What is Zacks Research’s Estimate for WTRG FY2025 Earnings?

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research raised their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Essential Utilities in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, October 16th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will earn $2.11 per share for the year, up from their previous forecast of $2.10. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $1.99 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q2 2026 earnings at $0.44 EPS and Q3 2026 earnings at $0.36 EPS.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 5th. The company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $434.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $442.76 million. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 28.74% and a return on equity of 8.16%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.34 EPS.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Bank of America reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Essential Utilities in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Essential Utilities from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Essential Utilities in a research report on Monday, October 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $44.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Essential Utilities has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $44.80.

Essential Utilities Stock Up 1.2 %

WTRG opened at $40.55 on Friday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $39.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $38.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.58. Essential Utilities has a one year low of $32.42 and a one year high of $41.78. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 0.84.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Utilities

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 27,992,080 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,045,504,000 after purchasing an additional 823,495 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 17,553.7% in the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 3,425,350 shares of the company’s stock valued at $126,156,000 after purchasing an additional 3,405,947 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,754,099 shares of the company’s stock valued at $102,811,000 after purchasing an additional 9,822 shares in the last quarter. Tandem Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Tandem Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 2,023,937 shares of the company’s stock valued at $75,554,000 after purchasing an additional 13,557 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Essential Utilities by 18.6% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,500,150 shares of the company’s stock valued at $56,002,000 after purchasing an additional 234,857 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.78% of the company’s stock.

Essential Utilities Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, August 12th were given a $0.3255 dividend. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.21%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 12th. This is a boost from Essential Utilities’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. Essential Utilities’s payout ratio is 63.41%.

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.