Essential Utilities (WTRG) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Essential Utilities (WTRG): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Utilities peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile Item	WTRG
Name	Essential Utilities Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities
GICS Industry	Water Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Water Utilities
Market Capitalization	13.02 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

WTRG

GSPC

Essential Utilities (WTRG) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Essential Utilities (WTRG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Essential Utilities (WTRG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	19.07%	5.85%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	13.95%	15.48%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	2.39%	8.14%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

WTRG

GSPC

Essential Utilities (WTRG) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Essential Utilities (WTRG) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.14%	22.23%
Beta (5Y)	0.61	0.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-36.53%	-36.85%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. WTRG is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.67	0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.08	0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) posts ROE of 8.13%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

8.13%

Group distribution

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
WTRG: 8.13%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

Largest peers

CEG: 15.06%
NEE: 14.06%
SO: 11.90%
AEP: 10.60%
NGG: 10.31%
DUK: 10.10%
WTRG: 8.13%

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on ROE within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) keeps 21.79% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

21.79%

Group distribution

Max: 28.78%
WTRG: 21.79%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

Largest peers

NEE: 40.37%
WTRG: 21.79%
NGG: 21.15%
DUK: 16.16%
SO: 16.00%
AEP: 14.21%
CEG: 11.08%

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on net margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) turns 38.94% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

38.94%

Group distribution

Max: 53.83%
WTRG: 38.94%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

Largest peers

WTRG: 38.94%
SO: 36.92%
NEE: 33.00%
DUK: 30.03%
NGG: 28.64%
AEP: 26.89%
CEG: 8.66%

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on operating margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	8.13%	9.44%
ROA (TTM)	3.00%	3.08%
Net Margin (TTM)	21.79%	12.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	38.94%	23.62%
Gross Margin (TTM)	57.07%	44.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) grew revenue 18.62%, in the upper peer quartile. The top line is expanding faster than at most industry peers, which points to share gains or stronger pricing.

Essential Utilities (WTRG): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) grew earnings per share 1.38%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Essential Utilities (WTRG): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	18.62%	8.45%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	2.65%	3.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)	1.38%	3.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	7.52%	5.25%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) has current ratio of 0.40, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

0.40

Group distribution

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
WTRG: 0.40
Min: 0.29

Largest peers

CEG: 1.46
SO: 0.84
DUK: 0.68
NGG: 0.62
NEE: 0.53
AEP: 0.51
WTRG: 0.40

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on current ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.23

Group distribution

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
WTRG: 1.23
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

SO: 1.68
DUK: 1.63
AEP: 1.62
NEE: 1.53
NGG: 1.32
WTRG: 1.23
CEG: 0.76

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.40	0.88
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.23	1.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	6.30	5.31

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) has dividend yield of 3.01%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

3.01%

Group distribution

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
WTRG: 3.01%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

DUK: 3.29%
SO: 3.21%
WTRG: 3.01%
AEP: 3.00%
NEE: 2.76%
CEG: 0.68%
NGG: 0.57%

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on dividend yield within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) has payout ratio of 69.42%, above the industry’s usual payout band. A larger share of earnings is going to dividends, so the cushion narrows if profit weakens.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

69.42%

Group distribution

Max: 113.04%
WTRG: 69.42%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

NGG: 71.97%
WTRG: 69.42%
SO: 68.49%
DUK: 62.76%
AEP: 62.09%
NEE: 43.89%
CEG: 15.92%

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on payout ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.01%	2.85%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	69.42%	56.38%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) trades at P/E ratio of 22.73, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

22.73

Group distribution

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
WTRG: 22.73
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

Largest peers

CEG: 24.43
WTRG: 22.73
SO: 21.08
AEP: 20.67
DUK: 18.74
NEE: 15.67
NGG: 15.54

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on P/E ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) trades at 5.01 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

5.01

Group distribution

Max: 6.35
WTRG: 5.01
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

NEE: 6.33
WTRG: 5.01
NGG: 4.46
SO: 3.45
DUK: 2.99
AEP: 2.92
CEG: 2.83

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on P/S ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) trades at 1.83 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.83

Group distribution

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
WTRG: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

Largest peers

NGG: 9.36
NEE: 2.97
CEG: 2.78
SO: 2.56
AEP: 2.10
DUK: 1.83
WTRG: 1.83

Where Essential Utilities (WTRG) stands on P/B ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Essential Utilities (WTRG) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: WTRG	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.73	19.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.01	2.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.83	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-5.45%	-7.11%