Stock Analysis
Essential Utilities, Inc.WTRG
P/E 20.88×· 5Y range 15.48–33.18×· 59th percentile of history
Sector: Utilities · Industry: Water Supply
AnalystsBuy13 analystsP/E 20.9× sits at the 59th percentile of its 5.048596851471594-year history.
Cash covers 0% of debt · Q2 2026.
PMP Verdict
Mixed fundamentals, fairly valued
Strengths
- Profitability60
- Quality60
Risks
- Financial Health24
Mixed picture — no clear quality or value edge.
What's happening with WTRG
Profile
financial health, moat and valuation lag behind.
How is each axis scored?
- Valuation44/100 · Weak
- P/E vs own history (59th pct)12/25
- FCF yield (-3.9%)0/25
- P/S (4.5x)20/25
- EV/EBIT (22.3x)12/25
- Growth56/100 · Moderate
- Revenue CAGR (7.1%)12/25
- Net income CAGR (9.3%)12/25
- EPS CAGR 5Y (7.1%)12/25
- Fwd implied growth (20.8%)20/25
- Profitability60/100 · Moderate
- ROIC (4.6%)5/25
- ROE (7.9%)5/25
- Net margin (21.6%)25/25
- Operating margin (35.1%)25/25
- Financial Health24/100 · Weak
- Altman Z (0.85)3/25
- Current ratio (0.78)6/25
- Interest coverage (2.9x)10/25
- Net cash / debt (D/A 43%)5/25
- Quality60/100 · Moderate
- Piotroski F (6/9)15/25
- Beneish M (-2.39)20/25
- FCF conversion (-81%)0/25
- Margin stability (σ 3.8%)25/25
- Moat38/100 · Weak
- ROIC >12% years (0/10 yrs)0/25
- Median gross margin (36.8%)13/25
- FCF-positive years (1/8 yrs)0/25
- Worst-year net margin (worst 19.5%)25/25
Risk Flags
- ⚠Altman Z 0.9 — distress-zone balance sheet
- ⚠Negative FCF margin (-0.2%) — burning cash
- ⚠Interest coverage 2.9× — thin debt cushion
About Essential Utilities, Inc.
Essential Utilities is a Pennsylvania-based holding company for US water, wastewater, and natural gas distribution utilities. Show more
The company's water business serves 3 million people in eight states. Its largest service territory is in Pennsylvania, primarily suburban Philadelphia. Its Peoples subsidiary serves more than 740,000 gas distribution customers in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. It completed the sale of its West Virginia gas utility and the bulk of its nonregulated assets in 2024. Essential shareholders would own a 31% stake in American Water Works if the proposed all-stock merger closes in 2027.
Headquarters: BRYN MAWR, PA · Employees: 3,303 · Website ↗
Price History
Weekly Candlestick Chart — up to 5Y
Key Metrics
Financial snapshot · Tap any metric for its definition and grade
TTM Snapshot
trailing twelve months · YoYValuation
44D+P/E (TTM)20.9xB
Grade B: FairPrice / TTM EPS (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 15.5x–33.2x · 59th pct
P/FCF390.5xD
Grade D: ExpensivePrice / Free Cash Flow per share (Finnhub). Inverse of FCF yield — negative when FCF is negative · CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
FCF Yield-3.9%D
Grade D: NegativeTTM (OCF − CapEx) / Market Cap — vs own 5Y history: -4.4%–-3.8% · 81st pct · CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
P/S (TTM)4.51xB
Grade B: FairPrice / TTM Revenue (own statements) — vs own 5Y history: 3.8x–7.6x · 26th pct
EV/EBIT22.3xC
Grade C: ExpensiveEnterprise value / TTM EBIT (D&A not in our data) — capital-structure neutral — vs own 5Y history: 19.6x–32.9x · 32nd pct
EV/Sales7.7xC
Grade C: ExpensiveEnterprise Value / TTM Revenue (Finnhub) — capital-structure neutral sales multiple
Forward P/E17.3xB
Grade B: FairPrice / next-year EPS estimate — shows whether the TTM multiple is rich or just front-loading growth
P/B Ratio1.65xA
Grade A: FairPrice to Book Value. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
PEG Ratio4.39D
Grade D: ExpensiveFinnhub PEG — their P/E basis ÷ expected EPS growth. Suppressed when their P/E diverges >2× from our TTM P/E (different basis)
Dividend Yield3.42%A
Grade A: PaysTTM dividend yield (Finnhub) — annual dividends / price. None = no dividend; very high yield can signal distress
Payout Ratio69.8%C
Grade C: HighDividends / Net Income (Finnhub) — share of earnings paid out; >90% or negative = unsustainable
CapEx exceeds OCF: CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
Profitability
60BROIC4.6%D
Grade D: LowNOPAT (EBIT less ~21% tax) / invested capital (equity + debt − cash). Flagship quality metric — durable >15% signals a moat
ROE7.9%D
Grade D: WeakReturn on Equity. Neg. equity = heavy buybacks
ROA2.8%D
Grade D: WeakReturn on Assets (Finnhub) — Net Income / Total Assets; how efficiently assets produce profit
Net Margin21.6%A
Grade A: HighNet Income / Revenue
Operating Margin35.1%A
Grade A: HighTTM EBIT / TTM Revenue
Gross Margin35.1%C
Grade C: AverageGross Profit / Revenue
FCF Margin-17.6%D
Grade D: LowFCF / Revenue · CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
True FCF Margin-18.1%D
Grade D: LowTTM (OCF − CapEx − SBC) / TTM Revenue — SBC treated as a real cost · CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
Growth
56CRevenue CAGR7.1%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual revenue growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
Net Income CAGR9.3%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual net income growth (up to 5Y depending on data availability)
EPS CAGR (5Y)7.1%C
Grade C: OkCompound annual EPS growth over up to 5Y of per-share earnings (own statements). Null when either endpoint EPS ≤ 0
Implied EPS Growth20.8%C
Grade C: MedAnalyst forward EPS (normalized basis) vs our GAAP TTM EPS — different bases, so extreme values usually mark cyclically depressed TTM earnings, not real growth
Dilution (5Y)—
Share count change over 5Y
SBC / Net Income2.4%A
Grade A: LowStock-based comp/Net income. >30% = dilution risk
SBC / Revenue0.5%A
Grade A: LowTTM stock-based comp / TTM Revenue
Financial Health
24EAltman Z-Score0.85D
Grade D: DistressBankruptcy risk. >3 Safe, <1.8 Distress
Current Ratio0.78xD
Grade D: LowCurrent Assets/Liabilities
Quick Ratio0.56xC
Grade C: Ok(Current Assets − Inventory) / Current Liabilities (Finnhub) — stricter liquidity test, excludes inventory
Interest Coverage2.9xD
Grade D: RiskyEBIT/Interest. >10 Strong
Debt Repayment—
Years to repay net debt via FCF · CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
Net Debt/EBIT9.5xD
Grade D: HighLeverage. <2x Low, >4x High
Debt/Equity1.22xC
Grade C: MedDebt / Equity: <1 Conservative, >2 Risky. Not meaningful with non-positive equity; shown as unavailable rather than low debt.
Cash / Debt0.00xD
Grade D: ThinCash covers how much of total debt. >1 = could repay all debt from cash
Quality
60BPiotroski F-Score6/9C
Grade C: AverageFinancial strength 0–9. >7 Strong
Beneish M-Score-2.39A
Grade A: SafeEarnings manipulation risk. < -2.22 Safe
FCF Conversion-81.4%D
Grade D: PoorFCF / Net Income · CapEx exceeds operating cash flow (144% of OCF) — reported FCF understates normalized earning power in this investment phase
Margin Stability3.8%A
Grade A: StableEBIT margin std deviation. Lower = stable
Capex / Revenue57.6%D
Grade D: HeavyTTM CapEx / TTM Revenue — high % = capital-hungry business
Asset Turnover0.13xD
Grade D: LowRevenue / Total Assets (Finnhub) — how efficiently the asset base generates sales
Insider Transactions
SEC Form 4 · 8 recordsP/S codes are the directional signal; grants, option exercises and tax withholding carry none. Form 4 doesn't flag 10b5-1 plans — scheduled sales may appear within open-market sells.
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Arnold Colleen Filed | Arnold Colleen | SellOpen market sale | -2855 | |
Bruner Christopher L Filed | Bruner Christopher L | Grant / award | +3.7K | |
Lewis Wilbert Bryan Filed | Lewis Wilbert Bryan | Grant / award | +3.7K | |
Linde Tamara Louise Filed | Linde Tamara Louise | Grant / award | +3.7K | |
Hilferty Daniel J III Filed | Hilferty Daniel J III | Grant / award | +3.7K |
Show 3 more filingsShow fewer filings
| Trade date | Insider | Transaction | Shares | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Amato Elizabeth B Filed | Amato Elizabeth B | Grant / award | +3.7K | |
Ciesinski David Alan Filed | Ciesinski David Alan | Grant / award | +3.7K | |
Huwar Michael Filed | Huwar Michael | Tax withholding | -1939 |
More metrics — Moat, Per Share, Balance Sheet, MarketHide additional metrics
Moat
38DROIC >12% Years0/10 yrsD
Grade D: WeakShare of completed fiscal years with ROIC > 12% — measures multi-year capital-return durability
Gross Margin (Med.)36.8%C
Grade C: ModerateMedian annual gross margin across available fiscal years — pricing-power durability
FCF-Positive Years1/8 yrsD
Grade D: WeakShare of completed fiscal years with positive free cash flow
Net Margin Floor19.5%A
Grade A: DurableWeakest annual net margin across completed fiscal years — recession/downcycle resilience
Per Share
EPS (TTM)$1.96
Own TTM net income / shares — same earnings basis as P/E
Cash / Share$0.03
Cash & short-term investments per share (Finnhub)
Book Value / Share$24.73
Shareholders' equity per share (Finnhub). Negative = accumulated losses / heavy buybacks
Balance Sheet
Total Debt$8.54B
Total debt obligations (short + long term)
Cash & Equiv.$8.63M
Cash and short-term investments
Net Debt$8.53B
Total Debt minus Cash. Negative = Net Cash position
Total Equity$7.02B
Shareholders' equity (book value)
Asset / Liability1.54xC
Grade C: AdequateTotal Assets / Total Liabilities
Market
Market Cap$11.59B
Current Market Capitalization
Beta0.64B
Grade B: DefensivePrice sensitivity vs the market (Finnhub) — 1.0 moves with market, >1.2 amplifies swings
How grades work: each metric is graded A–D against fixed thresholds (tap a row for the meaning). Card grades map the pillar score to A+–E — a card grade is that pillar's own score, not an average of the rows shown.
Financials as of Jun 2026 · Ratio snapshot Oct 17, 2026
Key Insights: Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG)
WTRG is up 1.34% at the last close. Piotroski F-Score of 6/9 indicates mixed fundamentals for Essential Utilities, Inc.. Altman Z-Score of 0.85 is below the 1.81 distress threshold — an elevated financial-risk flag. Beneish M-Score of -2.39 suggests a low likelihood of earnings manipulation.
- Free-cash-flow margin is negative (-18%) — the business currently burns cash.
- Company has negative FCF, making debt repayment from operations difficult.
- The stock currently yields 3.4% in dividends.
See how WTRG ranks on the Capex Tracker — top 50 capital spenders compared.
Recent Market Moves
See all WTRG moves →| Date | Session | Price | Move | Z-Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 | Regular | 39.24 | +1.47% | 2.30 |
| Oct 2 | After-hours | 39.38 | +1.84% | 2.73 |
Frequently Asked Questions about WTRG
What is the current Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) stock price?
WTRG is trading at $40.83 at the last market close, up 1.34% on the session. PreMarketPrice tracks WTRG pre-market, intraday and after-hours prices.
Is WTRG stock a buy right now?
PreMarketPrice's quantitative model rates Essential Utilities, Inc.'s financial health at 24/100. This is a data-driven snapshot of fundamentals, not investment advice.
Is WTRG stock overvalued?
Essential Utilities, Inc. trades at a trailing P/E of 20.9 and our valuation score rates it 44/100 (higher = cheaper vs. its own history). See the Valuation History and Key Metrics sections for forward P/E, EV/EBITDA and PEG context.
When does Essential Utilities, Inc. report earnings?
No confirmed earnings date is currently scheduled for WTRG. The Earnings section lists recent reports and updates as dates are announced.
What sector does Essential Utilities, Inc. operate in?
Essential Utilities, Inc. operates in the Utilities sector, within the Water Supply industry. The Related Stocks section lists sector peers for comparison.
What does Essential Utilities, Inc. do?
Essential Utilities is a Pennsylvania-based holding company for US water, wastewater, and natural gas distribution utilities.
About Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) Stock
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) is a US-listed stock operating in the Utilities sector, specifically the Water Supply industry. As of the latest update, Essential Utilities, Inc. is trading at $40.83, up 1.34% on the day with a market capitalization of $11.6 billion. The financial health score for WTRG is 24/100, which indicates poor financial strength based on profitability, leverage, liquidity, and growth metrics. This page provides real-time pre-market pricing, earnings calendar, financial health analysis, and valuation metrics for WTRG stock.
WTRG Stock Analysis & Key Metrics
On PreMarketPrice, you can track Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) across multiple dimensions:
- Pre-market price & movement: Real-time WTRG stock price with percentage change, updated continuously during pre-market and regular trading hours.
- Valuation & P/E history: Historical P/E, P/S, and P/B ratios for WTRG with trend analysis and normalized valuation multiples.
- Financial statements: Revenue, net income, assets, liabilities, and equity for Essential Utilities, Inc. across multiple reporting periods.
- Financial health score: A composite score of 24/100 based on Altman Z-Score, Piotroski F-Score, profitability, and leverage metrics for WTRG.
- Sector peers: Compare WTRG against 5 other utilities stocks on key financial metrics.
Is WTRG a Good Stock to Buy?
This page provides data-driven analysis to help you evaluate Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) as an investment. The financial health score of 24/100 suggests poor financial fundamentals. Valuation metrics show whether the stock is trading above or below its historical average.However, this is not financial advice — always do your own research before investing.
Data on this page is sourced from real-time market feeds, Polygon.io, and Finnhub.Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) trades on NYSE/NASDAQ. Pre-market trading occurs 4:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET. Regular market hours are 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET.