Company Overview - Essential Utilities (WTRG) is based in Bryn Mawr and operates in the Utilities sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 2.78% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.33 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.49%, which is higher than the Utility - Water Supply industry's yield of 2.53% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Essential Utilities is $1.30, reflecting a 2.8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 6.53% [4] - The current payout ratio is 58%, indicating that the company paid out 58% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth and Investment Appeal - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projects earnings of $2.10 per share, which represents a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 6.60% [5] - Essential Utilities is considered an attractive investment opportunity due to its strong dividend yield and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting favorable market conditions for the stock [6]

Company Overview - Artesian Resources (ARTNA) is a water resource management company based in Newark, operating in the Utilities sector with a year-to-date share price change of 6.8% [3] Dividend Information - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.31 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.64%, which is significantly higher than the Utility - Water Supply industry's yield of 2.57% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] - Artesian Resources has an annualized dividend of $1.23, reflecting a 4.1% increase from the previous year, and has increased its dividend five times over the last five years, averaging an annual increase of 4.17% [4] Earnings Growth and Future Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projects earnings of $2.16 per share, indicating a 9.09% increase from the previous year [5] - Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth and the company's payout ratio, which currently stands at 58%, meaning 58% of its trailing 12-month EPS is paid out as dividends [4] Investment Appeal - Artesian Resources is characterized as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]

Company Overview - Consolidated Water (CWCO) shares have increased by approximately 14.1% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500 [1] - The most recent earnings report is crucial for understanding the catalysts affecting the stock [1] Earnings Estimates - Fresh estimates for Consolidated Water have trended downward, with the consensus estimate decreasing by 12.86% [2] - The stock has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [4] VGM Scores - Consolidated Water has a subpar Growth Score of D and a Momentum Score of C, with an overall aggregate VGM Score of F, placing it in the bottom 40% for investment strategies [3] Industry Performance - Consolidated Water is part of the Zacks Utility - Water Supply industry, where American States Water (AWR) has gained 3.4% over the past month [5] - American States Water reported revenues of $148.01 million for the last quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.4% [5] - The expected earnings for American States Water for the current quarter is $0.92 per share, representing a year-over-year change of 8.2% [6]

Company Overview - Essential Utilities (WTRG) shares have increased by approximately 2.2% over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500 [1] - The most recent earnings report is crucial for understanding the stock's performance and future outlook [1] Earnings Estimates - Fresh estimates for Essential Utilities have trended downward, with the consensus estimate shifting by -13.68% [2] - The stock has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [4] VGM Scores - Essential Utilities has a Growth Score of B and a Momentum Score of B, but a Value Score of D, placing it in the bottom 40% for value investment strategy [3] - The overall aggregate VGM Score for the stock is C, which is relevant for investors not focused on a single strategy [3] Industry Comparison - Essential Utilities is part of the Zacks Utility - Water Supply industry, where California Water Service Group (CWT) has seen a 3.3% increase in the past month [5] - California Water Service Group reported revenues of $203.97 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -24.7%, with an EPS of $0.22 compared to $1.21 a year ago [6] - The expected earnings for California Water Service Group for the current quarter is $0.40 per share, indicating a year-over-year change of -42.9% [6] - California Water Service Group holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) based on the direction and magnitude of estimate revisions, despite having a VGM Score of F [7]

For those looking to find strong Utilities stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Artesian Resources (ARTNA) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Utilities sector should help us answer this question.Artesian Resources is a member of the Utilities sector. This group ...

Group 1 - The stock of Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. (CWCO) is experiencing significant attention due to high implied volatility in the options market, particularly the Aug 15, 2025 $22.50 Put option [1] - Implied volatility indicates the market's expectation of future price movement, suggesting that investors anticipate a significant change in the stock's price, potentially due to an upcoming event [2] - Analysts have a cautious outlook on Consolidated Water, with no increases in earnings estimates over the last 60 days and a decrease in the Zacks Consensus Estimate from 24 cents to 20 cents per share [3] Group 2 - The high implied volatility may indicate a trading opportunity, as options traders often seek to sell premium on options with elevated implied volatility, aiming to benefit from time decay [4]

The companies under the Zacks Utility - Water Supply industry operate continuously to deliver a steady supply of clean, potable water and dependable sewer services to millions across the United States, services that are vital for maintaining public health and hygiene. Traditionally, water demand tends to dip during the winter months, as colder weather limits outdoor usage. In the spring, demand remains moderate, influenced by milder temperatures and gradually increasing outdoor activities.The aging of pipel ...

All investors love getting big returns from their portfolio, whether it's through stocks, bonds, ETFs, or other types of securities. However, when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that meas ...

Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments.Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a met ...

For those looking to find strong Utilities stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Has Fortis (FTS) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Utilities peers, we might be able to answer that question.Fortis is a member of the Utilities sector. This group includes 106 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of #2. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups a ...