Stock fact sheet · data as of
Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Utilities · Regulated Water · United States · Defensive
Is WTRG undervalued?
WTRG closed at 39.85 on 16 Oct 2026, more than 30% above the GLS average fair value of 22.89. Only 0 of the 6 models that produced a value sit above the price. By our models the shares are priced well beyond what the filed earnings, cash flow and book value support; the Sunday Scan drops names like this at the "below fair value" rule.
The 6 models disagree widely: Lynch gives 10.05 while Graham Growth gives 35.91. A spread that wide means the average is sensitive to which methods you trust; the model table below shows where each one lands, and the Quote page lets you switch any of them off.
The nightly engine files WTRG under Defensive: a low beta, a dividend and positive earnings.
Nine valuation models for WTRG
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | - | - | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital; no value tonight |
| Graham Number | 33.00 | -17% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 35.91 | -10% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 10.05 | -75% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 16.20 | -59% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | - | - | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10%; no value tonight |
| Payback Time | - | - | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself; no value tonight |
| DDM | 20.43 | -49% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 21.73 | -45% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | -43.81 | -210% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 44.50 | +12% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
On financial health WTRG scores 7/9 (Piotroski): most of the nine tests - positive earnings and cash flow, falling debt, rising margins and turnover - are passed, which is the kind of balance sheet a wheel trader is happy to be assigned. The GLS Moat score is 5.3 out of 10: a ten-year record that is consistent in some of the metrics the score tracks (revenue, earnings, margins, cash flow, returns on capital) and patchy in others.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC 4.1%, ROE 9.0%, ROA 3.1% - with debt at 1.22 times equity and negative free cash flow.
The dividend yield is 3.48% at a payout ratio of 70%; for a wheel trader holding assigned shares the dividend adds to the covered-call premium, and the ex-dividend date is worth knowing before a call is sold. Revenue comes mainly from Water 55%, Natural Gas 32%, Wastewater 12% (quarter Q2 FY2026).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 7 / 9 | ROIC | 4.1% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 5.3 / 10 | ROE | 9.0% |
| Debt / equity | 1.22 | ROA | 3.1% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | -4.3% | Payout ratio | 70% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 60: Fair
WTRG scores 60 out of 100 on the Wheel Score (Fair band, 50-64): a usable but unremarkable fit for the wheel strategy. The parts: Value 0/25, Health 16/20, Moat 8/15, Premium 17/20, Stability 20/20. Value (0/25) is where the points are missing.
Implied volatility is 32% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out: some premium, but under the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for (17 of 20 points). Chain open interest is 2,406 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 2.5M shares a day on a market cap of $11.3B, with a beta of 0.62 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 20 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 0 / 25 | -74% margin of safety | |
| Health | 16 / 20 | Piotroski 7/9 | |
| Moat | 8 / 15 | moat 5.3/10 | |
| Premium | 17 / 20 | implied volatility 32% | |
| Stability | 20 / 20 | 2.5M shares/day, $11.3B cap, beta 0.62 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 3 Nov 2026 (after the close), 18 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Regulated Water
The 12 companies below are the closest to Essential Utilities, Inc. by market cap within the Regulated Water industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBS Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP | 6.42 | 108.85 | +94% | 86Prime | $21.9B |
| AWK American Water Works Company, Inc. | 133.04 | 72.48 | -84% | 54Fair | $26.4B |
| AWR American States Water Company | 82.74 | 45.00 | -84% | 51Fair | $3.3B |
| CWT California Water Service Group | 46.05 | 24.67 | -87% | 53Fair | $2.8B |
| HTO H2O America | 57.30 | 39.94 | -43% | 54Fair | $2.4B |
| MSEX Middlesex Water Company | 53.91 | 28.46 | -89% | 47Weak | $1.0B |
| MSEXP Middlesex Water Company PFD 7% | 492.00 | 151.21 | -225% | 28No options | $822M |
| YORW The York Water Company | 31.07 | 16.60 | -87% | 49Weak | $504M |
| CWCO Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. | 28.76 | 37.63 | +24% | 69Good | $461M |
| ARTNB Artesian Resources Corporation | 34.01 | 26.54 | -28% | 25No options | $349M |
| ARTNA Artesian Resources Corporation | 33.16 | 26.17 | -27% | 26No options | $342M |
| CDZI Cadiz Inc. | 3.81 | - | - | 35Weak | $323M |
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about WTRG
Is WTRG undervalued right now?
No: at 39.85 the stock trades 74% above the GLS average fair value of 22.89 (data as of 16 Oct 2026), well beyond what trailing earnings, cash flow and book value support.
What is the Wheel Score of WTRG and what does it mean?
WTRG scores 60 out of 100 (Fair). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for WTRG?
22.89 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 6 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Essential Utilities, Inc. report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 3 Nov 2026 (after the close), 18 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does WTRG have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 90 listed contracts with 2,406 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 32% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.