Stocks of Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) traded higher last session on Wall Street, up 2.12% to $41.44.
According to the data, Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) has 10 analysts covering its stock. The consensus rating among analysts is ‘Overweight’. WTRG stock price is now 1.06% away from the 50-day moving average and -5.67% away from the 200-day moving average. The market capitalization of the company currently stands at $11.08B.
A total of 4 analysts have issued a hold rating and 5 have given it a buy rating.
In other news, Arnold Colleen, President sold 1,244 shares of the company’s stock on Jun 14. The stock was sold for $52,049 at an average price of $41.84. Upon completion of the transaction, the President now directly owns 7,796 shares in the company, valued at $0.32 million. An SEC document containing details of the transaction can be found on the SEC’s website. On Mar 08, Chief Executive Officer Franklin Chris bought 37,245 shares of the business’s stock. A total of $1,515,872 was incurred on buying the stock at an average price of $40.70. This leaves the insider owning 37,245 shares of the company worth $1.54 million. Insiders disposed of 58,292 shares of company stock worth roughly $2.42 million over the past 1 year. A total of 0.10% of the company’s stock is owned by insiders.
There have been several recent changes in the stakes of large investors in WTRG stock. A new stake in Essential Utilities Inc. shares was purchased by EMPOWER ADVISORY GROUP, LLC during the first quarter worth $48,393,000. QUBE RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGIES LTD invested $16,371,000 in shares of WTRG during the first quarter. In the first quarter, EXODUSPOINT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP acquired a new stake in Essential Utilities Inc. valued at approximately $15,286,000. HRT FINANCIAL LP acquired a new stake in WTRG for approximately $10,284,000. COANN CAPITAL LLC purchased a new stake in WTRG valued at around $6,532,000 in the second quarter. In total, there are 899 active investors with 78.00% ownership of the company’s stock.
Thursday’s opening bell rang with an opening price of $40.77 for Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG). During the past 12 months, Essential Utilities Inc. has had a low of $38.50 and a high of $52.42. As of last week, the company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 0.60, and a quick ratio of 0.50. According to the stock market information, the enterprise value for the company is $17.70B, which is based on a 24.35 price-to-earnings ratio, a 4.51 price-to-earnings-growth ratio, and a beta of 0.76. The fifty day moving average price for WTRG is $40.98 and a two-hundred day moving average price translates $43.92 for the stock.
The latest earnings results from Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) was released for Mar, 2023. According to the Utilities – Regulated Water Company, earnings per share came in at $0.72, beating analysts’ expectations of $0.71 by 0.01. This compares to $0.76 EPS in the same period last year. The net profit margin was 19.80% and return on equity was 8.50% for WTRG. The company reported revenue of $726.45 million for the quarter, compared to $699.27 million a year earlier. Comparatively to last year’s same quarter, the company’s quarterly revenue rose 3.89 percent. For the current quarter, analysts expect WTRG to generate $468.97M in revenue.
Moreover, the firm recently paid out its quarterly dividend on 06/01/2023. Investors who held shares on 05/12/2023 were paid a $0.287 dividend. On an annualized basis, this represents a $1.15 dividend and a 2.77% percent yield. There was an ex-dividend date of 05/11/2023 for this dividend. In terms of dividend payout ratio, WTRG is presently at 65.00%.
Essential Utilities Inc.(WTRG) Company Profile
Essential Utilities, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates regulated utilities that provide water, wastewater, or natural gas services in the United States. The company operates through Regulated Water and Regulated Natural Gas segments. It offers water services through operating and maintenance contract with municipal authorities and other parties. The company also provides non-utility raw water supply services for firms in the natural gas drilling industry; and water and sewer line protection solutions, and repair services to households. It serves approximately 8.8 million residential water, commercial water, fire protection, industrial water, wastewater, and other water and utility customers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky under the Aqua and Peoples brands. The company was formerly known as Aqua America, Inc. and changed its name to Essential Utilities, Inc. in February 2020. Essential Utilities, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
