WTRG
$38.67-1.33%
as of close, Oct 1, 2026
☾ AH $38.67 -1.33%
Essential Utilities Inc. returns by year
As of market close, Oct 1, 2026
Essential Utilities Inc. returns by year (1981–2026)#
Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return). Every year has a direct link you can bookmark or share.
| Year | Start price | End price | Path | Dividend | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $38.36 | $38.67 | 2.8% | +3.6% | |
| 2025 | $36.32 | $38.36 | 3.8% | +9.4% | |
| 2024 | $37.35 | $36.32 | 3.3% | +0.5% | |
| 2023 | $47.73 | $37.35 | 2.4% | -19.4% | |
| 2022 | $53.69 | $47.73 | 2.2% | -8.9% | |
| 2021 | $47.29 | $53.69 | 2.5% | +16.0% | |
| 2020 | $46.94 | $47.29 | 2.2% | +2.9% | |
| 2019 | $34.19 | $46.94 | 3.1% | +40.4% | |
| 2018 | $39.23 | $34.19 | 2.2% | -10.7% | |
| 2017 | $30.04 | $39.23 | 3.2% | +33.8% | |
| 2016 | $29.80 | $30.04 | 2.4% | +3.2% | |
| 2015 | $26.70 | $29.80 | 2.9% | +14.5% | |
| 2014 | $23.59 | $26.70 | 2.9% | +16.1% | |
| 2013 | $20.34 | $23.59 | 2.8% | +18.8% | |
| 2012 | $17.64 | $20.34 | 3.3% | +18.6% | |
| 2011 | $17.98 | $17.64 | 2.8% | +0.9% | |
| 2010 | $14.01 | $17.98 | 4.1% | +32.5% | |
| 2009 | $16.47 | $14.01 | 2.7% | -12.3% | |
| 2008 | $16.96 | $16.47 | 2.8% | -0.1% | |
| 2007 | $18.22 | $16.96 | 2.0% | -5.0% | |
| 2006 | $21.84 | $18.22 | 1.2% | -15.3% | |
| 2005 | $14.75 | $21.84 | 2.7% | +50.8% | |
| 2004 | $13.26 | $14.75 | 2.6% | +13.9% | |
| 2003 | $9.89 | $13.26 | 3.4% | +37.5% | |
| 2002 | $10.82 | $9.89 | 2.3% | -6.4% | |
| 2001 | $9.41 | $10.82 | 2.9% | +17.9% | |
| 2000 | $6.36 | $9.41 | 5.1% | +53.1% | |
| 1999 | $9.08 | $6.36 | 7.0% | -23.0% | |
| 1998 | $6.78 | $9.08 | 13.8% | +47.7% | |
| 1997 | $4.58 | $6.78 | 18.9% | +67.0% | |
| 1996 | $3.19 | $4.58 | 17.0% | +60.6% | |
| 1995 | $2.78 | $3.19 | 11.0% | +25.4% | |
| 1994 | $2.82 | $2.78 | 0.0% | -1.4% | |
| 1993 | $2.46 | $2.82 | 0.0% | +14.9% | |
| 1992 | $2.42 | $2.46 | 0.0% | +1.6% | |
| 1991 | $1.86 | $2.42 | 0.0% | +29.9% | |
| 1990 | $2.13 | $1.86 | 0.0% | -12.6% | |
| 1989 | $2.02 | $2.13 | 0.0% | +5.7% | |
| 1988 | $2.15 | $2.02 | 0.0% | -6.3% | |
| 1987 | $2.67 | $2.15 | 0.0% | -19.4% | |
| 1986 | $2.18 | $2.67 | 0.0% | +22.7% | |
| 1985 | $1.79 | $2.18 | 0.0% | +21.4% | |
| 1984 | $1.75 | $1.79 | 0.0% | +2.2% | |
| 1983 | $1.38 | $1.75 | 0.0% | +26.8% | |
| 1982 | $0.95 | $1.38 | 0.0% | +45.9% | |
| 1981 | $0.46 | $0.95 | 0.0% | +105.3% |
- Annualized
- +14.4%
- 1981–2026
- Average year
- +15.9%
- 45 full years
- Best year
- +105.3%
- 1981
- Worst year
- -23.0%
- 1999
- Positive years
- 32/45
- 71% up
Annualized (CAGR)
+14.4%
1981–2026
Average year
+15.9%
45 full years
Best year
+105.3%
1981
Worst year
-23.0%
1999
Positive years
32/45
71% up
Total return by period#
Annual
-100%-50%0%50%100%
1981+105%'81
1982+46%
1983+27%
1984+2.2%
1985+21%'85
1986+23%
1987-19%
1988-6.3%
1989+5.7%'89
1990-13%
1991+30%
1992+1.6%
1993+15%'93
1994-1.4%
1995+25%
1996+61%
1997+67%'97
1998+48%
1999-23%
2000+53%
2001+18%'01
2002-6.4%
2003+38%
2004+14%
2005+51%'05
2006-15%
2007-5.0%
2008-0.12%
2009-12%'09
2010+32%
2011+0.88%
2012+19%
2013+19%'13
2014+16%
2015+15%
2016+3.2%
2017+34%'17
2018-11%
2019+40%
2020+2.9%
2021+16%'21
2022-8.9%
2023-19%
2024+0.52%
2025+9.4%'25
2026+3.6%
Methodology#
Total returns, dividends reinvested, measured on WTRG. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate; the current year is year-to-date. Past performance does not predict future returns.
FAQ#
- What is Essential Utilities Inc.'s average annual return?
- Since 1981, Essential Utilities Inc. (WTRG) has returned about 14.4% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 15.9%.
- What were Essential Utilities Inc.'s best and worst years?
- Over 1981–2026, the best year was 1981 (+105.3%) and the worst was 1999 (-23.0%).
- How often is Essential Utilities Inc. up in a year?
- 32 of the 45 full years since 1981 were positive — about 71% of the time.
More on Essential Utilities Inc.
Annual returns for: S&P 500 · S&P 500 Equal Weight · US Stock Market · Nasdaq-100