Q2 EPS Forecast for Essential Utilities Lifted by Analyst

Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) – Zacks Research raised their Q2 2026 EPS estimates for Essential Utilities in a report issued on Wednesday, May 27th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $0.38 for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $0.34. The consensus estimate for Essential Utilities’ current full-year earnings is $2.25 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Essential Utilities’ Q4 2026 earnings at $0.54 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $1.02 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.40 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.60 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $2.40 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $1.03 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $2.55 EPS.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.90 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $861.76 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $782.90 million. Essential Utilities had a return on equity of 8.34% and a net margin of 21.82%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.03 EPS.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group set a $41.00 price target on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Argus raised shares of Essential Utilities to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Essential Utilities currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $42.40.

Essential Utilities Stock Performance

NYSE:WTRG opened at $37.14 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The company has a market cap of $10.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.85 and a beta of 0.67. Essential Utilities has a fifty-two week low of $36.32 and a fifty-two week high of $42.37. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $39.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.03.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Utilities

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in WTRG. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Fideuram Asset Management Ireland dac purchased a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp raised its stake in shares of Essential Utilities by 1,163.8% in the 3rd quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp now owns 733 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares during the period. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.78% of the company’s stock.

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc, formerly known as Aqua America, is a publicly traded water and natural gas utility holding company. Through its regulated water and wastewater subsidiaries, the company provides essential water services to residential, commercial and industrial customers. In addition, Essential Utilities delivers natural gas distribution services in Pennsylvania through its Peoples Gas subsidiary, offering integrated utility solutions under a unified corporate framework.

The company traces its roots to the Philadelphia Suburban Water Company, founded in 1886 to serve growing communities outside Philadelphia.