Middlesex Water [MSEX] vs Essential Utilities [WTRG] Detailed Stock Comparison

Middlesex Water Company

NASDAQ
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Essential Utilities Inc.

NYSE
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TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Middlesex Water Company wins in 5 metrics, Essential Utilities Inc. wins in 16 metrics, with 0 ties. Essential Utilities Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Middlesex Water Company Essential Utilities Inc. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 22.39 17.96 Essential Utilities Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 1.98 1.63 Essential Utilities Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 84.26 121.56 Middlesex Water Company
PEG Ratio -3.66 -0.60 Essential Utilities Inc.
EV/EBITDA 15.24 14.64 Essential Utilities Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 22.00% 24.91% Essential Utilities Inc.
Operating Margin (TTM) 26.33% 32.43% Essential Utilities Inc.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 26.33% 32.43% Essential Utilities Inc.
Return on Equity 9.09% 9.44% Essential Utilities Inc.
Return on Assets (TTM) 2.82% 3.05% Essential Utilities Inc.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $-33.76M $-419.52M Middlesex Water Company
Dividend Yield 3.32% 3.61% Essential Utilities Inc.
1-Year Return -9.35% -4.26% Essential Utilities Inc.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 5.04 4.52 Essential Utilities Inc.
Enterprise Value $1.39B $19.49B Essential Utilities Inc.
EV/Revenue Ratio 7.16 7.88 Middlesex Water Company
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 50.24% 51.35% Essential Utilities Inc.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $11 $9 Middlesex Water Company
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $2.36 $2.20 Middlesex Water Company
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.86 0.77 Essential Utilities Inc.
Short % of Float 4.60% 1.72% Essential Utilities Inc.

Middlesex Water Company vs Essential Utilities Inc. Stock Performance Analysis

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MSEX
WTRG

Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Middlesex Water Company-1.48%1.21%2.81%-3.37%3.60%4.85%
Essential Utilities Inc.-0.11%-0.30%-2.40%-7.75%-4.66%-4.22%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Middlesex Water Company-9.35%-36.34%-38.77%36.98%193.63%182.57%
Essential Utilities Inc.-4.26%-9.89%-22.09%10.58%112.50%96.43%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Middlesex Water Company vs Essential Utilities Inc.

MetricMSEXWTRG
Market Information
Market Cap i$1.01B$11.20B
Market Cap CategorySmall capLarge cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i218,5732,981,330
90 Day Avg. Volume i180,7982,206,650
Last Close$51.93$37.00
52 Week Range$44.17 - $62.18$36.11 - $42.37
% from 52W High-16.48%-12.67%
All-Time High$121.43 (Dec 27, 2021)$54.52 (Feb 17, 2020)
% from All-Time High-57.23%-32.13%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.00%0.16%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.02%-0.28%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.22%0.25%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.26%0.32%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.09%0.09%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i84.26121.56
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$26.67$24.22
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.15$0.12
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$62.60M$1.01B
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$-29,954,250$-762,487,232
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.32%3.61%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$1.74$1.35

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Middlesex Water Company vs Essential Utilities Inc.

MetricMSEX (Apr 24, 2026)WTRG (Apr 26, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i22.3917.96
Forward P/E i17.5616.35
PEG Ratio i-3.66-0.60
Price to Sales (TTM) i5.044.52
Price to Book (MRQ) i1.981.63
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$1.01B$11.20B
Enterprise Value i$1.39B$19.49B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i7.167.88
Enterprise to EBITDA i15.2414.64
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.860.77
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$26.67$24.22

Financial Statements Comparison: Middlesex Water Company vs Essential Utilities Inc.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricMSEX (2025)WTRG (2025)
Revenue/Sales i194.69M2.47B
Cost of Goods Sold i91.29M1.04B
COGS % of Revenue i46.9%42.2%
Gross Profit i103.40M1.43B
Gross Margin i53.1%57.8%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i54.38M920.95M
Operating Margin i27.9%37.2%
EBITDA i92.82M1.34B
EBITDA Margin i47.7%54.1%
Pre-Tax Income i47.64M619.81M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i24.5%25.0%
Income Tax i4.82M3.45M
Income Tax % of Revenue i2.5%0.1%
Net Income (Profit) i42.82M616.37M
Profit Margin i22.0%24.9%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricMSEX (2025)WTRG (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i2.80M34.78M
Total Current Assets i41.77M610.40M
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i21.5%24.7%
Total Current Liabilities i93.80M764.48M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i48.2%30.9%
Long-Term Debt i380.71M8.13B
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i195.5%328.6%
Total Shareholders Equity i495.37M6.86B
Retained Earnings i214.88M2.28B
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i110.4%92.2%
Property, Plant & Equipment i7.30M2.12B

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricMSEX (2025)WTRG (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i58.61M975.26M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i30.1%39.4%
Capital Expenditures iN/A-1.43B
Free Cash Flow i-33.76M-419.52M
FCF Margin i-17.3%-17.0%
Debt Repayment i-7.32M-1.32B
Common Stock Repurchase iN/A-2.28M

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricMSEXWTRG
Shares Short i689,8294.26M
Short Ratio i4.492.24
Short % of Float i4.60%1.72%
Shares Outstanding i18.52M283.08M
Float Shares i18.01M282.19M
% Held by Insiders i2.36%0.22%
% Held by Institutions i87.78%83.07%
% Held by Public i9.86%16.71%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Middlesex Water Company vs Essential Utilities Inc.

MetricMSEXWTRG
Last 12-Month Dividend i$1.74$1.35
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.32%3.61%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$1.44$1.29
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.55%0.84%
3-Year Total Dividends i$4.33$3.87
Ex-Dividend DateFeb 17, 2026Feb 09, 2026