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ETR vs. WTRG: Entergy vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

How do Entergy (ETR) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile ItemETRWTRG
NameEntergy Corporation Common StockEssential Utilities Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization52.82 billion USD13.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ETR
WTRG
GSPC
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Entergy (ETR) 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 Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
Total Return (1Y)18.08%19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)36.61%13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)21.12%2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.53%22.14%
Beta (5Y)0.440.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.12%-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.75M2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ETR 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 Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.670.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.991.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Entergy (ETR) 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

11.02%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
ETR
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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Entergy (ETR) 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 Entergy (ETR) at 14.56%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

ETR

Utilities industry group

14.56%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
ETR
14.56%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Entergy (ETR) at 34.20% 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

34.20%

Max
53.83%
ETR
34.20%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
ROE (TTM)11.02%8.13%
ROA (TTM)2.89%3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)14.56%21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)34.20%38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)47.93%57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Entergy (ETR) at 8.98% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WTRG.

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

EPS Growth

Entergy (ETR) at 59.59% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.38% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for ETR.

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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.98%18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-2.02%2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)59.59%1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)13.35%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Entergy (ETR) at 1.18 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

1.18

Max
1.90
ETR
1.18
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Entergy (ETR) at 1.73 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

ETR

Utilities industry group

1.73

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
ETR
1.73
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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Entergy (ETR) 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 Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.180.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.731.23
Net Debt / EBITDA5.176.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Entergy (ETR) at 2.32% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ETR

Utilities industry group

2.32%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
ETR
2.32%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Entergy (ETR) at 58.58% 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

58.58%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
ETR
58.58%
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.32%3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.58%69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 22.73 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Entergy (ETR) at 25.30 sits in the richer quartile — ETR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

ETR

Utilities industry group

25.30

Max
31.22
ETR
25.30
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Entergy (ETR) at 3.76 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.

ETR

Utilities industry group

3.76

Max
6.35
ETR
3.76
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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Entergy (ETR) 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 Entergy (ETR) at 2.67 carries an above-peer premium to book — ETR is pricier on assets.

ETR

Utilities industry group

2.67

Max
3.12
ETR
2.67
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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Entergy (ETR) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Entergy (ETR) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricETRWTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.3022.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.765.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.671.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.65%-5.45%