NYSE$WTRG

Essential Utilities Inc · Q4 2023 earnings

Q4 2023 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Essential Utilities reported Q4 2023 financial results with a net income of $135.4 million, or $0.50 per share, compared to $114.9 million, or $0.44 per share, for the same quarter in 2022.

Essential Utilities reported a decrease in revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023. However, the company's net income and earnings per share increased compared to the same quarter in the previous year. The company also provided 2024 guidance for earnings per share and capital investments.

  • Net income for Q4 2023 was $135.4 million, compared to $114.9 million for the same quarter in 2022.
  • Earnings per share were $0.50 for Q4 2023, compared to $0.44 in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Revenues for Q4 2023 were $479.4 million compared to $705.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Operations and maintenance expenses decreased to $157.0 million for Q4 2023 compared to $184.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$479M

Previous: $705M-32.0%
EPS (adj)

$0.50

Previous: $0.44+13.6%
Net Income

$135M

Previous: $115M+17.8%
Operating Income

$174M

Previous: $170M+2.4%
Gross Profit

$197M

Previous: $274M-28.1%
Stock-Based Comp

$2.39M

Previous: $4.04M-40.8%

Revenue & EPS history

Essential Utilities · Revenue · Quarterly

$479M

Q4 2023-32%vs Q4 2022
Beat estimate in 8 of 15 quarters(53%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Essential Utilities · $405M total across 2 segments · Q3 2023

  • Regulated Water
    $311M+3.1%
  • Regulated Natural Gas
    $94.8M-20.3%

Forward guidance

Essential Utilities initiated 2024 annual earnings per share guidance range of $1.96 to $2.00 and capital investment guidance of $7.2 billion from 2024 through 2028.

Tailwinds

  • Initiating 2024 annual earnings per share guidance range of $1.96 to $2.00
  • Initiating capital investment guidance of $7.2 billion from 2024 through 2028
  • Company expects to invest between $1.3 to $1.4 billion in needed infrastructure investments in 2024
  • Company reaffirms its commitment to substantially reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2035
  • Company reaffirms its commitment to providing finished water that will meet the EPA timelines and standards.

Headwinds

  • Company will refrain from providing a multi-year earnings per share guidance range until the conclusion of base rate cases
  • Decrease in revenues for the year were primarily due to lower purchased gas costs and unfavorable weather
  • Lower regulated natural gas segment and regulated water segment volumes
  • Guidance is subject to risks and uncertainties
  • Essential Utilities does not guarantee future results of any kind.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2023

Historical avgQ4 2023

-0.8%

Avg return

Earnings day

-0.7%

Avg return

5 days after

+0.0%

Avg return

30 days after

43%

30 / 69 earnings

Positive

+4.9%

Q3 2024

Best reaction

-9.5%

Q2 2011

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+0.4%+1.2%-0.5%
Q4 2025-0.2%+0.5%+1.1%
Q3 2025+3.3%+2.2%-1.0%
Q1 2025-4.1%-4.7%-6.5%
Q4 2024+0.2%+3.3%+4.7%
Q3 2024+4.9%+3.7%+2.4%
Q2 2024-4.9%-4.8%-5.2%
Q1 2024+1.5%+3.9%+1.4%
Q4 2023-3.4%-4.3%+0.7%
Q3 2023-2.2%-6.0%+1.5%
Q2 2023-0.4%-3.0%-12.6%
Q1 2023-1.5%-1.3%-3.2%
Q4 2022-3.6%-5.4%-4.2%
Q3 2022+1.1%+5.3%+8.8%
Q2 2022-0.1%-1.7%-4.7%
Q1 2022-5.3%+1.7%+4.8%
Q4 2021+2.8%+3.8%+10.0%
Q3 2021+0.4%+1.2%+0.3%
Q2 2021+1.4%-0.3%-0.8%
Q1 2021-1.4%-0.4%+0.9%
Q4 2020-3.4%-3.9%-1.3%
Q3 2020-1.5%+2.9%+14.8%
Q2 2020+1.0%+6.0%-7.8%
Q1 2020-3.4%-4.3%+8.8%
Q4 2019-8.1%-9.9%-19.8%
Q3 2019-0.9%-2.5%+0.4%
Q2 2019+2.8%+5.2%+9.6%
Q1 2019-1.3%-1.9%+2.4%
Q4 2018-0.3%+2.0%+1.7%
Q3 2018-1.0%+0.6%+4.0%
Q2 2018-0.6%+1.2%+0.6%
Q1 2018-3.3%-1.8%-4.6%
Q4 2017-2.3%-7.1%-2.7%
Q3 2017+0.0%+1.7%+7.3%
Q2 2017-0.2%+0.9%-0.4%
Q1 2017-3.9%-3.1%+0.6%
Q4 2016+1.2%+3.3%+4.8%
Q3 2016-3.0%-5.5%-3.5%
Q2 2016-2.8%-4.8%-12.7%
Q1 2016+0.9%
Q4 2015-0.4%
Q3 2015+2.2%
Q2 2015+1.5%
Q1 2015-2.2%
Q4 2014-0.0%
Q3 2014+0.9%
Q2 2014+1.8%
Q1 2014+0.1%
Q4 2013-0.3%
Q3 2013-0.1%
Q2 2013-5.1%
Q1 2013+0.5%
Q4 2012+0.3%
Q3 2012-0.4%
Q2 2012+0.4%
Q1 2012+0.3%
Q4 2008-2.4%
Q4 2011-2.4%
Q4 2007-2.4%
Q4 2009-2.4%
Q4 2010-2.4%
Q3 2011+0.3%
Q2 2011-9.5%
Q1 2010+2.5%
Q1 2011+1.5%
Q3 2010+1.3%
Q3 2009+1.3%
Q2 2009+0.9%
Q2 2010+0.9%

Discussion

Share your read of this quarter. Sign-in carries your eToro identity.

Join the conversation

Sign in with eToro to post your read of this quarter and vote on others'.

Sign in with eToro