Essential Utilities (WTRG)
NYSEUtilitiesRegulated WaterSnapshot 2026-10-29
$43.52+1.73%
Close 2026-10-30 · 1-day change
NYSEUtilitiesRegulated WaterSnapshot 2026-10-29
Research Workspace
Put WTRG beside peers and holdings, graph the same metric, and keep your notes with the evidence.
Daily closes. Earnings/event dots are placed inline.
Industries move in repeating boom-and-bust cycles. This shows where this stock’s industry sits in that cycle, stage by stage (recovery → expansion → supercycle → steady → deceleration → contraction), from its fundamentals (orders, revenue, capital spending), not the stock’s price.
A booming industry is a tailwind for the names in it; a contracting one is a headwind. Companies in the same industry tend to rise and fall together with the cycle, the way a tide lifts and lowers every boat in the harbor at once, so a large part of a stock’s swing can come from where its industry sits rather than from the company itself. It’s context for reading the company’s results, not a buy/sell call. Full explanation →
Utilities is in steady. Describes the industry's cycle state, not a call on this stock.
The stage band shows the industry’s cycle over the chart’s timeline (each color a stage); a ▼ marks a quarter its growth inflected down — amber is an unconfirmed watch, red is confirmed the next quarter. Use “Overlay cycle on chart” to tint the price chart by stage. The industry’s fundamentals, not a signal on this stock.
Primary pillar under pressure — Revenue growth at or above 3.6% annually: Comparison needs review.
View ThesisMiddle-of-the-pack quality for its industry.
View QualityMiddle-of-the-pack management execution.
View ManagementExpectations look reasonable — what the market is pricing in sits in line with or below what analysts forecast.
View ValuationModerate volatility — typically moves about 1% a day.
View RiskWTRG’s case rests on steady water-utility performance, though revenue growth slowed from 10% to 3%. The latest quarter was inline, following an earlier earnings miss. WTRG trades at 2× book value versus a 2× peer median. The price reflects less growth than our forecast, despite its below-sector peer standing. The next-quarter miss probability is 23%, and reported profits are weakly backed by cash. The revenue-growth pillar needs review because its annual comparison is unverified. Peer multiples imply a price about 9% below where it trades. The thesis is on watch, and this read is provisional.
Trailing returns as of 2026-10-30. WTRG is total return (includes dividends); the S&P 500 benchmark is price return (the index excludes dividends).
Based on 7 analysts currently covering WTRG (as of Oct 2026).
Analyst ratings and price targets are third-party Wall Street estimates, not QuarterlyIQ’s view. Not investment advice.
Continue this research
Compare WTRG with peers and holdings, graph the same reported metric, keep your questions beside the evidence, and return when the facts change.
Compare now without an account. Saving and monitoring require an account.
| Compare | Company | Living FV | P/E | Revenue % | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WTRG Selected company | Graph | Compare | Trend | Review | |
| Peer Add a competitor | Graph | Compare | Trend | Review | |
| Holding Compare a holding | Graph | Compare | Trend | Review |
Selected metric trend
Quarterly · checked companies · value or % of revenue
A consensus fair price across 10 valuation methods, at three horizons. As of 2026-10-29. Estimates are diagnostics, not price targets. Short-horizon estimates are close to coin-flips, so confidence is a method-agreement read, not a prediction.
Today's peer multiple on trailing earnings, with no growth credited. This is the headline read.
Adds projected growth, so it leans optimistic by design. Read it as upside context, not a base case.
A price-focused, side-by-side fair-value read versus Water Utilities — fair value, gap to price, and forward P/E.
Compare the value case
Put WTRG next to peers and holdings, compare Living FV and multiples, then graph the driver behind the difference.
Threatens: Achieve long-term EPS growth of 5-7% CAGR through 2027
Profit decline may hinder long-term EPS growth target.
Not investment advice. Scores describe historical and current data; they are not forecasts of future returns. Consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.
End-of-day figures as of 2026-10-30. EPS is implied from price ÷ P/E. Not investment advice.
A long-thesis check that carries the widest uncertainty of the three horizons.
Below average on quality vs scored peers
Direction of the business behind the multiple. Bands are backend reads; trailing-12-month basis.
Advances: Enhance operational efficiency
Infrastructure spend indicates focus on operational efficiency.
Advances: Increase revenue through strategic acquisitions
Rate hike supports revenue growth objective.