UTL
UtilitiesUnitil Corporation · Diversified Utilities · $930M
What is Unitil Corporation?
Unitil Corporation is a small-cap public utility holding company serving electric and natural gas customers across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It operates regulated distribution networks alongside a modest non-regulated segment.
Unitil distributes electricity to customers in southeastern coastal New Hampshire and the greater Fitchburg area of Massachusetts, while delivering natural gas across southeastern New Hampshire, portions of Maine — including Portland and Lewiston-Auburn — and the same Massachusetts region. The company also operates interstate underground natural gas transmission pipelines and provides energy brokering, advisory, and real estate management services to commercial and industrial clients.
Incorporated in 1984 and headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire, Unitil has built its footprint across northern New England over several decades.
- Electric distribution across New Hampshire and Massachusetts
- Natural gas distribution in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts
- Interstate underground natural gas transmission pipeline operations
- Energy brokering and advisory services for commercial and industrial customers
Is UTL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates UTL as Below Average overall, reflecting meaningful weaknesses across several key dimensions of stock quality.
Valuation stands out as the relative bright spot in UTL's profile, rating Good — suggesting the stock is not obviously expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Moat and Growth pillars both land at Neutral, indicating a stable if unexceptional competitive position typical of regulated utilities.
Both the Quality and Risk pillars rate Weak, which raises questions about financial resilience and the risk profile investors take on at current conditions.
See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does UTL pay dividends?
Yes — Unitil Corporation pays a dividend.
Unitil pays a regular dividend, consistent with the income-oriented tradition of regulated utility companies. Utilities like Unitil typically prioritize returning cash to shareholders given the predictable, rate-regulated nature of their revenue. Investors drawn to UTL often do so partly for this income component rather than capital appreciation alone.
When does UTL report earnings?
Unitil Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.
As a regulated utility, Unitil's quarterly results tend to reflect rate-base growth, seasonal energy demand, and regulatory outcomes rather than dramatic swings. The Neutral Growth pillar suggests performance has been steady rather than accelerating in recent periods.
For the most recent quarter's results, visit Unitil Corporation's investor relations page directly.
UTL Price History
+9.9% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Unitil Corporation?
Based on Unitil Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
UTL Long-term Outlook
Unitil's fundamental outlook reflects the characteristics of a small regulated utility — modest, rate-driven growth with limited upside surprise potential. The Neutral Growth pillar points to incremental expansion tied to customer additions and infrastructure investment rather than rapid earnings acceleration. However, the Weak Risk pillar signals that headwinds — including regulatory, financial, or operational pressures — deserve close attention from long-term holders.
Growth drivers
- Rate-base expansion through regulated infrastructure investment
- Natural gas customer growth in underserved New England markets
- Energy advisory services providing modest non-regulated revenue diversification
Key risks
- Weak Risk pillar profile suggesting elevated financial or operational vulnerability
- Regulatory outcomes that may constrain allowed returns on equity
- Small-cap illiquidity and limited scale compared to larger regional utilities
UTL vs Peers
Unitil operates in a fragmented regulated utility landscape alongside peers of varying scale and geography.
A Brazilian integrated utility with significantly larger scale, offering exposure to South American energy markets rather than the regulated New England footprint Unitil serves.
Hawaiian Electric serves an island grid with unique renewable energy mandates and geographic constraints that differ substantially from Unitil's mainland New England distribution model.
MGE Energy is a Wisconsin-based utility with a reputation for strong financial quality metrics, generally regarded as operating at a higher quality tier than Unitil within the small-cap utility space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Unitil Corporation do?
Unitil distributes electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. It also operates interstate natural gas transmission pipelines and offers energy brokering and advisory services.
Does UTL pay dividends?
Yes, Unitil pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with the income-focused tradition of regulated utilities, which generate relatively predictable cash flows from rate-regulated operations. Investors should check Unitil's investor relations page for the current dividend rate and payment schedule.
When does UTL report earnings?
Unitil reports on a quarterly cadence, as is standard for US-listed companies. For exact upcoming report dates, refer to Unitil's investor relations page, as our data source does not cover specific future earnings dates.
Is UTL a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates UTL as Below Average overall. While the Valuation pillar rates Good, both the Quality and Risk pillars rate Weak — a combination that warrants careful consideration. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.
Is UTL overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, UTL rates Good, suggesting the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals at this time. That said, valuation should be weighed alongside the Weak Quality and Risk profiles before drawing conclusions.
How does UTL compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like MGE Energy, Hawaiian Electric, and Companhia Paranaense de Energia, Unitil is notably smaller in scale. Its Below Average UQS Score suggests it lags on quality and risk dimensions relative to higher-rated utilities in the sector.
What is UTL's market cap bracket?
Unitil Corporation is classified as a small-cap company. This means it carries less liquidity and analyst coverage than large-cap utilities, which can amplify both opportunity and risk for investors.
Who founded Unitil Corporation?
Unitil Corporation was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire. Detailed founding history is publicly available through the company's official filings and investor relations materials.
Is UTL a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, UTL's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality and Risk pillars — suggests caution. Regulated utilities can offer stability, but the current pillar profile indicates UTL faces more headwinds than typical sector peers. Pro members can view the complete analysis.
What sector does UTL belong to?
UTL belongs to the Utilities sector, specifically operating as a regulated electric and natural gas distribution company. Utilities are generally considered defensive investments, though individual company quality can vary significantly within the sector.
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Pro Analysis
UTL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | 43.8 | 40.2 | 46.0 | 43.0 | 13.3 | 77.9 | +1.0 |
| May 7, 2026 | 42.8 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 76.9 | +0.3 |
| May 3, 2026 | 42.5 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 74.9 | +0.1 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 42.4 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 74.2 | +0.1 |
| Apr 19, 2026 | 42.3 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 73.5 | 0.0 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 42.3 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 73.7 | -0.1 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 42.4 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 42.1 | 10.5 | 74.3 | -0.9 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 43.3 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 47.9 | 10.5 | 72.2 | -0.1 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 43.4 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 47.9 | 10.5 | 73.0 | +12.0 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 31.4 | 39.1 | 46.0 | 19.2 | 10.5 | 31.4 | -12.1 |
UTL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 40.2/100 (25%)Unitil Corporation has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 43.0/100 (20%)Unitil Corporation shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 13.3/100 (15%)Unitil Corporation presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 77.9/100 (15%)Unitil Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 46/100 (25%)Unitil Corporation possesses some competitive advantages but faces meaningful competition. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for UTL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the UTL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Unitil Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Unitil Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Unitil Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.