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LNT vs. WTRG: Alliant Energy vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

How do Alliant Energy (LNT) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile ItemLNTWTRG
NameAlliant Energy CorporationEssential Utilities Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization18.85 billion USD13.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
Total Return (1Y)12.31%19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.55%13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.28%2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.65%22.14%
Beta (5Y)0.500.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.59%-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.73M2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LNT 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.460.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.661.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 12.36% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 8.13% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LNT.

LNT

Utilities industry group

12.36%

Max
17.99%
LNT
12.36%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.74% 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.74%

Max
28.78%
LNT
20.74%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) at 30.27%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

LNT

Utilities industry group

30.27%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
LNT
30.27%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
ROE (TTM)12.36%8.13%
ROA (TTM)2.47%3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)20.74%21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.27%38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)45.05%57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 9.57% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WTRG.

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

EPS Growth

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 16.73% 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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.57%18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.23%2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)16.73%1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.77%7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 0.51 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

0.51

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
LNT
0.51
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 1.61 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

LNT

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
LNT
1.61
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.510.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.611.23
Net Debt / EBITDA6.676.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.88% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.01% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.88%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
LNT
2.88%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 58.84% 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

58.84%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
LNT
58.84%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.84%69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.24 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.24

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
LNT
20.24
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 4.18 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

4.18

Max
6.35
LNT
4.18
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.41 carries an above-peer premium to book — LNT is pricier on assets.

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.41

Max
3.12
LNT
2.41
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…
Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
MetricLNTWTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.2422.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.185.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.411.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-8.11%-5.45%