Essential Utilities Inc. $WTRG Shares Sold by Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.

Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. decreased its stake in Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG - Free Report) by 26.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 33,005 shares of the company's stock after selling 11,892 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.'s holdings in Essential Utilities were worth $1,226,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. National Pension Service boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Utilities by 75.0% in the 1st quarter. National Pension Service now owns 950 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 407 shares in the last quarter. CX Institutional acquired a new position in shares of Essential Utilities in the 1st quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Utilities by 101.8% in the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 1,360 shares of the company's stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.78% of the company's stock.

Essential Utilities Stock Up 1.4%

WTRG stock opened at $40.64 on Wednesday. Essential Utilities Inc. has a one year low of $33.18 and a one year high of $41.65. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.40 billion, a PE ratio of 17.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.73. The company has a fifty day moving average of $38.60 and a 200-day moving average of $38.55.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG - Get Free Report) last released 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 company had revenue of $514.91 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $462.70 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.28 EPS. The business's revenue was up 18.5% on a year-over-year basis. Essential Utilities has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.070-2.110 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Essential Utilities Inc. will post 1.99 EPS for the current year.

Essential Utilities Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th were paid a $0.3426 dividend. This is a boost from Essential Utilities's previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 12th. This represents a $1.37 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Essential Utilities's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 58.80%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on WTRG shares. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Essential Utilities from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Essential Utilities from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Saturday, September 27th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Essential Utilities from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Barclays started coverage on shares of Essential Utilities in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $42.00 price target for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Essential Utilities has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $44.00.

Essential Utilities Profile

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.

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