Essential Utilities (WTRG) Dividend Capture: 0.92% per event (3.7% annualized)
Essential Utilities (WTRG) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of the last 20 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 0.34), 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 confirmed ex-dividend date is May 12, 2026, with an expected dividend of $0.34.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 100%+5pp vs sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 2d+1.0d vs sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.34-0.11 vs sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 20 events.
- 30-day touch rate
- 100%+5pp vs sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 2d+1.0d vs sector
- Signal-to-noise (div / ATR)
- 0.34-0.11 vs sector
- Avg gap on ex-date
- -0.80%in line with sector
- Win rate at MOC exit
- 65%
- Median drawdown during hold
- -2.72%+1.04pp vs sector
- Best / worst touch (days)
- 1 / 11
Next ex-dividend
Confirmed by company declaration.
- Dividend
- $0.34
- Per-event yield
- 0.92%
- Annualized yield
- 3.66%
- Previously paid
- Feb 9, 2026 ($0.34)
- Last record date
- Feb 9, 2026
- Last payment date
- Mar 2, 2026
How WTRG ranks in Utilities
Compared with other stocks in this sector that pass our capture-quality filter (45 tickers). Lower rank number is better on every metric below.
- 30-day touch rate#1of 45
Beats ~98% of peers on this metric
- Median days to touch#34of 45
Beats ~24% of peers on this metric
- Signal-to-noise#31of 45
Beats ~31% of peers on this metric
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% |
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.34
- Gap %
- -0.43%
- Pre-ex close
- $37.42
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.81%
- P&L 5d %
- +6.74%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.34
- Gap %
- -1.27%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.46
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.40%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.10%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.34
- Gap %
- -0.97%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.02
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.23%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.34%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.33
- Gap %
- -1.05%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.12
- High touch (td)
- 5
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -6.95%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.32%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.33
- Gap %
- -0.94%
- Pre-ex close
- $35.16
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.65%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.35%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.33
- Gap %
- -1.08%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.78
- High touch (td)
- 9
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.12%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.27%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.33
- Gap %
- -1.04%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.51
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.87%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.36%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.78%
- Pre-ex close
- $38.69
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.42%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.65%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -1.26%
- Pre-ex close
- $35.60
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.64%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.55%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.93%
- Pre-ex close
- $34.55
- High touch (td)
- 4
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.68%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.09%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.31
- Gap %
- -0.35%
- Pre-ex close
- $39.82
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -8.69%
- P&L 5d %
- -5.18%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -0.58%
- Pre-ex close
- $42.97
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -6.61%
- P&L 5d %
- -5.15%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -0.56%
- Pre-ex close
- $46.23
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.09%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.94%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -1.01%
- Pre-ex close
- $44.71
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.04%
- P&L 5d %
- +6.21%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.29
- Gap %
- -0.39%
- Pre-ex close
- $51.52
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.48%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.05%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -0.60%
- Pre-ex close
- $43.14
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.25%
- P&L 5d %
- +6.49%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -1.17%
- Pre-ex close
- $46.92
- High touch (td)
- 11
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.71%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.54%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -0.66%
- Pre-ex close
- $47.25
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.23%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.80%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.27
- Gap %
- -0.43%
- Pre-ex close
- $49.12
- High touch (td)
- 2
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -2.81%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.11%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.25
- Gap %
- -0.46%
- Pre-ex close
- $45.35
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.95%
- P&L 5d %
- +3.88%
WTRG Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
- ≤ 1 day735%
- 2–3 days945%
- 4–5 days210%
- 6–10 days15%
- 11–30 days15%
- 30+00%
35% within 1d · 90% within 5d · 100% within 30d
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.
Holding shorter than the IRS 61-day rule disqualifies the dividend from “qualified” status — it is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. Adjust Tax % accordingly.
- 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 (limit-order P&L on first intraday touch), or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan and see realized P&L per event.
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% |
Looking for full price seasonality? See WTRG seasonality →
Frequently asked questions
What is the dividend capture success rate for WTRG?
Across the last 20 ex-dividend events for Essential Utilities (WTRG), the post-ex intraday high reached the pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of cases, with a median time-to-touch of 2 trading days. We measure recovery via intraday high because that is when a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close would actually fill, ending the trade at break-even with the dividend pocketed.
How long does it take WTRG to recover its dividend gap?
Historically, WTRG touches its pre-ex close in a median of 2 trading days, with the best case at 1 and the worst case at 11 trading days within our 30-day measurement window. A stricter close-based recovery (mark-to-MOC) is also computed in the database; explore it with the per-ticker simulator’s “Hold N days, exit MOC” mode rather than in the event table.
Is the dividend on WTRG large enough to capture?
WTRG has a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.34 (dividend / 14-day ATR). Values above 1.0 indicate the dividend is larger than the typical daily price swing, making capture trades more viable; below 0.5 means typical daily noise can easily wipe out the gain.
When is the next ex-dividend date for WTRG?
The next ex-dividend date for Essential Utilities (WTRG) is May 12, 2026, confirmed (declared by the company).
How does WTRG compare to its sector for dividend capture?
Within Utilities, the median 30-day pre-ex touch rate is 95%. WTRG sits at 100% — above the sector benchmark.
Why does WTRG dividend capture measure recovery via intraday high, not close?
A realistic capture trade exits via a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close: the moment the post-ex intraday high touches that level, the order fills and the trader pockets the dividend at break-even. Measuring recovery via close is stricter (mark-to-MOC); we expose that path in the per-ticker simulator as the "Hold N days, exit MOC" mode. The high-based primary metric directly answers the trader-facing question "would my limit have filled?" — close-based answers "would I have been flat at the bell?".
How are dividend capture trades taxed in the US?
Holding period matters. Dividends are "qualified" (taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, 0/15/20%) only when the underlying shares are held for more than 60 days during the 121-day window centered on the ex-dividend date. Dividend capture trades typically hold less than 61 days, so the dividend is taxed at your ordinary income bracket. Always consult a qualified tax advisor.
What are the main risks of a dividend capture strategy?
Three structural risks: (1) the share price may not recover the gap within your holding window; (2) ordinary-income tax can consume the after-tax yield; (3) transaction costs and bid/ask slippage can wipe out small dividends. Historical statistics measure base rates; they do not guarantee any single trade will work.