Analysts Forecast 10% Growth for VIG in the Near Future
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 04 2025
0mins
Should l Buy MWA?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF Analysis: The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) has an implied analyst target price of $230.90 per unit, indicating a potential upside of 9.81% from its recent trading price of $210.28.
Notable Holdings with Upside Potential: Key underlying holdings of VIG, such as First Business Financial Services (FBIZ), German American Bancorp (GABC), and Mueller Water Products (MWA), show significant upside potential based on analyst target prices, with expected increases of 12.55%, 11.96%, and 9.96% respectively.
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Analyst Views on MWA
Wall Street analysts forecast MWA stock price to fall
5 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 29.910
Low
25.00
Averages
27.20
High
30.00
Current: 29.910
Low
25.00
Averages
27.20
High
30.00
About MWA
Mueller Water Products, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of products and services used in the transmission, distribution and measurement of water in North America. The Company operates through two segments: Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions. Its Water Flow Solutions segment's portfolio includes iron gate valves, specialty valves and service brass products. Its Water Management Solutions segment's portfolio includes fire hydrants, repair and installation, natural gas, metering, leak detection, and pressure management and control products and solutions. Its product and service portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe connection and repair products, metering products, leak detection, pipe condition assessment, pressure management products, and software technology that provides critical water system data. The Company's brands include Canada Valve, Centurion, Echologics, Echoshore, ePulse, Ez-Max, Hersey, Hydro Gate, Hydro-Guard, HYMAX and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Analysis of Tariffs' Impact on the U.S. Economy
- Total Tariffs Paid: Since the implementation of widespread trade tariffs by the Trump administration in 2018, U.S. states have paid a total of $199 billion in tariffs, with California leading at $38 billion, significantly increasing operational costs for small businesses and hindering economic recovery.
- Voter Opposition: Recent polling indicates that 54% of voters oppose Trump's tariff policies, reflecting strong public dissatisfaction with economic burdens, which could exert pressure on the Republican Party in the upcoming midterm elections.
- Small Business Struggles: Many small business owners are facing operational challenges due to tariffs; for instance, Hiblow USA in Michigan incurred $1.2 million in tariff costs, forcing the company to halt expansion plans that would have created 3-4 new jobs.
- Consumer Impact: A toy store owner closed her 44-year-old business due to tariffs that led to price increases and declining sales, illustrating the dual impact of tariffs on consumers and small businesses alike.
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Mueller Water Products Reports Record Q1 2026 Earnings and Raises Guidance
- Significant Revenue Growth: Mueller Water Products achieved net sales of $318.2 million in Q1 2026, reflecting a 4.6% year-over-year increase, driven by resilient market demand and exceptional customer service, underscoring the company's leadership in water infrastructure.
- Margin Expansion: The gross margin increased by 380 basis points to 37.6% year-over-year, primarily due to improved manufacturing efficiencies and price increases, which are expected to further enhance profitability in the second half of the year.
- Record Adjusted EBITDA: The first quarter saw adjusted EBITDA reach $72.1 million, a 13.5% increase year-over-year, with the adjusted EBITDA margin expanding to 22.7%, reflecting the company's success in cost control and pricing strategies.
- Optimistic Outlook: Management raised the 2026 guidance for net sales by $20 million, now expecting growth between 2.8% and 4.2%, demonstrating confidence in future market performance, particularly under the new leadership.
See More
Mueller Water Products Q1 Earnings Preview
- Earnings Announcement Date: Mueller Water Products (MWA) is set to release its Q1 earnings on February 4th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.26, reflecting a 4.0% year-over-year growth, indicating ongoing improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $314.03 million, representing a 3.2% year-over-year increase, which underscores the company's stable demand and gradual market share growth in the water industry.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, MWA has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 100% of the time, demonstrating the company's reliability in financial forecasting and market adaptability.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates saw one upward revision and two downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced no upward revisions and four downward adjustments, potentially reflecting a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.
See More
Mueller Water Products Nominates Gregg Sengstack to Board of Directors
- Board Changes: Mueller Water Products has nominated Gregg C. Sengstack to join the Board at the Annual Meeting on February 9, 2026, while Thomas Hansen will retire, increasing the Board to nine members, with eight independent directors enhancing corporate governance.
- Experienced Leadership: Sengstack brings over 30 years of experience in manufacturing leadership, international market development, and financial stewardship, having previously served as CEO of Franklin Electric, where he drove significant shareholder value creation, which is expected to provide strategic insights for Mueller.
- Strategic Focus: Board Chair Stephen C. Van Arsdell emphasized that this change aims to introduce fresh perspectives while retaining experienced directors, indicating the company's commitment to creating value in a changing market and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Future Outlook: With the renewal of Board members, Mueller Water Products will continue to pursue its strategic objectives to enhance value for all stakeholders, which is expected to further drive the company's long-term growth and market competitiveness.
See More
Mueller Water Products Nominates Gregg Sengstack to Board, Thomas Hansen to Retire
- Board Changes: Mueller Water Products has nominated Gregg C. Sengstack to join the Board, with the formal appointment set for the Annual Meeting on February 9, 2026, aiming to introduce fresh perspectives to enhance the company's strategic focus and operational capabilities.
- Experienced Leadership: Sengstack brings over 30 years of manufacturing leadership experience, having served as CEO at Franklin Electric where he drove strategic transformation and shareholder value creation, which is expected to provide valuable industry insights to Mueller.
- Board Structure Optimization: Following this change, the Board will consist of nine members, eight of whom are independent directors, ensuring diversity and professionalism in corporate governance, which will enhance decision-making quality and company transparency.
- Hansen's Contributions: Current Board member Thomas Hansen will retire at the Annual Meeting, with the Board Chair expressing gratitude for his significant contributions to the company's strategic objectives, highlighting the importance of continually introducing fresh perspectives.
See More
Projected Target Price for DGRO Analysts: $77
ETF Performance Analysis: The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) has an implied analyst target price of $76.77, indicating a potential upside of 13.30% from its current trading price of $67.76.
Notable Holdings: Key underlying holdings of DGRO, such as Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp (AUB), Mueller Water Products Inc (MWA), and Enpro Inc (NPO), show significant upside potential based on analyst target prices, with AUB having a target 22.68% higher, MWA 19.15% higher, and NPO 16.86% higher than their recent prices.
Analyst Target Justification: The article raises questions about whether analysts' target prices are justified or overly optimistic, suggesting that high targets could lead to potential downgrades if they do not align with recent developments in the companies or industries.
Investor Research Recommendation: Investors are encouraged to conduct further research to assess the validity of the analysts' targets and to understand the implications of the current market conditions on these price predictions.
See More
Analysis of Tariffs' Impact on the U.S. Economy
- Total Tariffs Paid: Since the implementation of widespread trade tariffs by the Trump administration in 2018, U.S. states have paid a total of $199 billion in tariffs, with California leading at $38 billion, significantly increasing operational costs for small businesses and hindering economic recovery.
- Voter Opposition: Recent polling indicates that 54% of voters oppose Trump's tariff policies, reflecting strong public dissatisfaction with economic burdens, which could exert pressure on the Republican Party in the upcoming midterm elections.
- Small Business Struggles: Many small business owners are facing operational challenges due to tariffs; for instance, Hiblow USA in Michigan incurred $1.2 million in tariff costs, forcing the company to halt expansion plans that would have created 3-4 new jobs.
- Consumer Impact: A toy store owner closed her 44-year-old business due to tariffs that led to price increases and declining sales, illustrating the dual impact of tariffs on consumers and small businesses alike.
See More
Mueller Water Products Reports Record Q1 2026 Earnings and Raises Guidance
- Significant Revenue Growth: Mueller Water Products achieved net sales of $318.2 million in Q1 2026, reflecting a 4.6% year-over-year increase, driven by resilient market demand and exceptional customer service, underscoring the company's leadership in water infrastructure.
- Margin Expansion: The gross margin increased by 380 basis points to 37.6% year-over-year, primarily due to improved manufacturing efficiencies and price increases, which are expected to further enhance profitability in the second half of the year.
- Record Adjusted EBITDA: The first quarter saw adjusted EBITDA reach $72.1 million, a 13.5% increase year-over-year, with the adjusted EBITDA margin expanding to 22.7%, reflecting the company's success in cost control and pricing strategies.
- Optimistic Outlook: Management raised the 2026 guidance for net sales by $20 million, now expecting growth between 2.8% and 4.2%, demonstrating confidence in future market performance, particularly under the new leadership.
See More
Mueller Water Products Q1 Earnings Preview
- Earnings Announcement Date: Mueller Water Products (MWA) is set to release its Q1 earnings on February 4th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $0.26, reflecting a 4.0% year-over-year growth, indicating ongoing improvement in profitability.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q1 is $314.03 million, representing a 3.2% year-over-year increase, which underscores the company's stable demand and gradual market share growth in the water industry.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, MWA has beaten EPS estimates 88% of the time and revenue estimates 100% of the time, demonstrating the company's reliability in financial forecasting and market adaptability.
- Estimate Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates saw one upward revision and two downward adjustments, while revenue estimates experienced no upward revisions and four downward adjustments, potentially reflecting a cautious market outlook on the company's future performance.
See More
Mueller Water Products Nominates Gregg Sengstack to Board of Directors
- Board Changes: Mueller Water Products has nominated Gregg C. Sengstack to join the Board at the Annual Meeting on February 9, 2026, while Thomas Hansen will retire, increasing the Board to nine members, with eight independent directors enhancing corporate governance.
- Experienced Leadership: Sengstack brings over 30 years of experience in manufacturing leadership, international market development, and financial stewardship, having previously served as CEO of Franklin Electric, where he drove significant shareholder value creation, which is expected to provide strategic insights for Mueller.
- Strategic Focus: Board Chair Stephen C. Van Arsdell emphasized that this change aims to introduce fresh perspectives while retaining experienced directors, indicating the company's commitment to creating value in a changing market and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Future Outlook: With the renewal of Board members, Mueller Water Products will continue to pursue its strategic objectives to enhance value for all stakeholders, which is expected to further drive the company's long-term growth and market competitiveness.
See More
Mueller Water Products Nominates Gregg Sengstack to Board, Thomas Hansen to Retire
- Board Changes: Mueller Water Products has nominated Gregg C. Sengstack to join the Board, with the formal appointment set for the Annual Meeting on February 9, 2026, aiming to introduce fresh perspectives to enhance the company's strategic focus and operational capabilities.
- Experienced Leadership: Sengstack brings over 30 years of manufacturing leadership experience, having served as CEO at Franklin Electric where he drove strategic transformation and shareholder value creation, which is expected to provide valuable industry insights to Mueller.
- Board Structure Optimization: Following this change, the Board will consist of nine members, eight of whom are independent directors, ensuring diversity and professionalism in corporate governance, which will enhance decision-making quality and company transparency.
- Hansen's Contributions: Current Board member Thomas Hansen will retire at the Annual Meeting, with the Board Chair expressing gratitude for his significant contributions to the company's strategic objectives, highlighting the importance of continually introducing fresh perspectives.
See More
Projected Target Price for DGRO Analysts: $77
ETF Performance Analysis: The iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) has an implied analyst target price of $76.77, indicating a potential upside of 13.30% from its current trading price of $67.76.
Notable Holdings: Key underlying holdings of DGRO, such as Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp (AUB), Mueller Water Products Inc (MWA), and Enpro Inc (NPO), show significant upside potential based on analyst target prices, with AUB having a target 22.68% higher, MWA 19.15% higher, and NPO 16.86% higher than their recent prices.
Analyst Target Justification: The article raises questions about whether analysts' target prices are justified or overly optimistic, suggesting that high targets could lead to potential downgrades if they do not align with recent developments in the companies or industries.
Investor Research Recommendation: Investors are encouraged to conduct further research to assess the validity of the analysts' targets and to understand the implications of the current market conditions on these price predictions.
See More
