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CEG vs. WTRG: Constellation Energy vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

How do Constellation Energy (CEG) 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

Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CEG is classified in Electric Utilities while WTRG is classified in Water Utilities.

Essential Utilities (WTRG) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Constellation Energy (CEG) listed on January 19, 2022 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile ItemCEGWTRG
NameConstellation Energy CorporationEssential Utilities Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization88.56 billion USD13.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateJanuary 19, 2022March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CEG
WTRG
GSPC
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
Total Return (1Y)-23.27%19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)32.21%13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CEG
WTRG
GSPC
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)49.44%22.14%
Beta (5Y)1.110.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.70%-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.37M2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CEG 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.560.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.781.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 8.13% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CEG.

CEG

Utilities industry group

15.06%

Max
17.99%
CEG
15.06%
Q3
12.01%
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 21.79% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Constellation Energy (CEG) at 11.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CEG

Utilities industry group

11.08%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CEG
11.08%
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 38.94% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.66% operates in the bottom quartile.

CEG

Utilities industry group

8.66%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
CEG
8.66%
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
ROE (TTM)15.06%8.13%
ROA (TTM)3.89%3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.66%38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.11%57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.34% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WTRG.

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

EPS Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.38% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at -37.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.34%18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.47%2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)-37.76%1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 1.46 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 0.40 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

CEG

Utilities industry group

1.46

Max
1.90
CEG
1.46
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.76 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CEG

Utilities industry group

0.76

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
CEG
0.76
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.460.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.761.23
Net Debt / EBITDA3.026.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.68% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CEG

Utilities industry group

0.68%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
CEG
0.68%
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.92% retains more earnings than its industry usually does; Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 69.42% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on WTRG’s side.

CEG

Utilities industry group

15.92%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
CEG
15.92%
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.68%3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.92%69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 22.73 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 24.43 sits in the richer quartile — CEG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CEG

Utilities industry group

24.43

Max
31.22
CEG
24.43
Q3
23.30
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.83 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 5.01 sits in the pricier quartile — WTRG costs more per dollar of sales.

CEG

Utilities industry group

2.83

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
CEG
2.83
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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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.83 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.78 carries an above-peer premium to book — CEG is pricier on assets.

CEG

Utilities industry group

2.78

Max
3.12
CEG
2.78
Q3
2.21
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
Loading chart…
Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricCEGWTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.4322.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.835.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.781.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.48%-5.45%