Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
Help & Tutorial 
Cancel anytime
- Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Revenue
- Valuation
- Analyst Ratings
Upturn AI SWOT - About
WTRG 
Essential Utilities Inc (WTRG)
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)
Stock price based on last close (see disclosures)
- ALL
- YEAR
- MONTH
- WEEK
Upturn Advisory Summary
03/27/2025: WTRG (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
AI Based Fundamental Rating
Moderate Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, typically align with the market average, offering steady but unremarkable returns.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -21.38% | Avg. Invested days 32 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 03/27/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Large-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 10.90B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 18.23 | 1Y Target Price 45 |
Price to earnings Ratio 18.23 | 1Y Target Price 45 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1781123 | Beta 0.79 | 52 Weeks Range 32.45 - 41.17 | Updated Date 04/1/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 32.45 - 41.17 | Updated Date 04/1/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 3.29% | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.17 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 28.54% | Operating Margin (TTM) 37.53% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 2.72% | Return on Equity (TTM) 9.84% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 18.23 | Forward PE 18.9 | Enterprise Value 18613005127 | Price to Sales(TTM) 5.22 |
Enterprise Value 18613005127 | Price to Sales(TTM) 5.22 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 8.92 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 14.94 | Shares Outstanding 275524000 | Shares Floating 274130992 |
Shares Outstanding 275524000 | Shares Floating 274130992 | ||
Percent Insiders 0.17 | Percent Institutions 84.42 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 4.33 | Target Price 45.3 | Buy 2 | Strong Buy 7 |
Buy 2 | Strong Buy 7 | ||
Hold 3 | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Essential Utilities Inc
Company Overview
History and Background
Essential Utilities, Inc., formerly Aqua America, was founded in 1886. It grew through acquisitions of smaller water and wastewater systems, focusing on regulated utilities. The company rebranded in 2020 to reflect its broader infrastructure focus.
Core Business Areas
- Regulated Water: Provides water services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in multiple states.
- Regulated Wastewater: Provides wastewater collection and treatment services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
- Gas: Provides natural gas distribution services.
Leadership and Structure
Christopher Franklin serves as Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. The organizational structure includes regional operating divisions and centralized support functions.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Water Services: Provision of potable water to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Market share is geographically fragmented; precise national figures are unavailable. Competitors include American Water Works (AWK), California Water Service Group (CWT), and municipal water authorities.
- Wastewater Services: Collection and treatment of wastewater. Market share is geographically fragmented; precise national figures are unavailable. Competitors include American Water Works (AWK), California Water Service Group (CWT), and municipal wastewater authorities.
- Natural Gas Services: Distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Pennsylvania. Exact market share data is difficult to precisely determine, but Essential Utilities operates as Peoples Gas in this market. Competitors include UGI Corporation (UGI) and National Fuel Gas Company (NFG).
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The water and wastewater industry is highly fragmented, with a mix of public and private operators. The natural gas distribution market is also regulated, with regional monopolies or oligopolies.
Positioning
Essential Utilities is a consolidator in the water and wastewater industry, acquiring smaller systems to achieve economies of scale and improve operational efficiency. Their expansion into natural gas distribution diversifies their revenue streams.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for water and wastewater services in the U.S. is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars, considering the need for infrastructure upgrades and expanding service areas. The natural gas TAM is also substantial. Essential Utilities is well-positioned to capture a portion of this through strategic acquisitions and organic growth.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Stable, regulated revenue streams
- Acquisition expertise
- Diversification into natural gas
- Strong balance sheet
Weaknesses
- High capital expenditure requirements
- Exposure to regulatory risks
- Debt levels from acquisitions
- Dependence on regulatory approvals for rate increases
Opportunities
- Further acquisitions of water and wastewater systems
- Infrastructure upgrades and replacements
- Expansion into new geographic areas
- Investments in smart water technologies
Threats
- Changes in environmental regulations
- Increased competition from municipal systems
- Rising interest rates
- Economic downturn affecting customer demand
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- AWK
- CWT
- SJW
Competitive Landscape
Essential Utilities competes based on service quality, regulatory relationships, and acquisition capabilities. AWK is a larger competitor with a broader geographic footprint. CWT focuses primarily on California.
Major Acquisitions
Peoples Gas
- Year: 2020
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 4275
- Strategic Rationale: Diversification into natural gas distribution to complement existing water and wastewater business.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Growth has been driven by acquisitions and organic rate increases.
Future Projections: Analysts project continued growth through acquisitions and infrastructure investments.
Recent Initiatives: Acquisition of Peoples Gas, investments in smart water technologies, and infrastructure upgrades.
Summary
Essential Utilities is a relatively stable utility company, primarily focused on regulated water and wastewater services, with expansion into natural gas distribution. The company's strength lies in its regulated revenue streams and acquisition strategy. Key risks include regulatory changes, high capital expenditure requirements, and rising interest rates. Future growth depends on successful acquisitions and infrastructure investments.
Similar Companies
- AWK
- CWT
- SJW
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Essential Utilities Inc. Investor Relations
- SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Analyst Reports
- Company Press Releases
- Yahoo Finance
- Google Finance
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Market share data is estimated and may not be precise. Financial data is based on publicly available information and is subject to change.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Essential Utilities Inc
Exchange NYSE | Headquaters Bryn Mawr, PA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1987-12-30 | Chairman, President & CEO Mr. Christopher H. Franklin | ||
Sector Utilities | Industry Utilities - Regulated Water | Full time employees 3291 | Website https://www.essential.co |
Full time employees 3291 | Website https://www.essential.co | ||
Essential Utilities, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates regulated utilities that provide water, wastewater, and natural gas services in the United States. It operates through Regulated Water; and Regulated Natural Gas segments. The company offers water services through operating and maintenance contracts with municipal authorities and other parties. It also provides utility service line protection solutions and repair services to households; 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.
Upturn is now on iOS and Android!
Experience Upturn on your mobile. Install it now!
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.