Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG)
Valuation Overview•Is Essential Utilities, Inc. Overvalued or Undervalued?
Popular:
Average quality — mixed signals, monitor closely
Monthly model snapshots showing quantitative assessments. High Conviction = model detected notable undervaluation vs peers. Return columns show actual price changes following each observation date for reference purposes only.
| Date | Assessment | Score | Price | 30d | 90d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 26Latest | Moderate | 0.68 | $38.03 | — | — |
| Apr 24, 26 | Moderate | 0.68 | $39.52 | — | — |
| Apr 17, 26 | Moderate | 0.68 | $39.00 | — | — |
| Apr 16, 26 | Moderate | 0.68 | $38.58 | — | — |
| Apr 10, 26 | Moderate | 0.68 | $40.66 | — | — |
| Quarter | EPS Est. | EPS Act. | Surprise | EPS | Rev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1'26Latest | $0.36 | $0.47 | +30.6% | ||
| Q4'25 | $0.28 | $0.33 | +16.5% | ||
| Q3'25 | $0.29 | $0.38 | +31.0% | ||
| Q2'25 | $0.80 | $1.03 | +28.3% | ||
| Q1'25 | $0.64 | $0.67 | +5.5% | ||
| Q4'24 | $0.24 | $0.25 | +4.2% | ||
| Q3'24 | $0.30 | $0.28 | -6.7% | ||
| Q2'24 | $0.76 | $0.73 | -4.1% |
Total return, benchmark alpha, and annual history in one section.
3Y, 5Y, and 10Y use CAGR when available.
| Period | Return | vs S&P | Dividends |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD | -2.0% | -9.5% | — |
| 1Y | -6.0% | -37.4% | +3.3% |
| 3YCAGR | -1.1% | -22.5% | +9.0% |
| 5YCAGR | -1.2% | -12.9% | +13.0% |
| 10YCAGR | +4.0% | -9.6% | — |
Year-by-year total return versus SPY, including dividend contribution.
| Year | Stock Return | SPY Return | Alpha | Dividends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +5.1% | +0.4% | +4.7% | +1.8% |
| 2025 | +10.1% | +16.6% | -6.5% | +3.7% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | +24.0% | -24.6% | +3.3% |
| 2023Worst | -20.0% | +24.8% | -44.8% | +2.5% |
| 2022 | -8.1% | -19.9% | +11.9% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | +18.5% | +28.8% | -10.3% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | +5.2% | +15.1% | -9.9% | +2.1% |
| 2019Best | +45.7% | +28.7% | +17.1% | +2.8% |
Based on our multi-model analysis of Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) at $37.54: Relative valuation verdict: Significantly Undervalued vs industry peers. Fundamental quality score: 49/100 (moderate). Wall Street consensus: Buy from 18 analysts. This is a quantitative summary combining DCF intrinsic value, peer-based relative valuation, quality scoring, and analyst consensus — not a buy/sell recommendation. Always consult a qualified financial advisor before investing.
Essential Utilities, Inc. has multiple fair value estimates from different frameworks: Relative fair value: $50.18 (Significantly Undervalued, +31.9% vs current price). Analyst consensus target: $40.00 (+6.6% upside, 18 analysts). We recommend comparing all three lenses — when DCF, relative, and analyst targets converge, the signal is stronger. When they diverge, investigate what assumptions differ.
Essential Utilities, Inc.'s financial health as measured by our composite scoring: Overall quality score: 49/100. Piotroski F-Score: 6/9 (moderate). Return on invested capital: 4.8%. Cash conversion (OCF/NI): 1.64x (earnings are cash-backed). The quality score blends profitability (ROIC, ROE, margins), solvency (leverage, coverage, Z-Score), and growth trajectory into a single 0–100 framework updated end-of-day.
Essential Utilities, Inc.'s performance profile: 1-year total return: -6.0%. 1-year alpha vs S&P 500: -37.4% (underperforming the benchmark). 5-year CAGR: -1.2%. Maximum drawdown (1Y): -12.1%. Relative Strength rating: 41/99 (weak momentum). Beta: -0.36 (less volatile than the market). Total returns include reinvested dividends. Alpha is calculated against the S&P 500 Total Return Index over matching periods.
Current dividend yield: 3.5%. Annual dividend per share: $1.33. Payout ratio: 61% (moderate). Consecutive years of growth: 26 (Dividend Aristocrat). 5-year dividend CAGR: +7.8%. Total shareholder yield (dividends + buybacks): 3.6%.
Wall Street's outlook on Essential Utilities, Inc.: Consensus rating: Buy from 18 covering analysts. Consensus price target: $40.00 (range: $38.00 to $42.00). Implied upside from current price: +6.6%. Earnings beat rate: 67% with a 6-quarter consecutive beat streak. Forward P/E: 16.7x. Analyst estimates are blended into our proprietary model with weight based on coverage depth and historical accuracy. We track estimate revisions, beat rates, and grade changes daily.
Key risks identified for Essential Utilities, Inc.: No significant risk flags detected in the current quantitative assessment. Note: This model does not capture regulatory changes, management decisions, competitive disruption, or geopolitical events. Macro and qualitative risks remain material and should be assessed independently.
No. This overview dashboard aggregates data from our DCF intrinsic value model, relative peer multiples model, proprietary estimates engine, and third-party analyst consensus feeds. It is strictly for educational and informational purposes. The operator of this platform is not a registered investment advisor (RIA), broker-dealer, or financial planner. All model outputs, fair value estimates, quality scores, and signals are automated quantitative computations and should not be construed as investment recommendations. Consult a qualified, licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Past model performance does not guarantee future results.