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ATO vs. WTRG: Atmos Energy vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

How do Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while WTRG is classified in Water Utilities.

Company profile comparison for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile ItemATOWTRG
NameAtmos Energy CorporationEssential Utilities Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryGas UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryGas UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization29.27 billion USD13.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 28, 1983March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ATO
WTRG
GSPC
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
Total Return (1Y)0.43%19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.83%13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.10%2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ATO
WTRG
GSPC
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)16.06%22.14%
Beta (5Y)0.550.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)-19.08%-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.03M2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ATO and WTRG are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.240.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.341.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 8.13% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

ATO

Utilities industry group

9.79%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
ATO
9.79%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

8.13%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
WTRG
8.13%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 21.79% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ATO

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max
28.78%
ATO
28.50%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

21.79%

Max
28.78%
WTRG
21.79%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 38.94% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ATO

Utilities industry group

37.22%

Max
53.83%
ATO
37.22%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

38.94%

Max
53.83%
WTRG
38.94%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
ROE (TTM)9.79%8.13%
ROA (TTM)3.89%3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)28.50%21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.22%38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)62.21%57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WTRG.

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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.38% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.91%18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.83%2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.22%1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.03%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 0.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for WTRG.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.81

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
ATO
0.81
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

WTRG

Utilities industry group

0.40

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
WTRG
0.40
Min
0.29
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
ATO
0.68
Min
0.00

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.23

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
WTRG
1.23
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.810.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.681.23
Net Debt / EBITDA3.746.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ATO

Utilities industry group

2.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
ATO
2.21%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

3.01%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
WTRG
3.01%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 69.42% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

ATO

Utilities industry group

46.13%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
ATO
46.13%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

69.42%

Max
113.04%
WTRG
69.42%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)46.13%69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 22.73 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

20.65

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
ATO
20.65
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

WTRG

Utilities industry group

22.73

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
WTRG
22.73
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 5.01 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ATO

Utilities industry group

5.95

Max
6.35
ATO
5.95
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

WTRG

Utilities industry group

5.01

Max
6.35
WTRG
5.01
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.83 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

1.92

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
ATO
1.92
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.83

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
WTRG
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricATOWTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.6522.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.955.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.921.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.59%-5.45%