NYSE$WTRG

Essential Utilities Inc · Q4 2024 earnings

Q4 2024 earnings · · After market close · Investor relations

Briefing

Essential Utilities reported strong revenue growth and increased profitability in Q4 2024.

Essential Utilities posted total revenue of $604.4 million in Q4 2024, marking a 26.1% increase year-over-year. The company achieved net income of $184.8 million and EPS of $0.67, reflecting a 34% increase compared to Q4 2023. Growth was driven by regulatory recoveries, increased water and natural gas volume, and successful rate adjustments.

  • Q4 2024 revenue grew 26.1% year-over-year to $604.4 million.
  • Net income reached $184.8 million, up from $135.5 million in Q4 2023.
  • EPS increased by 34% to $0.67 per share.
  • Regulated water and natural gas segments saw strong performance driven by rate adjustments and volume growth.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$604M

Previous: $479M+26.1%
EPS (adj)

$0.67

Previous: $0.50+34.0%
O&M Expense

$163M

No prior period
Purchased Gas Costs

$94.5M

No prior period
Basic Avg Shares

274.7M

No prior period
Diluted Avg Shares

275.2M

No prior period
Capital Expenditures

-$398M

No prior period
Net Income

$185M

Previous: $135M+36.5%
Operating Income

$227M

Previous: $174M+30.3%
Gross Profit

$250M

Previous: $197M+27.0%

Revenue & EPS history

Essential Utilities · Revenue · Quarterly

$604M

Q4 2024+26.1%vs Q4 2023
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 projects continued earnings growth in 2025 with an EPS guidance range of $2.07 - $2.11. The company expects to invest $1.4 - $1.5 billion in infrastructure and expand its water and natural gas segments.

Tailwinds

  • Expected 2025 EPS guidance of $2.07 - $2.11.
  • Planned $1.4 - $1.5 billion investment in infrastructure improvements.
  • Regulated water segment rate base expected to grow at 6% CAGR through 2029.
  • Regulated natural gas segment rate base projected to grow at 11% CAGR through 2029.
  • Continued focus on PFAS remediation and infrastructure modernization.

Headwinds

  • Higher depreciation and interest expenses could impact profitability.
  • Potential regulatory hurdles in rate approval processes.
  • Macroeconomic factors may influence customer demand and pricing.
  • Equity issuance planned in 2025 may dilute existing shareholders.
  • Weather-related variability remains a risk despite stabilization mechanisms.

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 2024

Historical avgQ4 2024

-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%

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