Essential Utilities Inc (NYSE: WTRG) is -1.98% lower on its value in year-to-date trading and has touched a low of $33.57 and a high of $41.78 in the current 52-week trading range. The question becomes, what are the chances the stock will make a comeback and enjoy potential growth. Why not look at analysts view on what the future holds for the stock. The WTRG stock was last observed hovering at around $36.40 in the last trading session, with the day’s gains setting it 0.21%.
Currently trading at $36.61, the stock is -4.45% and -6.03% below its SMA20 and SMA50 respectively. However, with a daily trading volume of 0.76 million and changing 0.58% at the moment leaves the stock -4.45% off its SMA200. WTRG registered -2.16% loss for a year compared to 6-month gain of -2.09%. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average (SMA 50) of $39.033 and a 200-day simple moving average (SMA200) of $38.3111.
The stock witnessed a -8.73% loss in the last 1 month and extending the period to 3 months gives it a -3.94%, and is 1.02% up over the last 5 days. If we measure the stock’s price variations over the week and the month, we find that the volatility rates stand at 1.59% over the week and 1.74% over the month.
Essential Utilities Inc (WTRG) has around 3258 employees, a market worth around $10.05B and $1.96B in sales. Current P/E ratio is 18.36 and Fwd P/E is 17.31. Profit margin for the company is 27.84%. Distance from 52-week low is 9.06% and -12.37% from its 52-week high. The company has generated returns on investments over the last 12 months (4.06%).
The EPS is expected to grow by 5.31% this year
902.0 institutions hold shares in Essential Utilities Inc (WTRG), with institutional investors hold 81.86% of the company’s shares. The shares outstanding are 274.61M, and float is at 274.02M with Short Float at 1.98%. Institutions hold 81.70% of the Float.
The top institutional shareholder in the company is BLACKROCK INC. with over 30.83 million shares valued at $1.15 billion. The investor’s holdings represent 11.2767 of the WTRG Shares outstanding. As of 2024-06-30, the second largest holder is VANGUARD GROUP INC with 27.82 million shares valued at $1.04 billion to account for 10.177 of the shares outstanding. The other top investors are CANADA PENSION PLAN INVESTMENT BOARD which holds 21.66 million shares representing 7.9235 and valued at over $808.61 million, while T. ROWE PRICE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC. holds 5.2474 of the shares totaling 14.35 million with a market value of $535.51 million.
Essential Utilities Inc (WTRG) Insider Activity
The most recent transaction is an insider sale by RUBIN ROBERT A, the company’s Chief Accounting Officer. SEC filings show that RUBIN ROBERT A sold 2,342 shares of the company’s common stock on Jul 01 ’24 at a price of $37.43 per share for a total of $87661.0. Following the sale, the insider now owns 53391.0 shares.
Essential Utilities Inc disclosed in a document filed with the SEC on May 01 ’24 that RUBIN ROBERT A (Chief Accounting Officer) sold a total of 2,023 shares of the company’s common stock. The trade occurred on May 01 ’24 and was made at $36.56 per share for $73961.0. Following the transaction, the insider now directly holds 13358.0 shares of the WTRG stock.
Still, SEC filings show that on Apr 01 ’24, RUBIN ROBERT A (Chief Accounting Officer) disposed off 5,565 shares at an average price of $37.21 for $0.21 million. The insider now directly holds 57,756 shares of Essential Utilities Inc (WTRG).
