Essential Utilities, Inc.
WTRG34 yrs growthUtilities · Stock · quarterly payer
Forward Yield
3.46%
Annual Dividend
$1.44
Payout Ratio
70%
5-Yr Growth
6.6%
Ex-Date
Aug 11, 2026
Frequency
Quarterly
Summary
As of September 2026, Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) yields 3.46% ($1.44 per share annually), with a blended fair-value estimate of $35.65 — -14% downside, so it screens as fairly valued. Dividend safety grade: A (88/100). 34 years of dividend growth.
Is WTRG a good dividend stock?
YesEssential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.46% ($1.44/yr), with 34 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.
Advantages
- Dividend Aristocrat — 34 consecutive years of growth
- Never cut its dividend on record
- Strong 6.6% 5-yr dividend growth
- Top-tier dividend safety score
Risks
- Share price is down over the past 5 years
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 3.46%
- Payout Ratio
- 70%
- Annual Dividend
- $1.44
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- 6.6%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Aug 11, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 34
- Frequency
- quarterly
- Beta
- 0.63
- Market Cap
- $11.8B
- P/E Ratio
- 21.4
- 5-Yr Total Return
- -10%
- 52-Week Range
- $36.11 – $42.37
- Dividend Safety
- A · 88/100
- Ever Cut?
- No
Frequently Asked Questions
WTRG Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
+5%
3 Years
+21%
5 Years
-10%
52-Week Range
$36.11 – $42.37
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is WTRG worth?
Fairly valuedmedium confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for Essential Utilities, Inc. is $35.65 per share, versus a market price of $41.70. That implies the stock is roughly fairly priced.
Fair Value
$35.65
Current Price
$41.70
Gap
-14%
Margin of Safety
-17%
How we get there
Dividend discount
Discounts the future dividend stream back to today.
Earnings multiple (Graham)
Graham's earnings-multiple formula, anchored to bond yields.
Assumptions: 7.5% discount rate (CAPM), 6.0% stage-1 growth, 2.5% terminal growth, $1.95 EPS, $1.44 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
WTRG Dividend Safety Score
Very Safe
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2026 | — | $0.3610 | regular |
| May 12, 2026 | — | $0.3430 | regular |
| Feb 9, 2026 | — | $0.3430 | regular |
| Nov 12, 2025 | — | $0.3430 | regular |
| Aug 12, 2025 | — | $0.3430 | regular |
| May 13, 2025 | — | $0.3260 | regular |
| Feb 10, 2025 | — | $0.3260 | regular |
| Nov 12, 2024 | — | $0.3260 | regular |
| Aug 12, 2024 | — | $0.3260 | regular |
| May 9, 2024 | — | $0.3070 | regular |
| Feb 8, 2024 | — | $0.3070 | regular |
| Nov 9, 2023 | — | $0.3070 | regular |
| Aug 10, 2023 | — | $0.3070 | regular |
| May 11, 2023 | — | $0.2870 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $1.44 / yr per share
