SBS vs. WTRG: Sabesp vs. Essential Utilities Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Sabesp (SBS) 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

Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) are both classified in the Water Utilities sub-industry within the broader Water Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Essential Utilities (WTRG) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sabesp (SBS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Profile Item	SBS	WTRG
Name	Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR	Essential Utilities Inc.
Country/Region	Brazil	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Water Utilities	Water Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Water Utilities	Water Utilities
Market Capitalization	16.96 billion USD	13.02 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	May 10, 2002	March 17, 1980
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SBS

WTRG

GSPC

Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
Total Return (1Y)	-3.72%	19.07%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	28.33%	13.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	32.85%	2.39%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SBS

WTRG

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	46.80%	22.14%
Beta (5Y)	0.76	0.61
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.59%	-36.53%
Avg. Volume (3M)	11.85M	2.38M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

SBS 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.17	0.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.22	1.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 8.13% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SBS.

SBS

Utilities industry group

16.27%

Max: 17.99%
SBS: 16.27%
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%

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

17.52%

Max: 28.78%
SBS: 17.52%
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%

Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

SBS

Utilities industry group

29.28%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
SBS: 29.28%
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%

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
ROE (TTM)	16.27%	8.13%
ROA (TTM)	8.08%	3.00%
Net Margin (TTM)	17.52%	21.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)	29.28%	38.94%
Gross Margin (TTM)	36.96%	57.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.62% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for WTRG.

Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.39%	18.62%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	19.98%	2.65%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-11.79%	1.38%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	40.65%	7.52%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max: 1.90
SBS: 1.22
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

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.23 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.99

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
SBS: 0.99
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

Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.22	0.40
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.99	1.23
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.30	6.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Essential Utilities (WTRG) reports a yield of 3.01%, ranking against industry peers normally.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
SBS: 0.00%
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%

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

35.95%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
SBS: 35.95%
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%

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	3.01%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	35.95%	69.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 22.73 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

SBS

Utilities industry group

11.73

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
SBS: 11.73
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

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 5.01 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
SBS: 0.41
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

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.83 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.84

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
SBS: 1.84
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

Sabesp (SBS) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Essential Utilities (WTRG)
Metric	SBS	WTRG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	11.73	22.73
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.41	5.01
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.84	1.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-62.11%	-5.45%