Essential Utilities [WTRG] vs American States [AWR] Detailed Stock Comparison

TLDR: Quick Comparison Summary

Based on 21 vital metrics comparison: Essential Utilities Inc. wins in 11 metrics, American States Water Co. wins in 10 metrics, with 0 ties. Essential Utilities Inc. appears stronger overall.

View Metrics Details

Vital Metrics Comparison

Metric Essential Utilities Inc. American States Water Co. Better
P/E Ratio (TTM) 17.96 23.09 Essential Utilities Inc.
Price-to-Book Ratio 1.63 2.91 Essential Utilities Inc.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 121.56 89.75 American States Water Co.
PEG Ratio -0.60 -17.32 Essential Utilities Inc.
EV/EBITDA 14.64 15.51 Essential Utilities Inc.
Profit Margin (TTM) 24.91% 19.82% Essential Utilities Inc.
Operating Margin (TTM) 32.43% 28.80% Essential Utilities Inc.
EBITDA Margin (TTM) 32.43% 28.80% Essential Utilities Inc.
Return on Equity 9.44% 13.27% American States Water Co.
Return on Assets (TTM) 3.05% 4.95% American States Water Co.
Free Cash Flow (TTM) $-419.52M $-7.09M American States Water Co.
Dividend Yield 3.61% 2.64% Essential Utilities Inc.
1-Year Return -4.26% -2.03% American States Water Co.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) 4.52 4.64 Essential Utilities Inc.
Enterprise Value $19.49B $3.96B Essential Utilities Inc.
EV/Revenue Ratio 7.88 6.02 American States Water Co.
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) 51.35% 73.04% American States Water Co.
Revenue per Share (TTM) $9 $17 American States Water Co.
Earnings per Share (Diluted) $2.20 $3.37 American States Water Co.
Beta (Stock Volatility) 0.77 0.65 American States Water Co.
Short % of Float 1.72% 2.89% Essential Utilities Inc.

Essential Utilities Inc. vs American States Water Co. Stock Performance Analysis

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Performance Comparison

Short-term Returns

Stock1D1W1M3M6MYTD
Essential Utilities Inc.-0.11%-0.30%-2.40%-7.75%-4.66%-4.22%
American States Water Co.-1.24%1.40%1.59%3.33%6.02%6.95%

Long-term Returns

Stock1Y3Y5Y10Y15Y20Y
Essential Utilities Inc.-4.26%-9.89%-22.09%10.58%112.50%96.43%
American States Water Co.-2.03%-15.65%-2.08%90.32%361.31%303.29%

Performance & Financial Health Analysis: Essential Utilities Inc. vs American States Water Co.

MetricWTRGAWR
Market Information
Market Cap i$11.20B$3.17B
Market Cap CategoryLarge capMid cap
10 Day Avg. Volume i2,981,330402,716
90 Day Avg. Volume i2,206,650316,139
Last Close$37.00$76.32
52 Week Range$36.11 - $42.37$69.45 - $81.24
% from 52W High-12.67%-6.06%
All-Time High$54.52 (Feb 17, 2020)$103.77 (Dec 27, 2021)
% from All-Time High-32.13%-26.45%
Growth Metrics
Quarterly Revenue Growth0.16%0.15%
Quarterly Earnings Growth-0.28%0.01%
Financial Health
Profit Margin (TTM) i0.25%0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM) i0.32%0.29%
Return on Equity (TTM) i0.09%0.13%
Debt to Equity (MRQ) i121.5689.75
Cash & Liquidity
Book Value per Share (MRQ)$24.22$26.75
Cash per Share (MRQ)$0.12$0.48
Operating Cash Flow (TTM) i$1.01B$229.73M
Levered Free Cash Flow (TTM) i$-762,487,232$-84,840,624
Dividends
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.61%2.64%
Last 12-Month Dividend i$1.35$1.97

Valuation & Enterprise Metrics Analysis: Essential Utilities Inc. vs American States Water Co.

MetricWTRG (Apr 26, 2026)AWR (Apr 24, 2026)
Price Ratios
P/E Ratio (TTM) i17.9623.09
Forward P/E i16.3520.75
PEG Ratio i-0.60-17.32
Price to Sales (TTM) i4.524.64
Price to Book (MRQ) i1.632.91
Market Capitalization
Market Capitalization i$11.20B$3.17B
Enterprise Value i$19.49B$3.96B
Enterprise Value Metrics
Enterprise to Revenue i7.886.02
Enterprise to EBITDA i14.6415.51
Risk & Other Metrics
Beta i0.770.65
Book Value per Share (MRQ) i$24.22$26.75

Financial Statements Comparison: Essential Utilities Inc. vs American States Water Co.

Financial Metrics

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Revenue

Operating Margin

Profit Margin

Long Term Debt

Income Flow Analysis

Financial Statements Comparison

Income Statement

MetricWTRG (2025)AWR (2025)
Revenue/Sales i2.47B658.07M
Cost of Goods Sold i1.04B168.55M
COGS % of Revenue i42.2%25.6%
Gross Profit i1.43B489.53M
Gross Margin i57.8%74.4%
Research & Development iN/AN/A
Operating Income (EBIT) i920.95M203.28M
Operating Margin i37.2%30.9%
EBITDA i1.34B265.45M
EBITDA Margin i54.1%40.3%
Pre-Tax Income i619.81M169.80M
Pre-Tax Income % of Revenue i25.0%25.8%
Income Tax i3.45M39.36M
Income Tax % of Revenue i0.1%6.0%
Net Income (Profit) i616.37M130.44M
Profit Margin i24.9%19.8%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity Metrics

MetricWTRG (2025)AWR (2025)
Cash & Equivalents i34.78M18.82M
Total Current Assets i610.40M231.07M
Total Current Assets % of Revenue i24.7%35.1%
Total Current Liabilities i764.48M174.61M
Total Current Liabilities % of Revenue i30.9%26.5%
Long-Term Debt i8.13B928.11M
Long-Term Debt % of Revenue i328.6%141.0%
Total Shareholders Equity i6.86B1.05B
Retained Earnings i2.28B620.43M
Retained Earnings % of Revenue i92.2%94.3%
Property, Plant & Equipment i2.12B64.76M

Cash Flow Statement Comparison

MetricWTRG (2025)AWR (2025)
Operating Cash Flow i975.26M231.51M
Operating Cash Flow % of Revenue i39.4%35.2%
Capital Expenditures i-1.43BN/A
Free Cash Flow i-419.52M-7.09M
FCF Margin i-17.0%-1.1%
Debt Repayment i-1.32B-148.45M
Common Stock Repurchase i-2.28MN/A

Short Interest & Institutional Ownership Analysis

MetricWTRGAWR
Shares Short i4.26M796,009
Short Ratio i2.242.82
Short % of Float i1.72%2.89%
Shares Outstanding i283.08M39.08M
Float Shares i282.19M38.68M
% Held by Insiders i0.22%0.82%
% Held by Institutions i83.07%84.76%
% Held by Public i16.71%14.42%

Dividend Analysis & Yield Comparison: Essential Utilities Inc. vs American States Water Co.

MetricWTRGAWR
Last 12-Month Dividend i$1.35$1.97
Last 12-Month Dividend Yield i3.61%2.64%
3-Year Avg Annual Dividend i$1.29$1.83
3-Year Avg Dividend Yield i0.84%0.59%
3-Year Total Dividends i$3.87$5.50
Ex-Dividend DateFeb 09, 2026Feb 23, 2026