Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) is a publicly traded company in the Utilities — Regulated Water industry listed on NYSE. This overview shows the latest price, key valuation ratios, profitability metrics and financial-health indicators used by fundamental investors.
Essential Utilities, Inc. is a diversified utility enterprise that, through its various operating units, delivers vital water, wastewater, and natural gas services within the United States. Its operations extend beyond direct utility provision, encompassing contractual management and maintenance of water systems for municipal authorities and other organizations.
Is Essential Utilities, Inc. stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of October 2, 2026, Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) trades at 20.1× earnings (P/E), against a median of 20.3× across the 98 utilities companies above $2bn in Kaplio's universe. Kaplio's verdict: cheap. At the decade median (26.1×) $51 (+30 %); at its sector median (20.3×) $40 (+1 %).
Kaplio overview: Essential Utilities, Inc.
Market cap $11B · 52 weeks $36 – $42 (8 % below the high) · P/E 20.1× · 2027 expected P/E 16.7× · Dividend 3.5 % · 11 years rising · Next earnings November 3, 2026 · expected EPS $0.35 · Price as of Oct 2 · accounts published Aug 4.
- Valuation: P/E 20.1× (cheap).
- Business: ROE 8.0 % (solid).
- Balance sheet: Net debt/EBITDA 6.1× (fragile).
- Earnings: 7 of 8 (on track).
What would it be worth at its usual multiples?
At the decade median (26.1×) $51 (+30 %); at its sector median (20.3×) $40 (+1 %). Implied price from applying the reference multiples to today's earnings (or book value, or FFO) per share. Not a fair value: it is where the stock would trade at its usual multiples.
What matters in utilities: 3 of 6 pass
- 5y EPS growth 14.1 %, fails.
- Net debt / EBITDA 6.1×, fails.
- Interest coverage 2.8×, borderline.
- Regulated ROE (8-12%) 8.0 %, passes.
- 10y dividend growth 6.9 %, passes.
- Payout Ratio 60.6 %, passes.
Against its peers (reference peers) — Essential Utilities, Inc.: P/E 20.1×; EV/EBITDA 14.5×; ROIC 4.4 %; $11.2B. American States Water Company (P/E 22.6×; EV/EBITDA 14.0×; ROIC 6.1 %; $3.2B), California Water Service Group (P/E 20.7×; EV/EBITDA 12.0×; ROIC 3.1 %; $2.8B), Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (P/E 18.4×; EV/EBITDA 10.5×; ROIC 4.2 %; $11.6B).
Expensive or cheap against its last ten years?
P/E at each close: today 20.1× · median 26.1× · minimum 16.9× · maximum 49.8× · cheap below 21.3× · expensive above 40.5×. It has been cheaper than today only 19% of the time over its last ten years.
Dividend
tight · Yield 3.53 % ($1.33 per share in 2025) · Years raising it ≥ 11 · 5-year growth +8 % a year · Free cash flow coverage -1.2× · With $1,000 invested today you'd collect $35.30 a year ($2.94 a month).
Profitability
| Return on Equity | 8.05% |
| Return on Invested Capital | 4.40% |
| Return on Assets | 2.78% |
| Gross Margin | 53.48% |
| Operating Margin | 35.06% |
| Net Margin | 21.60% |
Financial Health
| Debt / Equity | 1.21 |
| Current Ratio | 0.78 |
| Piotroski F-Score | 6 |
| Altman Z-Score | 0.92 |
Price Performance
| 1 month | -7.27% |
| 3 months | -0.23% |
| Year-to-date | +0.81% |
| 1 year | -3.49% |
| 3 years | +16.51% |
| 5 years | -17.64% |
Dividend History
Paid in the last 12 months: $1.3884 per share in 4 payments.
| Date | Amount |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-11 | $0.3606 |
| 2026-05-12 | $0.3426 |
| 2026-02-09 | $0.3426 |
| 2025-11-12 | $0.3426 |
| 2025-08-12 | $0.3426 |
| 2025-05-13 | $0.3255 |
| 2025-02-10 | $0.3255 |
| 2024-11-12 | $0.3255 |
| 2024-08-12 | $0.3255 |
| 2024-05-09 | $0.3071 |
Amounts adjusted for stock splits.
Related companies: AES · AWR · BIP · CWT · EMA · IDA · OGE
Explore sector: Utilities · Regulated Water
More sections of WTRG: Financials · Valuation · Statistics · Estimates · Technical · Ownership · News · Events
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