What is Seaport Res Ptn’s Estimate for WTRG FY2025 Earnings?

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Equities researchers at Seaport Res Ptn increased their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Essential Utilities in a research report issued on Monday, January 6th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst A. Storozynski now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $2.09 for the year, up from their prior forecast of $2.08. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $2.01 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ FY2026 earnings at $2.22 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $2.37 EPS.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on WTRG. Jefferies Financial Group cut Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $44.00 to $41.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Bank of America reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Essential Utilities from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and cut their target price for the company from $43.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Utilities presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $43.20.

Essential Utilities Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of WTRG opened at $35.00 on Wednesday. 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 $33.57 and a 1-year high of $41.78. The stock has a market cap of $9.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.06 and a beta of 0.86. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $38.22 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.83.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last posted its earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.24 by $0.01. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 27.84% and a return on equity of 7.89%. The firm had revenue of $435.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $416.95 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.30 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Trading of Essential Utilities

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new position in shares of Essential Utilities during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Essential Utilities in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Essential Utilities during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised 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 purchasing an additional 294 shares during the period. Finally, Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. 74.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $0.3255 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.72%. Essential Utilities’s payout ratio is currently 65.00%.

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.