California Water Service Group (CWT) vs H2O America (HTO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
H2O America (HTO) has outperformed California Water Service Group (CWT) over the past year, gaining 21.8% versus a loss of 2.0%. Over five years, HTO leads with a -14.6% price change compared with -25.6% for CWT. California Water Service Group is the larger company by market cap ($2.81 billion vs $2.43 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while H2O America is growing revenue faster (+7.0% vs +6.4%).
On valuation, California Water Service Group trades at a lower forward P/E (16.5x vs 21.3x for H2O America). H2O America offers the higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 2.80%). California Water Service Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.3% versus 12.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CWT | HTO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $45.40 | $57.98 |
| Market cap | $2.81B | $2.43B |
| 1-day change | -0.33% | -0.34% |
| YTD return | +4.78% | +18.35% |
| 1-year return | -2.05% | +21.76% |
| 5-year return | -25.59% | -14.63% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.36 | 20.56 |
| Forward P/E | 16.51 | 21.30 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.23 | $2.82 |
| Dividend yield | 2.80% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $1.27 | $1.72 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $963.70M | $800.59M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.41% | +6.97% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $128.21M | $102.58M |
| Operating margin | 17.68% | 22.17% |
| Net margin | 13.30% | 12.81% |
| 52-week high | $53.82 | $67.09 |
| 52-week low | $41.29 | $43.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.64% | -13.58% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.39% | +15.56% |
| Average volume | 480.32K | 448.59K |
| Shares outstanding | 61.84M | 41.86M |
| Employees | 1,336 | 837 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Water Supply | Water Supply |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- HTO has outperformed CWT by 23.8 percentage points over the past year.
About California Water Service Group
CWT stock →California Water Service Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in California, Washington, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Texas. It is involved in the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution, and sale of water for domestic, industrial, public, and irrigation uses, as well as for fire protection services.
Utilities · Water Supply · 1,336 employees
About H2O America
HTO stock →H2O America, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in the United States. The company engages in production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services; and supplies groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from Valley Water District.
Utilities · Water Supply · 837 employees
CWT vs HTO FAQ
Which is bigger, California Water Service Group or H2O America?
California Water Service Group (CWT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $2.81B compared with $2.43B for H2O America (HTO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CWT or HTO?
HTO returned +21.76% over the past 12 months, compared with -2.05% for CWT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CWT or HTO?
CWT has the lower trailing P/E at 20.4, versus 20.6 for HTO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, California Water Service Group or H2O America?
H2O America has the higher yield at 2.97%, compared with 2.80% for California Water Service Group.
Are California Water Service Group and H2O America in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Water Supply industry within the Utilities sector.