Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG)Utilities | Utilities - Regulated Water | Bryn Mawr, United States | NYSE
38.59 USD
+0.01
(0.026%)
⇧
(July 13, 2026, 4 p.m.
EDT)
|
Hot Take ↕ | July 11, 2026, 5:37 a.m. EDT
Essential Utilities presents a classic defensive dilemma: a reliable income stream masking deteriorating operational momentum. The dividend is a genuine strength, having grown consistently over the last five years with a payout ratio of roughly 69%, offering a yield that comfortably beats inflation. However, the business itself is struggling; the company missed its latest earnings estimates, and the price trajectory shows a distinct lack of resilience, having failed to recover from previous lows despite a modest overall gain over the last decade. The market is pricing in stagnation, evidenced by the heavy put buying and the stock trading below its 200-day moving average. While the yield makes it attractive for income-focused investors seeking safety, the lack of capital appreciation potential and the recent earnings miss suggest this is a 'hold' for now rather than a compelling entry for new capital. |
| Model | MAE |
|---|---|
| MSTL_115 ✓ | 0.021102 |
| MSTL_84_115 | 0.026212 |
| MSTL_84 | 0.029549 |
| AutoTheta | 0.038620 |
| MSTL | 0.039871 |
| AutoARIMA | 0.042034 |
| AutoETS | 0.042034 |
Forecast horizon: 60 days | Selected: MSTL_115
| Forecast Reliability | |
|---|---|
| Score | 56% |
| H-stat | 0.74 |
| Ljung-Box p | 0.000 |
| Jarque-Bera p | 0.147 |
| Excess Kurtosis | -0.33 |
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Sector | Utilities |
| Ex Dividend Date | 2026-05-11 |
| Last Dividend Date | 2026-05-11 |
| Debt to Equity Ratio | 122.667 |
| Revenue per Share | 9.051 |
| Market Cap | 10,945,396,736 |
| Trailing P/E | 19.69 |
| Forward P/E | 16.22 |
| Beta | 0.64 |
| Profit Margins | 21.82% |
| Website | https://www.essential.co |
As of July 11, 2026, 5:37 a.m. EDT: Speculators are positioning defensively with heavy out-of-the-money put volume relative to calls, particularly at the $35 strike, while call interest is concentrated further out at $45. Implied volatility is significantly elevated for near-term puts compared to calls, suggesting a fear of a downside gap rather than a bullish breakout.
| Last Yield | 1yr Yield | 3yr Avg | 5yr Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.90% | 3.60% | 3.47% | 3.05% |
| Date | Dividend | Yield % |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| 52 Week Change | 0.019286633 |
| Address1 | 762 W. Lancaster Avenue |
| All Time High | 54.52 |
| All Time Low | 0.224489 |
| Ask | 0.0 |
| Ask Size | 300 |
| Audit Risk | 2 |
| Average Analyst Rating | 2.6 - Hold |
| Average Daily Volume10 Day | 2,397,100 |
| Average Daily Volume3 Month | 2,096,398 |
| Average Volume | 2,096,398 |
| Average Volume10Days | 2,397,100 |
| Beta | 0.64 |
| Bid | 0.0 |
| Bid Size | 900 |
| Board Risk | 3 |
| Book Value | 24.327 |
| 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 | 38.59 |
| Current Ratio | 0.951 |
| Custom Price Alert Confidence | HIGH |
| Date Short Interest | 1,782,777,600 |
| Day High | 39.36 |
| Day Low | 38.545 |
| Debt To Equity | 122.667 |
| Display Name | Essential Utilities |
| Dividend Date | 1,780,272,000 |
| Dividend Rate | 1.37 |
| Dividend Yield | 3.55 |
| Earnings Call Timestamp End | 1,778,166,000 |
| Earnings Call Timestamp Start | 1,778,166,000 |
| Earnings Growth | -0.233 |
| Earnings Quarterly Growth | -0.209 |
| Earnings Timestamp | 1,778,157,000 |
| Earnings Timestamp End | 1,785,441,600 |
| Earnings Timestamp Start | 1,785,441,600 |
| Ebitda | 1,320,881,024 |
| Ebitda Margins | 0.51743 |
| Enterprise To Ebitda | 14.631 |
| Enterprise To Revenue | 7.57 |
| Enterprise Value | 19,325,153,280 |
| Eps Current Year | 2.24394 |
| Eps Forward | 2.37881 |
| Eps Trailing Twelve Months | 1.96 |
| Esg Populated | 0 |
| Ex Dividend Date | 1,778,544,000 |
| Exchange | NYQ |
| Exchange Data Delayed By | 0 |
| Exchange Timezone Name | America/New_York |
| Exchange Timezone Short Name | EDT |
| Fifty Day Average | 37.6194 |
| Fifty Day Average Change | 0.9706001 |
| Fifty Day Average Change Percent | 0.02580052 |
| Fifty Two Week Change Percent | 1.9286633 |
| Fifty Two Week High | 42.37 |
| Fifty Two Week High Change | -3.7799988 |
| Fifty Two Week High Change Percent | -0.08921404 |
| Fifty Two Week Low | 36.11 |
| Fifty Two Week Low Change | 2.4799995 |
| Fifty Two Week Low Change Percent | 0.06867902 |
| 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 | 282,682,813 |
| Forward Eps | 2.37881 |
| Forward P E | 16.222397 |
| Free Cashflow | -649,184,640 |
| Full Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Full Time Employees | 3,303 |
| Gmt Off Set Milliseconds | -14,400,000 |
| Governance Epoch Date | 1,782,864,000 |
| Gross Margins | 0.55524 |
| Gross Profits | 1,417,382,016 |
| Has Pre Post Market Data | 1 |
| Held Percent Insiders | 0.0022200001 |
| Held Percent Institutions | 0.80486 |
| Implied Shares Outstanding | 283,632,983 |
| Industry | Utilities - Regulated Water |
| Industry Disp | Utilities - Regulated Water |
| Industry Key | utilities-regulated-water |
| Ir Website | http://ir.aquaamerica.com/ |
| Is Earnings Date Estimate | 1 |
| Language | en-US |
| Last Dividend Date | 1,778,544,000 |
| Last Dividend Value | 0.343 |
| 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 | 10,945,396,736 |
| Market State | PRE |
| Max Age | 86,400 |
| Message Board Id | finmb_296276 |
| Most Recent Quarter | 1,774,915,200 |
| Net Income To Common | 556,972,032 |
| Next Fiscal Year End | 1,798,675,200 |
| Non Diluted Market Cap | 10,942,560,484 |
| Number Of Analyst Opinions | 5 |
| Open | 38.73 |
| Operating Cashflow | 976,347,008 |
| Operating Margins | 0.36077 |
| Overall Risk | 2 |
| Payout Ratio | 0.6905 |
| Peg Ratio | 3.69 |
| Phone | 610 527 8000 |
| Pre Market Change | 0.3260002 |
| Pre Market Change Percent | 0.844779 |
| Pre Market Price | 38.916 |
| Pre Market Time | 1,784,016,086 |
| Previous Close | 38.58 |
| Price Eps Current Year | 17.19743 |
| Price Hint | 2 |
| Price To Book | 1.5863034 |
| Price To Sales Trailing12 Months | 4.2876916 |
| Profit Margins | 0.21819 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.756 |
| Quote Source Name | Nasdaq Real Time Price |
| Quote Type | EQUITY |
| Recommendation Key | hold |
| Recommendation Mean | 2.57143 |
| Region | US |
| Regular Market Change | 0.00999832 |
| Regular Market Change Percent | 0.0259158 |
| Regular Market Day High | 39.36 |
| Regular Market Day Low | 38.545 |
| Regular Market Day Range | 38.545 - 39.36 |
| Regular Market Open | 38.73 |
| Regular Market Previous Close | 38.58 |
| Regular Market Price | 38.59 |
| Regular Market Time | 1,783,972,803 |
| Regular Market Volume | 1,230,650 |
| Return On Assets | 0.029260002 |
| Return On Equity | 0.08342 |
| Revenue Growth | 0.1 |
| Revenue Per Share | 9.051 |
| Sand P52 Week Change | 0.20847368 |
| Sector | Utilities |
| Sector Disp | Utilities |
| Sector Key | utilities |
| Share Holder Rights Risk | 4 |
| Shares Outstanding | 283,632,983 |
| Shares Percent Shares Out | 0.016900001 |
| Shares Short | 4,791,565 |
| Shares Short Previous Month Date | 1,780,012,800 |
| Shares Short Prior Month | 4,109,891 |
| Short Name | Essential Utilities, Inc. |
| Short Percent Of Float | 0.0194 |
| Short Ratio | 2.2 |
| Source Interval | 15 |
| State | PA |
| Symbol | WTRG |
| Target High Price | 46.0 |
| Target Low Price | 38.0 |
| Target Mean Price | 41.2 |
| Target Median Price | 41.0 |
| Total Cash | 75,926,000 |
| Total Cash Per Share | 0.268 |
| Total Debt | 8,455,683,072 |
| Total Revenue | 2,552,748,032 |
| Tradeable | 0 |
| Trailing Annual Dividend Rate | 1.353 |
| Trailing Annual Dividend Yield | 0.035069983 |
| Trailing Eps | 1.96 |
| Trailing P E | 19.688776 |
| Trailing Peg Ratio | 3.6717 |
| Triggerable | 1 |
| Two Hundred Day Average | 38.94255 |
| Two Hundred Day Average Change | -0.3525505 |
| Two Hundred Day Average Change Percent | -0.009053092 |
| Type Disp | Equity |
| Volume | 1,230,650 |
| Website | https://www.essential.co |
| Zip | 19,010-3489 |