Essential (WTRG) Q4 Earnings and Revenues Beat Estimates

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Essential Utilities Inc. (WTRG - Free Report) reported fourth-quarter 2021 operating earnings per share (EPS) of 44 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 43 cents by 2.3%. However, the bottom line narrowed 4.3% from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 46 cents per share.

Essential reported operating EPS of $1.67 in 2021, up 31.5% from $1.27 in 2020. Total earnings also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.66 per share by 0.6%.

Total Revenues

The fourth quarter’s operating revenues of $535.7 million were up 8.7% from $493 million in the prior-year quarter. The year-over-year improvement in total revenues was due to the recovery of purchased gas costs, customer growth and new rate increases in the regulated water segment.

Operating revenues for the fourth quarter surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $497 million by 7.8%.

Essential reported total revenues of $1,878.1 million in 2021, up 28.4% from $1,462.7 million in 2020. Total revenues also surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,840 million by 2.1%.

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