GAMMA Investing LLC Has $176,000 Stake in Essential Utilities Inc. $WTRG

GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) by 41.6% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,747 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,395 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC’s holdings in Essential Utilities were worth $176,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities during the first quarter worth $31,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities during the first quarter worth $33,000. American National Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities during the first quarter worth $35,000. National Pension Service increased its position in shares of Essential Utilities by 75.0% during the first quarter. National Pension Service now owns 950 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 407 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CX Institutional bought a new stake in shares of Essential Utilities during the first quarter worth $42,000. 74.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Essential Utilities from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 25th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Essential Utilities from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, August 31st. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 15th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Essential Utilities from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $44.40.

Essential Utilities Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of Essential Utilities stock opened at $39.11 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.97 billion, a PE ratio of 16.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $38.33 and its 200 day moving average is $38.53. Essential Utilities Inc. has a 1 year low of $33.18 and a 1 year high of $41.65.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.09. Essential Utilities had a net margin of 27.62% and a return on equity of 10.10%. The business had revenue of $514.91 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $462.70 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.28 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 18.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Essential Utilities has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.070-2.110 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Essential Utilities Inc. will post 1.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Utilities Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th were paid a $0.3426 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 12th. This represents a $1.37 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. This is an increase from Essential Utilities’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Essential Utilities’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 58.80%.

About Essential Utilities

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.