Yield 3yr Avg 5yr Avg
0.90% 3.61% 3.51% 3.12%
Dividend History
Date Dividend Yield %
2026-08-11 0.361000 0.900699
2026-05-12 0.343000 0.903107
2026-02-09 0.343000 0.930296
2025-11-12 0.343000 0.877687
2025-08-12 0.343000 0.884477
2025-05-13 0.326000 0.871192
2025-02-10 0.326000 0.933028
2024-11-12 0.326000 0.834827
2024-08-12 0.326000 0.833546
2024-05-09 0.307000 0.791645
2024-02-08 0.307000 0.866497
2023-11-09 0.307000 0.906407
2023-08-10 0.307000 0.780178
2023-05-11 0.287000 0.680256
2023-02-09 0.287000 0.632995
2022-11-09 0.287000 0.655102
2022-08-11 0.287000 0.569219
2022-05-12 0.268000 0.612711
2022-02-10 0.268000 0.586819
2021-11-10 0.268000 0.565998
2021-08-12 0.268000 0.551100
2021-05-13 0.251000 0.546365
2021-02-11 0.251000 0.524008
2020-11-12 0.251000 0.560268
2020-08-13 0.251000 0.553962
2020-05-14 0.234000 0.595117
2020-02-13 0.234000 0.440015
2019-11-14 0.234000 0.540166
2019-08-15 0.234000 0.535102
2019-05-16 0.219000 0.562404
2019-02-14 0.219000 0.614306
2018-11-15 0.219000 0.664643
2018-08-16 0.219000 0.583222
2018-05-17 0.205000 0.618028
2018-02-15 0.205000 0.595757
2017-11-16 0.205000 0.559956
2017-08-14 0.205000 0.608309
2017-05-15 0.191000 0.601385
2017-02-13 0.191000 0.634130
2016-11-14 0.191000 0.659530
2016-08-16 0.191000 0.611004
2016-05-11 0.178000 0.545678
2016-02-10 0.178000 0.555729
2015-11-10 0.178000 0.617627
2015-08-12 0.178000 0.675009
2015-05-13 0.165000 0.636820
2015-02-11 0.165000 0.630011
2014-11-12 0.165000 0.625711
2014-08-13 0.165000 0.690088
2014-05-14 0.152000 0.613893
2014-02-13 0.152000 0.621677
2013-11-14 0.152000 0.609218
2013-08-14 0.152000 0.602410
2013-05-15 0.140000 0.534678
2013-02-13 0.140000 0.609331
2012-11-14 0.140000 0.713121
2012-08-15 0.132000 0.648585
2012-05-15 0.132000 0.735294
2012-02-15 0.132000 0.750682
2011-11-15 0.132000 0.749659
2011-08-15 0.124000 0.704866
2011-05-13 0.124000 0.678931
2011-02-15 0.124000 0.665236
2010-11-15 0.124000 0.721601
2010-08-13 0.116000 0.755996
2010-05-13 0.116000 0.806900
2010-02-11 0.116000 0.868784
2009-11-12 0.116000 0.921805
2009-08-13 0.108000 0.797872
2009-05-14 0.108000 0.804529
2009-02-12 0.108000 0.652489
2008-11-13 0.108000 0.671642
2008-08-14 0.100000 0.705816
2008-05-14 0.100000 0.730994
2008-02-13 0.100000 0.616675
2007-11-14 0.100000 0.560287
2007-08-15 0.100000 0.539491
2007-05-16 0.092000 0.520598
2007-02-13 0.092000 0.495263
2006-11-15 0.092000 0.473641
2006-08-16 0.092000 0.509075
2006-05-16 0.085600 0.472198
2006-02-13 0.085600 0.392229
2005-11-15 0.085800 0.426103
2005-08-16 0.078000 0.388060
2005-05-16 0.078000 0.485800
2005-02-10 0.078000 0.534759
2004-11-10 0.078000 0.570175
2004-08-12 0.072000 0.600901
2004-05-12 0.072000 0.616333
2004-02-11 0.072000 0.553250
2003-11-12 0.072000 0.620861
2003-08-13 0.067200 0.599572
2003-05-13 0.067200 0.606586
2003-02-12 0.067200 0.696517
2002-11-13 0.067200 0.670177
2002-08-14 0.063840 0.675127
2002-05-10 0.063840 0.556485
2002-02-08 0.063840 0.583333
2001-11-14 0.063744 0.567134
2001-08-15 0.059520 0.551798
2001-05-11 0.059520 0.647452
2001-02-12 0.059520 0.673913
2000-11-13 0.059597 0.804148
2000-08-11 0.055296 0.765957
2000-05-11 0.055296 0.751958
2000-02-11 0.055296 0.993103
1999-11-09 0.055296 0.776280
1999-08-13 0.055296 0.822857
1999-05-10 0.052224 0.731183
1999-02-08 0.052224 0.697436
1998-11-06 0.052224 0.637002
1998-08-13 0.052224 0.723404
1998-05-11 0.049766 0.773725
1998-02-11 0.049766 0.760111
1997-11-06 0.048845 0.894990
1997-08-15 0.048845 0.950144
1997-05-09 0.046541 1.029304
1997-02-10 0.046541 1.022789
1996-11-12 0.046541 1.171020
1996-08-13 0.046541 1.188240
1996-05-10 0.044544 1.254054
1996-02-09 0.044544 1.406061
1995-11-10 0.044544 1.506494
1995-08-11 0.044544 1.645390
1995-05-09 0.043008 1.555556
1995-02-07 0.043008 1.611511
1994-11-08 0.043008 1.611511
1994-08-09 0.043008 1.493333
1994-05-10 0.041472 1.531915
1994-02-09 0.041472 1.449664
1993-11-09 0.041472 1.430464
1993-08-11 0.041472 1.393548
1993-05-10 0.041472 1.542857
1993-02-09 0.039936 1.612403
1992-11-10 0.039936 1.625000
1992-08-12 0.039936 1.637795
1992-05-07 0.039936 1.808696
1992-02-11 0.039936 1.747899
1991-11-06 0.038400 1.612903
1991-08-12 0.038400 1.724138
1991-05-09 0.038400 1.754386
1991-02-05 0.038400 2.040816
1990-11-06 0.038400 2.061856
1990-08-09 0.038400 2.000000
1990-05-10 0.038400 1.851852
1990-02-07 0.038400 1.851852
1989-11-09 0.036096 1.693694
1989-08-09 0.036096 1.709091
1989-05-09 0.036096 1.790476
1989-02-07 0.036096 1.773585
1988-11-07 0.036096 1.740741
1988-08-11 0.036096 1.663717
1988-05-09 0.036096 1.593220
1988-02-09 0.036096 1.579832
1987-11-10 0.036096 1.620690
1987-08-12 0.036096 1.566667
1987-05-11 0.036096 1.457364
1987-02-09 0.036096 1.323944
Additional Data
dividendRate 1.44
dividendYield 3.56
exDividendDate 2026-08-11
trailingAnnualDividendRate 1.37
trailingAnnualDividendYield 0.03378545
lastDividendValue 0.361
lastDividendDate 2026-08-11
dividendDate 2026-09-01

Info Dump

Attribute Value
52 Week Change 0.04429567
Address1 762 W. Lancaster Avenue
All Time High 54.52
All Time Low 0.224489
Ask 41.25
Ask Size 300
Audit Risk 2
Average Analyst Rating 2.7 - Hold
Average Daily Volume10 Day 1,844,150
Average Daily Volume3 Month 2,042,730
Average Volume 2,042,730
Average Volume10Days 1,844,150
Beta 0.629
Bid 40.17
Bid Size 300
Board Risk 3
Book Value 24.732
City Bryn Mawr
Compensation As Of Epoch Date 1,767,139,200
Compensation Risk 1
Country United States
Crypto Tradeable 0
Currency USD
Current Price 41.1
Current Ratio 0.777
Custom Price Alert Confidence HIGH
Date Short Interest 1,786,665,600
Day High 41.12
Day Low 40.455
Debt To Equity 121.656
Display Name Essential Utilities
Dividend Date 1,788,220,800
Dividend Rate 1.44
Dividend Yield 3.56
Earnings Call Timestamp End 1,785,942,000
Earnings Call Timestamp Start 1,785,942,000
Earnings Growth -0.026
Earnings Quarterly Growth -0.02
Earnings Timestamp 1,785,873,600
Earnings Timestamp End 1,793,822,400
Earnings Timestamp Start 1,793,822,400
Ebitda 1,349,981,056
Ebitda Margins 0.52555
Enterprise To Ebitda 14.958
Enterprise To Revenue 7.861
Enterprise Value 20,192,819,200
Eps Current Year 2.21832
Eps Forward 2.37995
Eps Trailing Twelve Months 1.95
Esg Populated 0
Ex Dividend Date 1,786,406,400
Exchange NYQ
Exchange Data Delayed By 0
Exchange Timezone Name America/New_York
Exchange Timezone Short Name EDT
Fifty Day Average 39.3136
Fifty Day Average Change 1.7863998
Fifty Day Average Change Percent 0.045439743
Fifty Two Week Change Percent 4.429567
Fifty Two Week High 42.37
Fifty Two Week High Change -1.2700005
Fifty Two Week High Change Percent -0.029974049
Fifty Two Week Low 36.11
Fifty Two Week Low Change 4.989998
Fifty Two Week Low Change Percent 0.13818881
Fifty Two Week Range 36.11 - 42.37
Financial Currency USD
First Trade Date Milliseconds 322,151,400,000
Five Year Avg Dividend Yield 2.91
Float Shares 282,836,460
Forward Eps 2.37995
Forward P E 17.26927
Free Cashflow -657,633,024
Full Exchange Name NYSE
Full Time Employees 3,303
Fullday Change 0.549999
Fullday Change Percent 1.35635
Fullday Price 41.25
Gmt Off Set Milliseconds -14,400,000
Governance Epoch Date 1,785,542,400
Gross Margins 0.5643
Gross Profits 1,449,508,992
Has Pre Post Market Data 1
Held Percent Insiders 0.00221
Held Percent Institutions 0.82203
Implied Shares Outstanding 283,778,605
Industry Utilities - Regulated Water
Industry Disp Utilities - Regulated Water
Industry Key utilities-regulated-water
Ir Website http://ir.aquaamerica.com/
Is Earnings Date Estimate 0
Language en-US
Last Dividend Date 1,786,406,400
Last Dividend Value 0.361
Last Fiscal Year End 1,767,139,200
Last Split Date 1,378,166,400
Last Split Factor 5:4
Long Business Summary Essential Utilities, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates regulated utilities that provide water, wastewater, and natural gas services in the United States. The company operates through Regulated Water; and Regulated Natural Gas segments. It also provides utility service line protection solutions and repair services to households; gas marketing and production activities; and natural gas distribution services. The company serves approximately 5.5 million residential water, commercial water, fire protection, industrial water, wastewater, and other water and utility customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky under the Aqua and Peoples brands. The company was formerly known as Aqua America, Inc. and changed its name to Essential Utilities, Inc. in February 2020. Essential Utilities, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Long Name Essential Utilities, Inc.
Market us_market
Market Cap 11,663,299,584
Market State CLOSED
Max Age 86,400
Message Board Id finmb_296276
Most Recent Quarter 1,782,777,600
Net Income To Common 554,870,016
Next Fiscal Year End 1,798,675,200
Non Diluted Market Cap 11,507,222,432
Number Of Analyst Opinions 5
Open 40.59
Operating Cashflow 1,027,604,992
Operating Margins 0.35409
Overall Risk 2
Payout Ratio 0.7028
Peg Ratio 3.88
Phone 610 527 8000
Post Market Change 0.15000153
Post Market Change Percent 0.36496723
Post Market Price 41.25
Post Market Time 1,787,960,865
Previous Close 40.55
Price Eps Current Year 18.527534
Price Hint 2
Price To Book 1.6618146
Price To Sales Trailing12 Months 4.5405545
Profit Margins 0.21601
Quick Ratio 0.525
Quote Source Name Nasdaq Real Time Price
Quote Type EQUITY
Recommendation Key hold
Recommendation Mean 2.71429
Region US
Regular Market Change 0.549999
Regular Market Change Percent 1.35635
Regular Market Day High 41.12
Regular Market Day Low 40.455
Regular Market Day Range 40.455 - 41.12
Regular Market Open 40.59
Regular Market Previous Close 40.55
Regular Market Price 41.1
Regular Market Time 1,787,947,203
Regular Market Volume 2,846,119
Return On Assets 0.029590001
Return On Equity 0.08078
Revenue Growth 0.031
Revenue Per Share 9.08
Sand P52 Week Change 0.20504117
Sector Utilities
Sector Disp Utilities
Sector Key utilities
Share Holder Rights Risk 4
Shares Outstanding 283,778,605
Shares Percent Shares Out 0.0183
Shares Short 5,185,937
Shares Short Previous Month Date 1,784,073,600
Shares Short Prior Month 5,043,679
Short Name Essential Utilities, Inc.
Short Percent Of Float 0.021
Short Ratio 2.54
Source Interval 15
State PA
Symbol WTRG
Target High Price 46.0
Target Low Price 38.0
Target Mean Price 41.6
Target Median Price 41.0
Total Cash 8,634,000
Total Cash Per Share 0.03
Total Debt 8,538,151,936
Total Revenue 2,568,695,040
Tradeable 0
Trailing Annual Dividend Rate 1.37
Trailing Annual Dividend Yield 0.03378545
Trailing Eps 1.95
Trailing P E 21.076921
Trailing Peg Ratio 3.8591
Triggerable 1
Two Hundred Day Average 38.94845
Two Hundred Day Average Change 2.1515503
Two Hundred Day Average Change Percent 0.055240978
Type Disp Equity
Volume 2,846,119
Website https://www.essential.co
Zip 19,010-3489