Zacks Research Has Bearish Estimate for WTRG FY2025 Earnings

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Analysts at Zacks Research dropped their FY2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Essential Utilities in a research note issued to investors on Monday, November 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $2.10 for the year, down from their prior estimate of $2.11. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $2.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q1 2026 earnings at $0.82 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.40 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $2.23 EPS.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Evercore ISI raised their price target on Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $43.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $44.00 to $41.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Utilities currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $44.00.

Essential Utilities Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE WTRG opened at $40.29 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $11.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.17 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.55. Essential Utilities has a 1 year low of $33.57 and a 1 year high of $41.78. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $39.10 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.87.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last released its quarterly 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. The company had revenue of $435.30 million for 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 firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.30 EPS.

Essential Utilities Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be given a dividend of $0.3255 per share. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.23%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 12th. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Utilities

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in Essential Utilities during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Essential Utilities during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew 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 buying an additional 294 shares during the period. Finally, Voisard Asset Management Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities in the second quarter worth $37,000. 74.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.