Essential Utilities (WTRG)
NYSEUtilitiesRegulated WaterSnapshot 2026-09-14
$41.61+1.31%
Close 2026-09-14 · 1-day change
NYSEUtilitiesRegulated WaterSnapshot 2026-09-14
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 broken — Revenue growth at or above 3.6% annually: Q2 FY26 rev +3.0% vs 3.6% target.
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 growth relies on achieving annual revenue growth at or above 3.6%. Recent results show revenue grew only 3.0% in Q2 FY26, below the target. The stock trades at 1.7× price-to-book, below the peer median of 1.9×. This suggests the price reflects modest growth expectations compared to our view. The primary risk is the company's fragile earnings quality, as reported profits are not well backed by cash. Peer multiples imply a price about 6% below where it trades; this read is provisional.
Trailing returns as of 2026-09-14. 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 Sep 2026).
Analyst ratings and price targets are third-party Wall Street estimates, not QuarterlyIQ’s view. Not investment advice.
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Compare WTRG with peers and holdings, graph the same reported metric, keep your questions beside the evidence, and return when the facts change.
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| 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 2026-09-14. 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 2026-09-14. 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.