Middlesex Water Company logo

Middlesex Water Company(MSEX)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 5 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+2.64% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$59.87
11/06/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MSEX

11/06/2026: MSEX (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Middlesex Water Company is a stable, regulated water and wastewater utility serving customers in New Jersey and Delaware. The company is known for its defensive business model, which provides consistent cash flows and a reliable dividend, making it a suitable option for income-focused, low-risk investors. Key strengths include its long-standing operational history and a strategic focus on regional consolidation and infrastructure modernization. However, the company faces risks related to heavy capital expenditure requirements, interest rate sensitivity, and potential regulatory lag. Investors should monitor the progress of infrastructure projects and the outcome of future rate cases, as these are critical drivers of the company's financial health and growth trajectory.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitUtility stocks typically offer low, stable growth rather than the high growth profiles sought by growth investors.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock tends to show low volatility and limited rapid price momentum.
Value investorMixed fitUtility valuations can be sensitive to interest rates, requiring careful entry points.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company's long history of dividend payments makes it well-suited for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorStrong fitAs a regulated utility with essential services, it offers lower volatility compared to the broader market.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityLowUtilities are generally defensive assets with lower price fluctuations than cyclical sectors.
Valuation riskMediumUtility valuations are often highly correlated with long-term interest rates.
Competition risk (Natural Monopoly)Low / noneRegulated water utilities operate as monopolies in their service areas.
Business qualityStrongThe business provides essential, non-discretionary services with high barriers to entry.
Dividend incomeStrongThe company maintains a reliable dividend policy supported by stable cash flows.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful capital project delivery and regulatory compliance are essential for rate recovery.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -31.07%
Avg. Invested days 31
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/06/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MSEX receives a 3-star rating based on the available scored pillars. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MSEX has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong profitability (net margin 22.0%) is partially offset by slightly negative earnings growth (-3.4%), weak cash generation (FCF margin -17.3%), moderate revenue growth (+1.5%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MSEX's financial health is supported by solid profitability, including gross margin of 39.2% and operating margin of 27.9%. Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is MSEX's strongest growth driver at +1.5% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-3.4%, slightly negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-112.4%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 87.6% and approximately 97.4% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 2.29% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 16.63%
T. Rowe Price Investment Management,Inc. 9.27%
Neuberger Berman Group LLC 8.51%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 5.85%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.26%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MSEX generates approximately $392 of gross profit, $279 of operating income, and $-173 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Negative free cash flow explains the 2-star rating, with weak cash conversion and soft capital efficiency.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 10.12%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MSEX has a high-quality, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.15B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 21.61
1Y Target Price 61
Price to earnings Ratio 21.61
1Y Target Price 61
Volume (30-day avg) 149.7K shares
Beta 0.69
52 Weeks Range 47.25 - 60.72
Updated Date 11/07/2026
52 Weeks Range 47.25 - 60.72
Updated Date 11/07/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 2.42%
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.77

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Regulated Water ServicesWater distribution and wastewater treatment revenue in NJ and DE.The core, regulated utility business provides the most stable and predictable revenue.
Contract OperationsManagement services for third-party water systems.This adds a layer of diversified revenue by selling technical expertise to other municipalities.
Geography: Mid-AtlanticConcentration in New Jersey and Delaware.Performance is highly tied to the regulatory environment of these two specific states.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-29
When After Market
Estimate 0.86
Actual 0.95

Profitability

Profit Margin 24.5%
Operating Margin (TTM) 38.91%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 3.1%
Return on Equity (TTM) 10.07%

Valuation

Trailing PE 21.61
Forward PE 28.57
Enterprise Value 1.58B
Price to Sales(TTM) 5.4
Enterprise Value 1.58B
Price to Sales(TTM) 5.4
Enterprise Value to Revenue 7.42
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 15.03
Shares Outstanding 19.13M
Shares Floating 18.64M
Shares Outstanding 19.13M
Shares Floating 18.64M
Percent Insiders 2.29
Percent Institutions 87.57

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.