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

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Equities researchers at Zacks Research reduced their FY2025 earnings estimates for shares of Essential Utilities in a research report issued on Wednesday, January 15th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the company will earn $2.11 per share for the year, down from their prior estimate of $2.12. 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 $0.39 EPS.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Essential Utilities from $45.00 to $46.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Essential Utilities from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $43.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. UBS Group dropped their price objective 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, January 14th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Essential Utilities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $44.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $43.00.

Essential Utilities Stock Performance

Shares of Essential Utilities stock opened at $34.92 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $9.59 billion, a PE ratio of 17.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17. The company has a 50 day moving average of $37.47 and a 200-day moving average of $38.70. Essential Utilities has a 1-year low of $33.18 and a 1-year high of $41.78.

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

Essential Utilities Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a $0.3255 dividend. This represents a $1.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Utilities

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new stake in Essential Utilities in the third quarter worth $25,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in Essential Utilities in the third quarter worth $26,000. Darwin Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Essential Utilities in the third quarter worth $28,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Essential Utilities by 61.4% in 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 stake in Essential Utilities in the third quarter worth $42,000. 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.