Provide regulated water services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Offer wastewater treatment and collection services. Now — the numbers.
The biggest line carries real weight, but it doesn’t decide everything on its own.
This is an established company with proven profits.
The gap is $8.3B. In times of high interest rates, a gap like that can squeeze a company.
The market pays 18.9× for every dollar of annual profit — around what a business like this usually costs.
Against companies in its own sector, it looks cheaper than 34% of them.
Analysts' average target sits 8% above today's price.
We compared this company with its own sector across five subjects.
A score of 50 means class average.
Clearly above the class average — a step short of the very top.
A solid grade overall — yet the debt outweighs the cash. The strength here comes from earnings power.
Clearly below the class average.
This grade is a blend: the profit side is strong, the sales tempo slow.
The stock has been running stronger than the market lately.
Valuation: The stock trades at a price that looks expensive next to its earnings; that can cap future returns.
The stock trades 24% below its peak. The market has trimmed its expectations for the company.
The net profit margin is 25% — still a thick cushion, though costs have been eating into it lately.
It met or beat analyst expectations in 7 of the last 8 quarters — consistency is a promise kept.
Over the last 12 months, company executives reported 32 buys and 17 sells. Management buying with its own money is usually read as a good sign.
Today’s price already includes part of tomorrow’s optimism. Report-card grade: 34/100.
On our five-subject report card, WTRG sits near the top of the class. A high grade doesn’t mean “guaranteed win” — it means “the evidence looks strong for now.”
The takeaway: WTRG is an established business that has proven its profits for years. The real debate isn’t the quality of the business — it’s whether the price paid for the stock is too high.