Essential Utilities is a Pennsylvania-based holding company for US water, wastewater, and natural gas distribution utilities. 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.
The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in Essential Utilities, Inc., comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends.
Returns By Period
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) has returned 7.43% so far this year and 6.73% over the past 12 months. Looking at the last ten years, WTRG has achieved an annualized return of -2.33%, underperforming the Benchmark (SPY), which averaged 12.23% per year.
WTRG
1M5.09%
6M4.03%
YTD7.43%
1Y6.73%
5Y-1.98%
10Y-2.33%
Benchmark (SPY)
1M-2.61%
6M-2.35%
YTD-4.36%
1Y34.06%
5Y9.80%
10Y12.23%
Monthly Returns
The table below presents the monthly returns of Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) with color gradation from worst to best to easily spot seasonal factors.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2026
1.44%
2.78%
1.03%
2.70%
2025
-2.79%
8.17%
4.63%
4.26%
-5.86%
-2.75%
-0.70%
4.41%
1.53%
-2.67%
2.33%
-2.96%
2024
-3.26%
-3.34%
7.08%
-1.69%
3.20%
-1.40%
8.60%
-4.69%
-0.52%
3.17%
-9.31%
2023
-2.91%
-8.45%
3.07%
-1.64%
-4.39%
-1.84%
5.99%
-12.85%
-7.72%
-1.82%
6.17%
5.06%
2022
-9.17%
-3.68%
8.69%
-12.32%
2.71%
-1.33%
12.38%
-4.80%
-15.76%
4.89%
8.75%
-2.05%
2021
-2.18%
-10.01%
3.95%
4.85%
1.49%
-4.81%
7.41%
0.59%
-7.53%
1.71%
2.74%
12.56%
2020
-17.29%
-5.79%
7.26%
5.37%
-3.67%
7.36%
-6.22%
-5.74%
2.46%
8.43%
3.16%
Performance Indicators
The charts below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) and compare them to a Benchmark (SPY). These indicators evaluate an investment's returns against its associated risks.
Sharpe ratio
Sortino ratio
Omega ratio
Calmar ratio
Martin ratio
sharpe ratio
The Sharpe ratio helps investors understand how much return they're getting for the level of risk taken. A higher Sharpe ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance, meaning more reward for each unit of risk.
These values reflect how efficiently the investment has delivered returns relative to its volatility over different time periods. All figures are annualized and based on daily total returns.
The chart below shows the rolling Sharpe ratio of WTRG compared to the benchmark. This view highlights how the investment's risk-adjusted performance has changed over time.
Volatility Chart
The current Essential Utilities, Inc. volatility is 1.62%, representing the standart deviation of percentage change in the investments's value, either up or down over the past month. The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. It shows the maximum percentage drop from a peak to a trough over a specified period, indicating the risk of significant losses. Although chart shows positive values, it represents the percentage drop from the peak, so a value of 10% means the portfolio has dropped 10% from its highest point.
Income Statement
The income statement provides a summary of a company's revenues, expenses, and profits over a specific period. It shows how much money the company earned (revenues) and how much it spent (expenses), leading to the net income or profit. This statement is crucial for understanding a company's financial performance and profitability.
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Liabilities And Equity (USD)
19.46B
18.03B
16.84B
15.72B
14.66B
13.71B
Equity Attributable To Parent (USD)
6.86B
6.20B
5.90B
5.38B
5.18B
4.68B
Equity Attributable To Noncontrolling Interest (USD)
American Water Works reported 2025 adjusted EPS of $5.64, up 8.9% year-over-year, near the upper end of guidance. The company affirmed 2026 EPS guidance of $6.02-$6.12 (8% growth) and maintained its 7-9% long-term growth target. AWK deployed $3.2 billion in capital investments and has 104,000 customer connections under agreement. The company is progressing toward closing its merger with Essential Utilities by end of Q1 2027, with regulatory approvals underway for the Nexus Water Group acquisition expected to close by August 2026.
The Motley Fool•Motley Fool Transcribing
AI Insight
Definitive merger agreement with American Water Works reached shareholder approval on February 10, 2026, with closure targeted by end of Q1 2027. The merger is expected to create a leading water and wastewater utility company with combined benefits for customers and shareholders.
The article identifies three stocks trading near 52-week lows that appear oversold: Automatic Data Processing (a dividend aristocrat in payroll processing), American Water Works (a utility facing merger uncertainty), and PayPal (a fintech company with new leadership). Each stock is presented as a potential buying opportunity with catalysts for recovery, despite recent market pessimism.
The Motley Fool•Thomas Niel
AI Insight
Mentioned as merger partner with American Water Works. No independent analysis provided; sentiment tied to merger outcome.
Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating four companies for potential violations of federal securities laws and breaches of fiduciary duties related to proposed mergers and acquisitions. The investigations involve American Water Works' merger with Essential Utilities, Semrush's sale to Adobe, and Middlefield Banc's sale to Farmers National Banc. The firm is seeking increased consideration for shareholders and additional disclosures.
GlobeNewswire Inc.•Halper Sadeh Llc
AI Insight
Under investigation for potential securities law violations related to its sale to American Water Works, indicating possible concerns about deal fairness or shareholder disclosure.
American Water Works, the largest public water utility in the US, has delivered an impressive 11.6% average annualized return over 15 years. The company plans to merge with Essential Utilities, expanding its customer base and infrastructure while maintaining steady growth targets of 7-9% for earnings and dividends.
The Motley Fool•William Dahl
AI Insight
Mentioned as merger partner, bringing additional infrastructure and customer connections to American Water Works
Law firm Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating potential securities law violations and fiduciary duty breaches for several companies involving mergers and acquisitions.
GlobeNewswire Inc.•Halper Sadeh Llc
AI Insight
Potential sale to American Water Works Company with stock exchange ratio, under investigation for possible legal issues
Law firm Halper Sadeh LLC is investigating potential securities law violations and fiduciary duty breaches for several companies involving mergers and acquisitions.
GlobeNewswire Inc.•Halper Sadeh Llc
AI Insight
Mentioned in merger context, no specific negative or positive indicators
American Water Works and Essential Utilities have agreed to an all-stock, tax-free merger creating a $40 billion water and wastewater utility serving 4.7 million connections across 17 states, with the deal expected to close by Q1 2027.
Benzinga•Akanksha Bakshi
AI Insight
Receiving 10% premium in stock swap, gaining enhanced scale and operational efficiency
The article highlights three dividend stocks with strong analyst ratings: Essential Utilities, Globe Life, and NetEase, each offering unique dividend characteristics and potential for steady income.
Investing.com•Nathan Reiff
AI Insight
Strong earnings performance, 35% YOY EPS increase, 5.25% dividend increase, competitive 3.50% dividend yield, and sustainable 58.8% payout ratio
Visa, Kenvue, and Essential Utilities are three dividend stocks that can perform well even if economic conditions worsen. Visa's resilient business model, Kenvue's value opportunity in its skin health segment, and Essential Utilities' regulated water and wastewater services make them attractive options for recession-wary investors.
The Motley Fool•The Motley Fool
AI Insight
Essential Utilities' regulated water and wastewater services, steady dividend growth, and reliable cash flows make it a suitable investment for recession-wary investors.
The article discusses three stocks that are relatively insulated from the impact of President Trump's trade war: Netflix, Walmart, and Essential Utilities. It suggests these companies are less vulnerable to tariffs due to their business models and the essential nature of their products.
The Motley Fool•The Motley Fool
AI Insight
As a water and natural gas utility, Essential Utilities provides essential services that people cannot go without, even in tough economic times. This makes the company relatively insulated from the impacts of tariffs.
