Market Cap
$11.1B
WTRG
Essential Utilities, Inc.
$39.37 ▲ +1.81%
Prev close $38.67Market cap$11.1B
ConsensusBuy
12-mo target$42.20 (+7.2%)
▲ Bullish
Analyst conviction 6/10
High Impact Filing (7/10)35 New Institutional Positions15 Institutional Exits Traditional Energy
Snapshot
The big-picture read on WTRG right now — valuation, ownership and activity at a glance.
Cap Size
Large Cap
Analyst Consensus
Buy (62%)
Inst. Holders
50 funds
Inst. Value
$6.7B
Inst. Activity
35 buys / 15 sells
Insider Activity
$0.00 buy / $112.9K sell
Insider Net $
-$112.9K
SEC Reports
13
Price chart 30d -5.2%
Daily candles (open–high–low–close) with volume. Green = up day, red = down day.
No data for this timeframe.
Vol
Recent activity
The latest filings, insider trades, analyst actions, press and options flow — newest first.
Sep 9, 2026 SEC
Essential Utilities filed a Rule 425 communication updating employees on regulatory progress for its pending merger with
425 — Impact 5/10
Sep 7, 2026 dark_pool
Dark Pool: WTRG — 1.8M shares, 28,345 trades
Week starting 2026-09-07. Total ATS volume: 1,777,234 shares across 28,345 trades.
Aug 7, 2026 Insider
Aug 5, 2026 SEC Arnold Colleen sold 2,855 shares
President - Aqua @ $39.55 ($112.9K)
Essential Utilities reported Q2 2026 GAAP EPS of $0.37 and adjusted (non-GAAP) EPS of $0.38, slightly below the $0.39 co
8-K — Impact 4/10
Jun 30, 2026 Inst.
NORGES BANK — NEW
6,489,675 shares ($248.6M)
Jun 30, 2026 Inst.
Jun 24, 2026 SEC NORDEA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AB — TRIM
5,119,221 shares ($197.0M)
Essential Utilities received Virginia State Corporation Commission approval for its merger with American Water, marking
425 — Impact 5/10
Jun 23, 2026 Insider
Bruner Christopher L was granted 3,666 shares
Director @ $36.82 ($135.0K)
Analyst ratings buy % +17.0%
How Wall Street rates the stock today, and the latest firm-by-firm actions.
62% rate it Buy or better · 13 analysts
Recent analyst actions
| Date | Firm | Action | Rating | Firm rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2026 | UBS | MAINTAIN | Buy | 55% |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Barclays | MAINTAIN | Underweight | 54% |
| Jul 2, 2026 | UBS | MAINTAIN | Buy | 55% |
| May 29, 2026 | UBS | UPGRADE | Buy | 55% |
Monthly consensus history
| Period | Str. Buy | Buy | Hold | Sell | Str. Sell | Buy % | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62% | |
| Aug 1, 2026 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62% | |
| Jul 1, 2026 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62% | |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62% | |
| May 1, 2026 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 54% | |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 54% | |
| Mar 1, 2026 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 54% | |
| Feb 1, 2026 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 53% |
Price targets
Where 5 covering analysts think WTRG trades over the next 12 months.
$42.20 +7.2% upside Buy
Current$39.37 Low$38.00 Median$41.00 High$49.00 5 analysts
$38.00$49.00
Analyst rating Hold· 2.7/5 as of Oct 2, 2026
Reports & filings
AI-scored summaries of recent SEC filings and press releases, with sentiment and impact.
13 SEC filing reports analyzed · 4 bullish, 1 bearish, 0 mixed, 8 neutral · avg impact 4.5/10.
BULLISH4255/10
Essential Utilities filed a Rule 425 communication updating employees on regulatory progress for its
Sep 9, 2026
NEUTRAL8-K4/10
Essential Utilities reported Q2 2026 GAAP EPS of $0.37 and adjusted (non-GAAP) EPS of $0.38, slightl
Aug 5, 2026
BULLISH4255/10
Essential Utilities received Virginia State Corporation Commission approval for its merger with Amer
Jun 24, 2026
NEUTRAL4253/10
Essential Utilities filed a Rule 425 communication republishing LinkedIn posts by CEO Chris Franklin
May 29, 2026
Upcoming & catalyst events
Scheduled dates plus disclosed catalysts — earnings, dividends, enforcement, FDA and clinical-trial events. Colored dot = impact.
Sep 7, 2026
dark_pool
Dark Pool: WTRG — 1.8M shares, 28,345 trades
Week starting 2026-09-07. Total ATS volume: 1,777,234 shares across 28,345 trades.
Sep 3, 2026
short_volume
Short Volume: WTRG — 57.1% short (0.5M / 0.9M)
Short: 504,026 | Exempt: 3,003 | TRF Vol: 882,439 | Short Ratio: 57.1% | Off-exchange volume (dark pool + OTC)
Sep 1, 2026
short_volume
Short Volume: WTRG — 55.7% short (0.4M / 0.6M)
Short: 360,648 | Exempt: 653 | TRF Vol: 647,040 | Short Ratio: 55.7% | Off-exchange volume (dark pool + OTC)
Aug 31, 2026
short_interest_report
Short Interest: WTRG up 39% to 7.2M shares
Settlement 2026-08-31 | Days to cover: 3.54 | ≈2.55% of shares outstanding (est.)
Aug 31, 2026
dark_pool
Dark Pool: WTRG — 2.1M shares, 32,999 trades
Week starting 2026-08-31. Total ATS volume: 2,074,059 shares across 32,999 trades.
Earnings estimates
Forecast earnings per share and revenue by period — and whether estimates are rising.
| Period | EPS Est. | Range | Growth | 30d Rev | Up/Dn | Revenue | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Q | $0.34 | $0.34–$0.34 | 3.2% | +0.0% | 1↑ 0↓ | $0.0B | 1 |
| Next Q | $0.69 | $0.69–$0.69 | 46.5% | -1.7% | 0↑ 1↓ | $0.0B | 1 |
| Current FY | $2.22 | $2.12–$2.28 | 0.8% | +0.0% | 2↑ 1↓ | $2.5B | 5 |
| Next FY | $2.38 | $2.26–$2.51 | 7.3% | -0.0% | 1↑ 2↓ | $2.7B | 7 |
Current-quarter EPS estimate — revision history
| When | EPS estimate | Change vs now |
|---|---|---|
| Current | $0.341 | — |
| 7d ago | $0.341 | — |
| 30d ago | $0.340 | +0.000 |
| 60d ago | $0.349 | -0.008 |
| 90d ago | $0.347 | -0.007 |
Institutional ownership
Which big funds own WTRG (from quarterly 13F filings) and who is adding or trimming.
50 institutional holders with $6.7B total value (175,256,070 shares) as of 2026-Q2. Top holders: BlackRock,, VANGUARD, STATE. Net buying activity: 35 institutions added/increased vs 15 reduced.
Top holders — 2026-Q2
| Fund | Shares | Value | % Tracked | Last move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlackRock, Inc. | 33,433,285 | $1.3B | 19.1% | — |
| VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC | 16,340,786 | $626.0M | 9.3% | — |
| STATE STREET CORP | 13,119,170 | $502.6M | 7.5% | — |
| VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC | 12,782,196 | $489.7M | 7.3% | — |
| NORGES BANK | 6,489,675 | $248.6M | 3.7% | NEW |
| GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC | 5,279,933 | $202.3M | 3.0% | — |
| NORDEA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AB | 5,119,221 | $197.0M | 2.9% | TRIM -31.6% |
| Amundi | 4,333,385 | $166.0M | 2.5% | — |
| MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC | 4,153,002 | $159.1M | 2.4% | — |
| Legal & General Group Plc | 3,504,219 | $134.2M | 2.0% | — |
Recent position changes
| Fund | Action | Prev | Current | Change | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORGES BANK | NEW | — | 6,489,675 | — | $248.6M |
| NORDEA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AB | TRIM | 7,486,456 | 5,119,221 | -31.6% | $197.0M |
| JPMORGAN CHASE & CO | ADD | 2,191,979 | 2,753,727 | +25.6% | $106.3M |
| Pictet Asset Management Holding SA | TRIM | 3,605,451 | 2,524,042 | -30.0% | $96.7M |
| ARROWSTREET CAPITAL, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP | ADD | 1,282,008 | 2,086,569 | +62.8% | $79.9M |
| Qube Research & Technologies Ltd | TRIM | 3,278,684 | 1,774,130 | -45.9% | $68.0M |
| LMR Partners LLP | DOUBLED | 541,120 | 1,628,583 | +201.0% | $62.4M |
| UBS Group AG | ADD | 1,076,752 | 1,525,066 | +41.6% | $58.4M |
| CITIGROUP INC | ADD | 879,718 | 1,503,622 | +70.9% | $57.6M |
| Gotham Asset Management, LLC | ADD | 913,537 | 1,443,959 | +58.1% | $55.3M |
Insider activity
Buying and selling by company executives and directors (SEC Form 4).
12 insiders, 35 transactions. Net -$112.9K — $0.00 bought, $112.9K sold.
| Date | Insider | Title | Type | Shares | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2026 | Arnold Colleen | President - Aqua | SELL | 2,855 | $39.55 | $112.9K |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Bruner Christopher L | Director | AWARD | 3,666 | $36.82 | $135.0K |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Linde Tamara Louise | Director | AWARD | 3,666 | $36.82 | $135.0K |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Ciesinski David Alan | Director | AWARD | 3,666 | $36.82 | $135.0K |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Lewis Wilbert Bryan | Director | AWARD | 3,666 | $36.82 | $135.0K |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Amato Elizabeth B | Director | AWARD | 3,666 | $36.82 | $135.0K |
| Jun 23, 2026 | Hilferty Daniel J III | Director | AWARD | 3,666 | $36.82 | $135.0K |
| Feb 22, 2026 | SCHULLER DANIEL | Executive Vice President | AWARD | 6,682 | — | — |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Huwar Michael | President - Peoples | TAX W/H | 1,939 | $38.78 | $75.2K |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Franklin Chris | Chief Executive Officer | AWARD | 25,332 | — | — |
Short interest & halts
FINRA semi-monthly short positions, Reg SHO threshold status, and recent trading halts for WTRG.
Shares short
7,543,042
Settlement Sep 15, 2026
Change vs prior
+4.4%
Semi-monthly cycle
Days to cover
2.8
At avg daily volume
Of shares outstanding
≈2.7%
Estimate — not % of float
All WTRG filing & press-release reports (13)
- 425 reportSep 9, 2026
- 8-K reportAug 5, 2026
- 425 reportJun 24, 2026
- 425 reportMay 29, 2026
- 425 reportMay 29, 2026
- 425 reportMay 15, 2026
- S-3ASR reportMay 8, 2026
- 8-K reportMay 7, 2026
- 425 reportApr 24, 2026
- 425 reportApr 10, 2026
- 425 reportMar 27, 2026
- DEFA14A reportMar 17, 2026
- 8-K reportFeb 26, 2026