Hilliard Lyons Sees Aqua America's Fair Value At $27

"At $27, WTR would trade ~20x our 2017E EPS which we view as fair value given peer multiples, and more importantly, just sector-average growth prospects over next few years. Our target multiple falls from ~22x," analyst Spencer Joyce wrote in a note.

Apart from projecting further declines in ROE, Joyce expects the company to report a third consecutive year of sub-5 percent EPS growth in 2016 (and a 4th in 2017), "which is even below higher-end stories we target in the slower growth gas and electric utility industries."

Related Link: Aqua America Raises Quarterly Dividend 7.5% To $0.1913.

However, the analyst's FY 2016/2017 EPS estimates for the water and waste water utility holding company remain unchanged at $1.31/$1.35, respectively.

"We currently suggest an Underweight allocation to each Utility sector vertical (water, gas, electric), and recommend investors consolidate positions into ideas with a strong growth component. We still view WTR as one of the more at-risk stocks in the sector, and support rotating out of positions," Joyce added.