Trailing Dividend / Share
$1.33
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) Dividend History
Income profile from 1985 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
3.5%
Payout Ratio
60.6%
Watch
Dividend Streak
34 years
WTRG Dividend Income Check
Safety
60.6% payout ratio with watch safety profile.
Consistency
34 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 2.9% and trend is rising.
WTRG Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield3.5%
Trailing DPS$1.33
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout60.6%
Earnings SafetyWatch
FCF PayoutN/A
FCF SafetyUnknown
Piotroski F-Score6/9
Growth
Growth Streak34 years
3Y CAGR6.4%
5Y CAGR6.6%
Yield on Cost (5Y)2.9%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.0%
Total Shareholder Yield3.6%
1Y Total Return-6.0%
5Y Total Return-5.9%
Div Contribution (5Y)13.0%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$9,41210Y ago$14,74220Y ago$28,738
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
WTRG Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (42 years of payments)
WTRG Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Essential Utilities, Inc. distributes 60.6% of earnings as dividends (Watch).
Piotroski F-Score: 6/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
WTRG has raised its dividend for 34 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 6.4% and 5-year CAGR of 6.6%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, WTRG returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 3.5% dividend yield, 0.0% buyback yield, 3.6% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 2.9% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is -5.9%, with dividends contributing 13.0% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $14,742 today.
WTRG Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$6.12
Avg/Payment$0.3061
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2026Latest | $0.3426 | — | 3.60% | Jun 1, 2026 |
| Feb 9, 2026 | $0.3426 | — | 3.67% | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Nov 12, 2025 | $0.3426 | — | 3.42% | Dec 1, 2025 |
| Aug 12, 2025 | $0.3426 | ↑ +5.3% | 3.40% | Sep 2, 2025 |
| May 13, 2025 | $0.3255 | — | 3.48% | Jun 2, 2025 |
| Feb 10, 2025 | $0.3255 | — | 3.67% | Mar 3, 2025 |
| Nov 12, 2024 | $0.3255 | — | 3.24% | Dec 2, 2024 |
| Aug 12, 2024 | $0.3255 | ↑ +6.0% | 3.19% | Sep 3, 2024 |
WTRG Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#3 yield in peer group
Div Yield
3.5%
#3 of 9
Safety
Watch
60.6% payout
Streak
34Y
6.6% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
3.6%
#3 of 9
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3rd WTRGEssential Utilities,… | $10.6B | 3.5% | 60.6% | 34 | Watch |
 AWRAmerican States Wate… | $3.0B | 2.5% | 57.2% | 24 | Sustainable |
 MSEXMiddlesex Water Comp… | $950M | 2.7% | 58.2% | 21 | Sustainable |
 YORWThe York Water Compa… | $463M | 3.0% | 62.9% | 31 | Watch |
2nd  ARTNAArtesian Resources C… | $328M | 3.9% | 55.5% | 31 | Sustainable |
1st  CWCOConsolidated Water C… | $527M | 100.0% | — | 3 | Unknown |
 AWKAmerican Water Works… | $24.5B | 2.6% | 57.0% | 12 | Sustainable |
 CWTCalifornia Water Ser… | $2.6B | 2.9% | 57.6% | 22 | Sustainable |
 NINiSource Inc. | $22.7B | 2.4% | 57.1% | 4 | Sustainable |
WTRG Annual Dividend History (1985–2026)
42 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.69 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1.5% |
| 2025 | $1.34 | 5.6% | 4 | $2.20 | 60.7% | 1.65x | 2.9% |
| 2024 | $1.27 | 6.5% | 4 | $2.17 | 58.3% | 1.72x | 2.7% |
| 2023 | $1.19 | 7.0% | 4 | $1.86 | 63.9% | 1.57x | 2.6% |
| 2022 | $1.11 | 7.0% | 4 | $1.77 | 62.7% | 1.59x | 2.4% |
| 2021 | $1.04 | 7.0% | 4 | $1.67 | 62.1% | 1.61x | 2.2% |
| 2020 | $0.97 | 7.0% | 4 | $1.12 | 86.6% | 1.15x | 2.1% |
| 2019 | $0.91 | 7.0% | 4 | $1.04 | 87.2% | 1.15x | 2.0% |
| 2018 | $0.85 | 7.0% | 4 | $1.08 | 78.5% | 1.27x | 1.8% |
| 2017 | $0.79 | 7.2% | 4 | $1.35 | 58.7% | 1.70x | 1.7% |
Full WTRG Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
See WTRG's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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View ValuationCompare WTRG vs GEV
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Start ComparisonWTRG — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying WTRG stock.
How much dividend does WTRG pay per share?
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $1.33 per share, with a current dividend yield of +3.5%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is WTRG's next ex-dividend date?
WTRG's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. WTRG typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is WTRG's dividend safe?
WTRG's dividend safety is rated "Watch" based on an earnings payout ratio of +60.6% and FCF payout ratio of N/A. With 34 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is WTRG a Dividend Aristocrat?
Yes, Essential Utilities, Inc. is classified as a Dividend Aristocrat with 34 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +6.6%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does WTRG pay dividends?
Essential Utilities, Inc. pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $1.33 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 41+ years from 1985 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in WTRG grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in WTRG five years ago would be worth approximately $9,412 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is WTRG's yield on cost for long-term holders?
WTRG's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +2.9% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +3.5% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.