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DTE vs. WTRG: DTE Energy vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

How do DTE Energy (DTE) 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

DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but DTE is classified in Multi-Utilities while WTRG is classified in Water Utilities.

Company profile comparison for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile ItemDTEWTRG
NameDTE Energy CompanyEssential Utilities Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization28.12 billion USD13.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 2, 1962March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
Total Return (1Y)4.52%19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.85%13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)7.71%2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.96%22.14%
Beta (5Y)0.340.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.92%-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.52M2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DTE 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 DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.010.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.021.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 11.02% 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.

DTE

Utilities industry group

11.02%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
DTE
11.02%
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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 21.79% keeps a top-quartile share of each sales dollar as profit, while DTE Energy (DTE) at 8.21% keeps a bottom-quartile share.

DTE

Utilities industry group

8.21%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
DTE
8.21%
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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DTE Energy (DTE) 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% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of DTE Energy (DTE) at 16.21%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

DTE

Utilities industry group

16.21%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
DTE
16.21%
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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
ROE (TTM)11.02%8.13%
ROA (TTM)2.62%3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)8.21%21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)16.21%38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)28.89%57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 26.95% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sit in the top peer quartile for revenue growth, so each is growing its top line faster than typical industry peers.

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

EPS Growth

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 3.84% 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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)26.95%18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.31%2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)3.84%1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.39%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 0.62 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 0.40 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

DTE

Utilities industry group

0.62

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
DTE
0.62
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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while DTE Energy (DTE) at 2.27 uses more debt funding than most peers.

DTE

Utilities industry group

2.27

Max
2.63
DTE
2.27
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
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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DTE Energy (DTE) 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 DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.620.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.271.23
Net Debt / EBITDA8.006.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 3.46% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

DTE

Utilities industry group

3.46%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
DTE
3.46%
Median
2.85%
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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 71.04% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 69.42% pay out an above-typical share of earnings for their industries, leaving thinner cover if profits dip.

DTE

Utilities industry group

71.04%

Max
113.04%
DTE
71.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.46%3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)71.04%69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both DTE Energy (DTE) at 20.59 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.

DTE

Utilities industry group

20.59

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
DTE
20.59
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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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

DTE Energy (DTE) at 1.69 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.

DTE

Utilities industry group

1.69

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
DTE
1.69
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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DTE Energy (DTE) 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 DTE Energy (DTE) at 2.22 carries an above-peer premium to book — DTE is pricier on assets.

DTE

Utilities industry group

2.22

Max
3.12
DTE
2.22
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
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DTE Energy (DTE) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for DTE Energy (DTE) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricDTEWTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.5922.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.695.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.221.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.61%-5.45%