LNT vs. WTRG: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at LNT and WTRG, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | LNT | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Alliant Energy Corporation | Essential Utilities, Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Water Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 17.25 billion USD | 10.89 billion USD |
| Exchange | NasdaqGS | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of LNT and WTRG by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | LNT | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 2.93% | 5.56% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 9.37% | 7.43% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 6.32% | 3.45% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 10.58% | 3.91% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -0.45% | 0.99% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 13.48% | 9.86% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.75M | 2.21M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.82M | 1.92M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 14.80% | 17.50% |
| Beta | 0.67 | 0.84 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
LNT
11.80%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 25.46%
- Q3
- 14.70%
- Median
- 10.64%
- Q1
- 6.99%
- Min
- 0.02%
LNT’s Return on Equity of 11.80% is on par with the norm for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
WTRG
10.11%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 13.44%
- Q3
- 13.09%
- Median
- 10.11%
- Q1
- 6.30%
- Min
- 4.46%
WTRG’s Return on Equity of 10.11% is on par with the norm for the Water Utilities industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
LNT
20.78%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 29.56%
- Q3
- 16.54%
- Median
- 11.20%
- Q1
- 7.30%
- Min
- 0.01%
A Net Profit Margin of 20.78% places LNT in the upper quartile for the Electric Utilities industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
WTRG
27.62%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 33.53%
- Q3
- 21.87%
- Median
- 13.16%
- Q1
- 8.10%
- Min
- -3.68%
A Net Profit Margin of 27.62% places WTRG in the upper quartile for the Water Utilities industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
LNT
25.32%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 38.77%
- Q3
- 25.54%
- Median
- 18.87%
- Q1
- 14.12%
- Min
- 0.02%
LNT’s Operating Profit Margin of 25.32% is around the midpoint for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
WTRG
38.74%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 54.67%
- Q3
- 38.51%
- Median
- 31.40%
- Q1
- 23.53%
- Min
- 7.04%
An Operating Profit Margin of 38.74% places WTRG in the upper quartile for the Water Utilities industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | LNT | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 11.80% | 10.11% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.61% | 3.56% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 20.78% | 27.62% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 25.32% | 38.74% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 39.32% | 49.30% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
LNT
0.57
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.13
LNT’s Current Ratio of 0.57 falls into the lower quartile for the Electric Utilities industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
WTRG
0.73
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 1.94
- Q3
- 1.51
- Median
- 1.18
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.53
WTRG’s Current Ratio of 0.73 falls into the lower quartile for the Water Utilities industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
LNT
1.58
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 3.72
- Q3
- 1.90
- Median
- 1.27
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.00
LNT’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.58 is typical for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
WTRG
1.16
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.48
- Q3
- 4.27
- Median
- 2.13
- Q1
- 0.95
- Min
- 0.51
WTRG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.16 is typical for the Water Utilities industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
LNT
2.84
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 18.68
- Q3
- 9.89
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 2.62
- Min
- -3.31
LNT’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.84 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
WTRG
3.06
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.04
- Q3
- 4.78
- Median
- 3.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.58
WTRG’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.06 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Water Utilities industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | LNT | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.57 | 0.73 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.46 | 0.53 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.58 | 1.16 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.84 | 3.06 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
LNT
2.94%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.61%
- Q3
- 4.66%
- Median
- 3.55%
- Q1
- 2.23%
- Min
- 0.00%
LNT’s Dividend Yield of 2.94% is consistent with its peers in the Electric Utilities industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
WTRG
3.30%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.36%
- Q3
- 5.31%
- Median
- 4.52%
- Q1
- 2.37%
- Min
- 0.00%
WTRG’s Dividend Yield of 3.30% is consistent with its peers in the Water Utilities industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
LNT
60.94%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 140.33%
- Q3
- 84.46%
- Median
- 60.94%
- Q1
- 31.83%
- Min
- 0.00%
LNT’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 60.94% is within the typical range for the Electric Utilities industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
WTRG
55.62%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 324.59%
- Q3
- 277.83%
- Median
- 155.19%
- Q1
- 56.47%
- Min
- 12.69%
WTRG’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 55.62% is in the lower quartile for the Water Utilities industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | LNT | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.94% | 3.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 60.94% | 55.62% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
LNT
20.76
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 34.39
- Q3
- 21.23
- Median
- 15.47
- Q1
- 10.17
- Min
- 3.08
LNT’s P/E Ratio of 20.76 is within the middle range for the Electric Utilities industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
WTRG
16.87
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 33.11
- Q3
- 28.79
- Median
- 20.03
- Q1
- 14.12
- Min
- 8.63
WTRG’s P/E Ratio of 16.87 is within the middle range for the Water Utilities industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
LNT
4.31
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.03
- Q3
- 3.06
- Median
- 1.89
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.00
LNT’s P/S Ratio of 4.31 is in the upper echelon for the Electric Utilities industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
WTRG
4.66
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.61
- Q3
- 3.79
- Median
- 2.97
- Q1
- 2.05
- Min
- 0.95
WTRG’s P/S Ratio of 4.66 is in the upper echelon for the Water Utilities industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
LNT
2.17
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.86
- Median
- 1.46
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.27
LNT’s P/B Ratio of 2.17 is in the upper tier for the Electric Utilities industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
WTRG
1.55
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 4.29
- Q3
- 3.24
- Median
- 1.64
- Q1
- 1.24
- Min
- 0.62
WTRG’s P/B Ratio of 1.55 is within the conventional range for the Water Utilities industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | LNT | WTRG |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 20.76 | 16.87 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.31 | 4.66 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.17 | 1.55 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 120.94 | 375.87 |