Essential Utilities (WTRG) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of the last 19 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 2 trading days (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.35), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, WTRG sits roughly in line with the Utilities sector benchmark of 95%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, so this ticker touches more slowly than peers.
Historical base rates are not predictions; transaction costs, slippage, and ordinary-income tax on short holding periods can materially reduce realized profit. The next ex-dividend date is estimated at Aug 12, 2026 (±2 days), based on the historical pattern; the company has not yet declared a dividend.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 100%+5pp vs sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 2d+1.0d vs sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.35-0.11 vs sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 19 events.
| Metric | Value | vs sector |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day touch rate | 100% | +5pp vs sector |
| Median days-to-touch | 2d | +1.0d vs sector |
| Signal-to-noise (div / ATR) | 0.35 | -0.11 vs sector |
| Avg gap on ex-date | -0.82% | -0.13pp vs sector |
| Win rate at MOC exit | 65% | — |
| Median drawdown during hold | -2.72% | +1.12pp vs sector |
| Best / worst touch (days) | 1 / 11 | — |
Next ex-dividend
Estimated from historical pattern ±2 days.
| Dividend | $0.34 |
| Per-event yield | 0.92% |
| Annualized yield | 3.61% |
| Previously paid | Feb 9, 2026 ($0.34) |
| Last record date | Feb 9, 2026 |
| Last payment date | Mar 2, 2026 |
WTRG Dividend Capture History — Last 20 Ex-Dividend Events
Per-event gap on ex-date, the pre-ex close used as the touch target, trading days to first intraday high at or above that level, plus 5/30-day touch flags, drawdown and 5-day P&L for Essential Utilities (WTRG). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $0.34 | -0.43% | $37.42 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.81% | +6.74% | |
| Q4 | $0.34 | -1.27% | $39.46 | 2 | yes | yes | -3.40% | -2.10% | |
| Q3 | $0.34 | -0.97% | $39.02 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.23% | +1.34% | |
| Q2 | $0.33 | -1.05% | $39.12 | 5 | yes | yes | -6.95% | +1.32% | |
| Q1 | $0.33 | -0.94% | $35.16 | 2 | yes | yes | -1.65% | +2.35% | |
| Q4 | $0.33 | -1.08% | $39.78 | 9 | no | yes | -4.12% | -1.27% | |
| Q3 | $0.33 | -1.04% | $39.51 | 2 | yes | yes | -1.87% | +1.36% | |
| Q2 | $0.31 | -0.78% | $38.69 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.42% | +2.65% | |
| Q1 | $0.31 | -1.26% | $35.60 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.64% | +2.55% | |
| Q4 | $0.31 | -0.93% | $34.55 | 4 | yes | yes | -3.68% | +3.09% | |
| Q3 | $0.31 | -0.35% | $39.82 | 1 | yes | yes | -8.69% | -5.18% | |
| Q2 | $0.29 | -0.58% | $42.97 | 2 | yes | yes | -6.61% | -5.15% | |
| Q1 | $0.29 | -0.56% | $46.23 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.09% | -0.94% | |
| Q4 | $0.29 | -1.01% | $44.71 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.04% | +6.21% | |
| Q3 | $0.29 | -0.39% | $51.52 | 1 | yes | yes | -2.48% | +2.05% | |
| Q2 | $0.27 | -0.60% | $43.14 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.25% | +6.49% | |
| Q1 | $0.27 | -1.17% | $46.92 | 11 | no | yes | -4.71% | -1.54% | |
| Q4 | $0.27 | -0.66% | $47.25 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.23% | +0.80% | |
| Q3 | $0.27 | -0.43% | $49.12 | 2 | yes | yes | -2.81% | -0.11% | |
| Q2 | $0.25 | -0.46% | $45.35 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.95% | +3.88% |
- +6.74%
- -2.10%
- +1.34%
- +1.32%
- +2.35%
- -1.27%
- +1.36%
- +2.65%
- +2.55%
- +3.09%
- -5.18%
- -5.15%
- -0.94%
- +6.21%
- +2.05%
- +6.49%
- -1.54%
- +0.80%
- -0.11%
- +3.88%
WTRG Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
First trading session whose intraday high reached the pre-ex close within the 30-day measurement window. td = trading days from ex-date.
| Touch window | Distribution | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1 day | 7 | 35% | |
| 2–3 days | 9 | 45% | |
| 4–5 days | 2 | 10% | |
| 6–10 days | 1 | 5% | |
| 11–30 days | 1 | 5% | |
| 30+ | 0 | 0% |
WTRG Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with WTRG's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
U.S. ordinary-income rate (22-37%) applies on holds shorter than 61 days. Hold longer to qualify for the 0/15/20% qualified-dividend rate.
- Gross dividend
- $68.00
- After-tax dividend
- $44.20
- Slippage round-trip
- -$7.48
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- +$36.72
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.00%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- +0.49%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~24.7%
WTRG Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical WTRG ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close, or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan.
Sell back at the pre-ex close on the first intraday touch within the window. If it never touches, exit at MOC after the window expires (stop-loss).
Figures are gross — before tax, commissions, and slippage. Percents are per-event return on capital at entry (pre-ex close).
Cumulative P&L (equity curve)
Vertical axis: cumulative sum of per-event % (same units as the headline cumulative). Hover dots for exact values.
Per-event P&L distribution
20 trades in this sample · bar height ∝ count in each bucket (gross % per event).
Scenario P&L by event · WTRG (20)
Scenario P&L — updates with exit mode, window, and quarter. History adds gap, touch, drawdown, and a fixed P&L 5d % (MOC). Same per-row % as that column only for MOC + 5d on the same rows. Oldest → newest, gross pre-ex close basis.
| Ex-date | P&L |
|---|---|
| +0.55% | |
| +0.55% | |
| +0.57% | |
| -1.54% | |
| +0.62% | |
| +0.56% | |
| +0.64% | |
| +0.62% | |
| +0.67% | |
| +0.77% | |
| +0.89% | |
| +0.86% | |
| +0.79% | |
| +0.82% | |
| -1.27% | |
| +0.93% | |
| +0.83% | |
| +0.88% | |
| +0.87% | |
| +0.92% |
Results are illustrative only and are not financial advice. Capture simulations use historical prices and simplified costs and tax assumptions. Actual fills, borrow fees, and market rules vary. Consult a qualified advisor before trading.