Q4 EPS Forecast for Essential Utilities Increased by Analyst

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q4 2024 EPS estimates for Essential Utilities in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, January 15th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now anticipates that the company will post earnings of $0.53 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $0.51. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $1.99 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q2 2025 earnings at $0.34 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $0.65 EPS and Q4 2026 earnings at $0.65 EPS.

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

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $44.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Bank of America reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $45.00 price target on shares of Essential Utilities in a report on Friday, September 20th. Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company downgraded Essential Utilities from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $43.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Essential Utilities has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $43.00.

Essential Utilities Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of WTRG stock opened at $35.19 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. Essential Utilities has a twelve month low of $33.18 and a twelve month high of $41.78. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $37.73 and a 200 day moving average of $38.72. The stock has a market cap of $9.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.86.

Essential Utilities Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $0.3255 dividend. This represents a $1.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio is presently 65.00%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 8.5% in the fourth quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,919 shares of the company’s stock valued at $397,000 after buying an additional 856 shares during the last quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Essential Utilities by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 201,926 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,334,000 after purchasing an additional 1,719 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Essential Utilities by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. now owns 175,500 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,374,000 after purchasing an additional 4,800 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Utilities by 219.4% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 122,581 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,452,000 after purchasing an additional 84,208 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 28.7% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 60,605 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,338,000 after purchasing an additional 13,518 shares in the last quarter. 74.78% of the stock is 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.