WTRGUtilities · Utilities - Regulated WaterThe 7 Wall Street analysts covering Essential Utilities, Inc. hold a median 12-month price target of $41 — +2.9% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 31 of 100 as at 14 Oct 2026 — in the lower half.
Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Essential Utilities, Inc. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.
Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested
Volatility (89): The share price has been relatively steady.
Issuance (30): The company has been issuing shares or taking on financing, diluting existing holders.
Size (14): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.
Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.
The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on WTRG, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +2.9% from it.
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sept 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | $48 → $49 |
| 15 July 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Underweight | $38 → $40 |
| 15 July 2026 | Barclays | Maintains | Underweight | — |
| 2 July 2026 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 29 May 2026 | UBS | Upgrade | Buy | — |
| 17 Dec 2025 | Barclays | Downgrade | Underweight | — |
| 28 Oct 2025 | Jefferies | Downgrade | Hold | — |
| 28 Oct 2025 | UBS | Downgrade | Neutral | — |
| 27 Oct 2025 | Janney Montgomery Scott | Downgrade | Neutral | — |
| 10 Oct 2025 | Barclays | Maintains | Overweight | — |
| 10 Oct 2025 | Jefferies | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 2 Oct 2025 | Barclays | Initiates | Overweight | — |
| 15 Aug 2025 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | — |
| 4 Aug 2025 | Baird | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 13 May 2025 | Baird | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 4 Apr 2025 | Baird | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 5 Mar 2025 | Evercore ISI Group | Maintains | Outperform | — |
| 27 Feb 2025 | Wells Fargo | Maintains | Equal-Weight | — |
| 28 Jan 2025 | Jefferies | Upgrade | Buy | — |
| 14 Jan 2025 | UBS | Maintains | Buy | — |
Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.
Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. WTRG appears on the weeks it earns a place.
Both lines are total return — dividends reinvested — so the comparison is honest on both sides.
Over the twelve months to 14 Oct 2026, Essential Utilities, Inc. returned +3.4% against +17.5% for the S&P 500, dividends included.
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Data provided by Twelve Data
Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.
A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.
Cheaper than 37% of US stocks
Cheaper than 27% of US stocks
Cheaper than 51% of US stocks
Cheaper than 24% of US stocks
Higher than 35% of US stocks
Higher than 34% of US stocks
Higher than 76% of US stocks
Higher than 89% of US stocks
Higher than 84% of US stocks
Higher than 59% of US stocks
Higher than 65% of US stocks
Higher than 90% of US dividend payers
Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.
The headline figures, each with its date. Every row carries its own link — cite it straight from here.
Essential Utilities, Inc. has a market value of $11.3B and an enterprise value of $19.8B.
Revenue in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: $2.6B. The latest quarter grew 3.1% year on year.
Net income over the same four quarters: $554.9M, a 21.6% net margin.
Diluted earnings per share, trailing twelve months: $1.96.
Free cash flow in the twelve months to 30 June 2026: −$451.9M.
Essential Utilities, Inc. spent $3.0M on share buybacks and $387.3M on dividends in the twelve months to 30 June 2026.
Trailing P/E: 20.0×; forward P/E: 16.7× — the forward figure prices analyst consensus estimates, not reported earnings.
Forward dividend yield: 3.62%, paying out 70% of earnings.
Essential Utilities, Inc. employs 3,303 people — $778K of revenue per employee.
Data provided by Twelve Data
The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.
| Company | Market cap | TKN rank |
|---|---|---|
| WTRGEssential Utilities, Inc. | $11.3B | 31 |
| AWKAmerican Water Works Co., Inc. | $25.7B | 34 |
| AWRAmerican States Water Co. | $3.2B | 80 |
| CWTCalifornia Water Service Group | $2.7B | 42 |
| HTOH2O America | $2.3B | 21 |
| MSEXMiddlesex Water Co. | $983.6M | 27 |
| AESThe AES Corp.* | $10.7B | 66 |
* Nearest Utilities names by size — few utilities - regulated water companies of this scale trade in the US universe.
Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.
The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Essential Utilities, Inc. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →
Essential Utilities expects to report earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, after market close on November 3. The company plans to hold a webcast conference call for financial analysts on November 4 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
Why it matters — WTRG watchers can note the scheduled date for the quarterly results and the related analyst call and webcast.
Essential Utilities said its Aqua New Jersey subsidiary finalized the $113,000 purchase of Lake Tamarack Water Corporation’s water system assets in Sussex County. The system serves approximately 255 customers in Hardyston Township, and the NJ BPU approved the acquisition on September 9, 2026.
Why it matters — The acquisition adds a water system serving approximately 255 customers to Aqua New Jersey’s operations.
Essential Utilities was upgraded to Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about its earnings prospects.
Why it matters — WTRG watchers may note the upgrade as an indicator of improved optimism around the company’s earnings outlook.
American Water announced that Brad Nielsen will become president of Pennsylvania American Water upon closing its proposed merger with Essential Utilities.
Why it matters — The announcement concerns leadership at Pennsylvania American Water and is contingent on the proposed merger with WTRG.
Essential Utilities recognized Fire Prevention Week by thanking emergency responders and highlighting its support for local fire departments. The company and its subsidiaries Aqua Water and Peoples Natural Gas donated $94,500 to benefit 38 volunteer fire departments across its nine-state service area in 2026.
Why it matters — The announcement highlights Essential Utilities' community engagement and support for local organizations where it operates.
The 7 Wall Street analysts covering Essential Utilities, Inc. have a median 12-month price target of $41, with estimates ranging from $38 to $49. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.
Of the 7 analysts covering Essential Utilities, Inc., 2 rate it a Buy, 3 a Hold and 2 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Essential Utilities, Inc. 31 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 14 Oct 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.
As at 14 Oct 2026, Essential Utilities, Inc. ranks 31 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Volatility (89 of 100).
No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 7 analysts implies +2.9% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Essential Utilities, Inc. 31 out of 100 as at 14 Oct 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.
No analyst covering Essential Utilities, Inc. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for WTRG are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $38 to $49 over the next 12 months.
Essential Utilities, Inc. returned +3.4% over the 12 months to 14 Oct 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.
Essential Utilities Inc. is a regulated utility holding company that provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services through its subsidiaries.
The most recent item we track (Business Wire, 14 Oct 2026): "Essential Utilities to Report Financial Results for Q3 2026". Essential Utilities expects to report earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2026, after market close on November 3. The company plans to hold a webcast conference call for financial analysts on November 4 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.
Essential Utilities Inc. is a regulated utility holding company that provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services through its subsidiaries. The company serves residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers across multiple U.S. states under the Aqua and Peoples brands. Its operations are centered on essential infrastructure, including water treatment and distribution systems, wastewater collection and processing, and natural gas distribution networks. Essential Utilities also offers utility service line protection and repair services, along with selected non-regulated activities tied to gas marketing and production. Based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the company plays a significant role in supporting communities with reliable access to core utility services that are central to daily life and local economic activity.
CEO Mr. Christopher H. Franklin · 3,303 employees · United States · https://www.essential.co
