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Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG)

NYSE - Nasdaq Real-time price. Currency in USD
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51.06+0.33 (+0.66%)
As of 01:32PM EDT. Market open.

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  • D
    Dennie
    Just announced an INcrease in dividends of 7% for September 1 payment Reinvest with 5% discount, doesn't get better than that!!
  • D
    Dennie
    Tomorrow is dividend day, reinvesting with 5% discount, next quarter, it's almost qarunteed to be another increase in dividends!!!
  • D
    DanG
    I have been investing in aqua America since 2003. Back then it was the Philadelphia suburban water company. I have an invested each month, starting with $25 a month worked my way up now $150. I use the drip. Take advantage of the 5% discount on reinvestments. I have invested $30,000 since 2003 and my the value of my stock is $110,000 now so for $30,000 I've gained $80,000. Just stick with it
    , slow and steady wins the race. It is a very well-run company and has been for the 17 years I've been in it.
  • M
    Mo
    Water has no business going down due to corona virus, I'm buying in slowly. The market is such a drama queen
  • J
    Jerry Garcia
    oldman Sachs Names 2 'Relatively Defensive' Water Utility Plays

    11:00am ET 4/16/2020 Benzinga

    Mentioned in article

    AWKWTRG

    Water utility stocks are trading at a premium valuation to electric and gas utilities, which seems justified given their longer depreciable life and visibility into above-average growth due to significant water pipe investment needs, according to Goldman Sachs.

    The American Water Works, Essential Utilities Analyst

    Insoo Kim said in a Wednesday note that water utilities have abundant growth opportunities in a fragmented market and their premium valuation appears sustainable, with continued environmental, social and governance momentum.

    American Water Works: Best-In-Class Growth

    Kim upgraded American Water Works Company Inc (NYSE: AWK) from Neutral to Buy and raised the price target from $134 to $146.

    The company has been generating best-in-class earnings growth of 8.3% and should continue to deliver above-average growth in the long term due to organic investments and municipal system acquisitions, the analyst said. 

    American Water Works is the only large-cap, pure-play water utility and has an ESG-friendly status, he said.

    Tthe company has a stable balance sheet, which should continue to improve through 2022, according to Goldman Sachs. 

    Essential Utilities: A Water-Gas Mix

    The Goldman Sachs analyst initiated coverage of Essential Utilities Inc (NYSE: WTRG) with a Neutral rating and $45 price target. 

    The company, which was formed by the merger of Aqua America and Peoples Gas, is likely to generate robust 6.6% earnings growth annually from 2019 to 2022, Kim said.

    The stock valuation already reflects these positives, the analyst said. 

    Both American Water Works and Essential Utilities 'remain relatively defensive in the current COVID-19 environment,' he said. 

    AWK, WTRG Price Action

    American Water Works shares were trading 1.99% higher at $131.78 at the time of publication Thursday, while Essential Utilities shares were up 1.67% at $42.70. 

    Related Links:

    A Peek Into The Markets: US Stock Futures Gain Ahead Of Morgan Stanley Earnings

    Stocks That Hit 52-Week Lows On Monday

    Latest Ratings for AWK DateFirmActionFromTo

    Apr 2020Goldman SachsUpgradesNeutralBuy Mar 2020UBSMaintainsNeutral Feb 2020BairdMaintainsOutperform

    View More Analyst Ratings for AWK View the Latest Analyst Ratings

    © 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
  • C
    Corey
    I'm seeing a lot of people saying "should have stuck with water". My understanding is they are still focused on water? Just expanded their horizons into natural gas. What am I missing here?
  • l
    leejh2089
    Please help me. I have WTR, Not WTRG. But it seems that they are the same company, but, the stock exist seperately. Big problem is that I can not do anything with WTR, I touch the list, the program does not respond at all. And, the stock price is stopped as of January 31st. What's wrong!?
  • J
    Jonathan
    So I've seen several posts on here about how we are entering a water supply crisis, which i wholeheartedly agree with. However, is WTRG really the right company to make money off of that? In order for them to profit, they'd have to own water rights. As far as I know, they only own distribution and treatment systems. I suppose treatment systems will be in high demand as well but does anyone know if they hold water rights as well?

    Also, most countries are finally waking up to the fact that their infrastructure that was installed after WW2 is going to have to be replaced in the next decade. It might be worthwhile investing in some pipe manufacturers as well. As someone who works in the Civil Engineering field, I can tell you that small town USA is going to be experiencing a reckoning of infrastructure problems very soon.
  • D
    Dennie
    Just announced a 7% increase of dividend. New dividend will be $.2507 per quarter, payable next month, with 5% discount for reinvested dividends! Gee, I love this company!!!
  • M
    Michael
    I've invested in WTRG since it was PSC through the DRIP plan. I dont care for the gas portion of the bussiness, and after a few years under the new CEO, not sure I want to stay long with them. Any long time investors thoughts on this? I love AQUA, and in SE PA the customer base is still growing with each new ugly monstrous apartment building they construct. Nevertheless I feel like WTRG is stuck.
  • D
    Dennie
    Dividend pay out this week, REINVEST with 5% discount!!!
  • D
    Daniel
    What's with all the TV Ads? I live in SE Penna. For the last couple of weeks the CEO if Essential has done tons of TV advertisements on multiple channels about Aqua and Peoples gas. Peoples doesn't service this area. It looks like he running for office. Must be costing (wasting) millions of dollars for a utility that already has the customer base to do this. Anybody know what is going on?
  • C
    Corey
    Mark you are complaining about getting the old CEO back while this stock performs better than it has ever revenue wise? 2007 revenue of $602M and has grown every single year since up to $890 in 2019.
  • M
    Mark
    One advantage of DRIP plan buying lower than market price and it helps keep you i the game. Congrats!
  • J
    James
    Not in love with this deal. I liked owning a water company. Now I own an energy company tied to wild swings in nat gas prices with a lot of debt.
  • D
    Dennie
    When will they announce the increase and/or split this month???
  • D
    Dennie
    More acquisitions coming this year. Stated Peoples has will close by years end.
  • D
    Dennie
    Increase coming, from $.2507 to $.2682, great news
  • M
    Mark
    still think this is undervalued
  • B
    Big Stoop
    This stock has been dropping like a rock lately. Any ideas why out there ?