Compare Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST) vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock (WTRG) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
Ross Stores, Inc. vs Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock — how do they compare? Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $230.5 (market cap $73.66B), while Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock trades at $39.82 (market cap $11.31B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 6.5× Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock's market cap, and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock pays the higher dividend (3.62%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold Ross Stores, Inc. for 48 Days and Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock for 0 Days on average.
| ROST | WTRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $73.66B | $11.31B |
Volume | 1,784,732 | 2,459,172 |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Utilities |
52-Week High | $255.23 | $42.00 |
52-Week Low | $155.21 | $36.25 |
Typical Hold Time | 48 Days | 0 Days |
Enterprise Value | $74.11B | $19.82B |
Dividend Yield | 0.77% | 3.62% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $225.68, down slightly by 0.07% on the day, with a bearish technical signal despite strong fundamental performance. The company has consistently beaten earnings expectations in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.66 exceeding the $1.95 estimate. Revenue growth continues with $21.13B in 2025, supported by store expansion initiatives and value-focused strategies that are attracting cost-conscious shoppers.
ROST presents a compelling investment case with 64% analyst buy ratings and a $274.14 consensus price target representing 22% upside potential. However, near-term technical weakness and competitive pressures in discount retail warrant caution. The stock's premium valuation at 27.29 P/E requires sustained earnings growth to justify current levels.
WTRG trades at $39.29, up 0.36% with neutral technical signals. The stock shows mixed earnings performance with two beats and one miss in recent quarters, while maintaining strong profitability margins (21.6% net income margin). Analyst consensus is bullish with a $44.50 price target, supported by ongoing acquisitions and pending merger developments with American Water.
The stock presents a stable utility investment with moderate growth potential through strategic acquisitions, though near-term earnings volatility and integration risks from the pending merger warrant caution. Current valuation at 20.15 P/E appears reasonable given the company's consistent cash flow generation and defensive sector positioning.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About Ross Stores, Inc.
Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →About Essential Utilities Inc. Common Stock
Essential Utilities Inc. is a holding company for regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utilities, operating under the Aqua and Peoples brands. It serves customers across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Read more on WTRG →
