Essential Utilities Competitors

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) and American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) are both large-cap utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, profitability, risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Essential Utilities and American Water Works' revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

American Water Works has higher revenue and earnings than Essential Utilities. Essential Utilities is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than American Water Works, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

65.7% of Essential Utilities shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.3% of American Water Works shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.2% of Essential Utilities shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.3% of American Water Works shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Volatility and Risk

Essential Utilities has a beta of 0.47, indicating that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, American Water Works has a beta of 0.18, indicating that its stock price is 82% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Essential Utilities and American Water Works' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Essential Utilities and American Water Works, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Essential Utilities presently has a consensus price target of $49.50, indicating a potential upside of 6.73%. American Water Works has a consensus price target of $160.00, indicating a potential upside of 4.69%. Given Essential Utilities' stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Essential Utilities is more favorable than American Water Works.

Dividends

Essential Utilities pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. American Water Works pays an annual dividend of $2.41 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Essential Utilities pays out 68.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. American Water Works pays out 66.8% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Essential Utilities has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and American Water Works has increased its dividend for 7 consecutive years.

Summary

American Water Works beats Essential Utilities on 10 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP (NYSE:SBS) and Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and profitability.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

10.2% of Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 65.7% of Essential Utilities shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.0% of Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Essential Utilities shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP and Essential Utilities, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Essential Utilities has a consensus target price of $49.50, suggesting a potential upside of 6.73%. Given Essential Utilities' higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Essential Utilities is more favorable than Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP.

Dividends

Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP pays an annual dividend of $0.05 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Essential Utilities pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Essential Utilities pays out 68.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Essential Utilities has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Essential Utilities is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Volatility and Risk

Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP has a beta of 0.93, suggesting that its share price is 7% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Essential Utilities has a beta of 0.47, suggesting that its share price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP and Essential Utilities' gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP has higher revenue and earnings than Essential Utilities.

Profitability

This table compares Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP and Essential Utilities' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

American States Water (NYSE:AWR) and Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and risk.

Profitability

This table compares American States Water and Essential Utilities' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

69.4% of American States Water shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 65.7% of Essential Utilities shares are held by institutional investors. 1.0% of American States Water shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Essential Utilities shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

American States Water pays an annual dividend of $1.34 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. Essential Utilities pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. American States Water pays out 62.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Essential Utilities pays out 68.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. American States Water has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years and Essential Utilities has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares American States Water and Essential Utilities' top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Essential Utilities has higher revenue and earnings than American States Water. Essential Utilities is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than American States Water, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

American States Water has a beta of -0.07, suggesting that its stock price is 107% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Essential Utilities has a beta of 0.47, suggesting that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for American States Water and Essential Utilities, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

American States Water presently has a consensus price target of $80.3333, suggesting a potential upside of 2.37%. Essential Utilities has a consensus price target of $49.50, suggesting a potential upside of 6.73%. Given Essential Utilities' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Essential Utilities is more favorable than American States Water.

Summary

Essential Utilities beats American States Water on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) and California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) are both utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Essential Utilities and California Water Service Group's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

65.7% of Essential Utilities shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 73.2% of California Water Service Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Essential Utilities shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of California Water Service Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Essential Utilities pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. California Water Service Group pays an annual dividend of $0.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Essential Utilities pays out 68.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. California Water Service Group pays out 70.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Essential Utilities has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and California Water Service Group has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. Essential Utilities is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Essential Utilities and California Water Service Group's top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Essential Utilities has higher revenue and earnings than California Water Service Group. Essential Utilities is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than California Water Service Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility and Risk

Essential Utilities has a beta of 0.47, suggesting that its share price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, California Water Service Group has a beta of 0.08, suggesting that its share price is 92% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Essential Utilities and California Water Service Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Essential Utilities currently has a consensus price target of $49.50, suggesting a potential upside of 6.73%. California Water Service Group has a consensus price target of $54.00, suggesting a potential downside of 4.66%. Given Essential Utilities' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Essential Utilities is more favorable than California Water Service Group.

Summary

Essential Utilities beats California Water Service Group on 14 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) and SJW Group (NYSE:SJW) are both utilities companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation and institutional ownership.

Profitability

This table compares Essential Utilities and SJW Group's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

65.7% of Essential Utilities shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 69.2% of SJW Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.2% of Essential Utilities shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 8.3% of SJW Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Essential Utilities pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. SJW Group pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Essential Utilities pays out 68.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. SJW Group pays out 76.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Essential Utilities has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and SJW Group has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Essential Utilities and SJW Group's top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Essential Utilities has higher revenue and earnings than SJW Group. Essential Utilities is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than SJW Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility and Risk

Essential Utilities has a beta of 0.47, suggesting that its share price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, SJW Group has a beta of 0.31, suggesting that its share price is 69% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Essential Utilities and SJW Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Essential Utilities currently has a consensus price target of $49.50, suggesting a potential upside of 6.73%. SJW Group has a consensus price target of $76.00, suggesting a potential upside of 20.77%. Given SJW Group's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe SJW Group is more favorable than Essential Utilities.

Summary

Essential Utilities beats SJW Group on 11 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks.

Middlesex Water (NASDAQ:MSEX) and Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Dividends

Middlesex Water pays an annual dividend of $1.09 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.4%. Essential Utilities pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.2%. Middlesex Water pays out 54.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Essential Utilities pays out 68.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Middlesex Water has raised its dividend for 26 consecutive years and Essential Utilities has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Middlesex Water and Essential Utilities, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Middlesex Water presently has a consensus price target of $73.00, suggesting a potential downside of 8.44%. Essential Utilities has a consensus price target of $49.50, suggesting a potential upside of 6.73%. Given Essential Utilities' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Essential Utilities is more favorable than Middlesex Water.

Profitability

This table compares Middlesex Water and Essential Utilities' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

59.2% of Middlesex Water shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 65.7% of Essential Utilities shares are owned by institutional investors. 3.1% of Middlesex Water shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Essential Utilities shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Middlesex Water has a beta of 0.24, indicating that its stock price is 76% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Essential Utilities has a beta of 0.47, indicating that its stock price is 53% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Middlesex Water and Essential Utilities' top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Essential Utilities has higher revenue and earnings than Middlesex Water. Essential Utilities is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Middlesex Water, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Essential Utilities beats Middlesex Water on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.