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H2O America
(NASDAQ:HTO)
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Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$70.00
▲(20.59% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:05/20/26
The score is driven primarily by stable but capex-heavy financial performance (cash flow and historical leverage are the main constraints) and a constructive earnings outlook with reiterated guidance and strengthened financing. These positives are tempered by soft near-term technical momentum and a premium P/E that limits valuation support despite a ~3% dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Steady revenue and margins
Consistent top‑line growth and stable ~12–13% net margins reflect the regulated water utility model where costs and investments are largely recoverable through rates. This durability supports predictable earnings and cash generation over multi‑year regulatory cycles, underpinning long‑term financial planning.
Negative Factors
Capex-driven weak free cash flow
Sustained heavy capital expenditure historically produced negative free cash flow, constraining internal funding and forcing dependence on external financing. Even with TTM positive FCF, its small proportion of net income limits cash cushion for discretionary needs and increases sensitivity to capex schedule changes.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Steady revenue and margins
Consistent top‑line growth and stable ~12–13% net margins reflect the regulated water utility model where costs and investments are largely recoverable through rates. This durability supports predictable earnings and cash generation over multi‑year regulatory cycles, underpinning long‑term financial planning.
Read all positive factors
H2O America (HTO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
Market Cap
$2.70B
Dividend Yield2.69%
Average Volume (3M)494.21K
Price to Earnings (P/E)22.0
Beta (1Y)-0.03
Revenue Growth6.47%
EPS Growth-1.90%
CountryUS
Employees837
SectorUtilities
Sector Strength65
IndustryRegulated Water
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)2.93
Shares Outstanding41,840,250
10 Day Avg. Volume540,725
30 Day Avg. Volume494,208
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio3.60
Price to Book (P/B)1.14
Price to Sales (P/S)2.20
P/FCF Ratio-6.32
Enterprise Value/Market Cap<0.01
Enterprise Value/Revenue<0.01
Enterprise Value/Gross Profit<0.01
Enterprise Value/Ebitda<0.01
Forecast
1Y Price Target
$64.33Price Target Upside10.82% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering3
EPS Forecast (FY)2.8
Revenue Forecast (FY)$884.16M
H2O America Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
H2O America, operating nationwide via its various subsidiaries, is a key provider of essential water utility and associated services. The company manages the entire water lifecycle, from procuring, storing, and purifying water to its distribution,...
How the Company Makes Money
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H2O America Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Apr 28, 2026
(Q1-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jul 27, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized several strong strategic and financial positives: a very successful $700M equity raise, underlying net income growth of ~15%, reaffirmed full-year guidance, a detailed $2.7B five-year capital plan with ~80% expected to qualify for regulatory recovery, and concrete progress on QuadVest and other regulatory filings. Offsetting items include EPS dilution from a higher share count leaving EPS flat despite net income growth, rising operating and water production costs, significant near-term project costs (PFAS remediation, Texas investments), and timing/regulatory risk around the QuadVest closing and future Texas rate cases. On balance, the highlights — particularly the oversubscribed equity financing, strong liquidity, affirmed guidance, and visible regulatory recovery mechanisms — materially outweigh the headwinds.Positive Updates
Quarterly EPS and Underlying Net Income Growth
GAAP diluted EPS of $0.49 and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.50 for Q1 2026; underlying net income grew roughly 15% year-over-year but EPS was unchanged versus 2025 due to higher share count.
Negative Updates
EPS Neutral Despite Net Income Growth Due to Dilution
Although underlying net income rose ~15% YoY, reported and adjusted EPS were flat versus 2025 due to higher share count from ATM program and March equity issuance; Ann quantified dilution at roughly $0.07 per share.
Read all updates
Q1-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Quarterly EPS and Underlying Net Income Growth
GAAP diluted EPS of $0.49 and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.50 for Q1 2026; underlying net income grew roughly 15% year-over-year but EPS was unchanged versus 2025 due to higher share count.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
H2O America reiterated standalone 2026 EPS guidance of $3.08–$3.18 (Q1 GAAP diluted EPS $0.49; adjusted $0.50) and reiterated its 2026–2030 plan targeting a 6%–8% long‑term organic EPS CAGR (non‑linear, aiming at or above the top end using 2025 adjusted EPS of $2.99 as the base), with QuadVest accretion expected beginning in 2028. Management expects full‑year 2026 CapEx of $483 million (Q1 spend $85 million, 18% of the year) and a five‑year 2026–2030 capital plan of $2.7 billion (roughly 80% qualifying for timely regulatory recovery), driving an estimated 13% rate‑base CAGR off a year‑end 2025 rate base of $2.8 billion. Financing posture: a $700 million equity raise (upsized from $550 million, >5x oversubscribed, priced at a 2.6% discount) including a $400 million forward agreement available through 2027, intent to stay out of equity markets through at least YE2027, and anticipated debt issuance of $100–$200 million to fund QuadVest; liquidity includes $370 million in available bank lines and cash equivalents, S&P A‑ rating affirmed, and expected FFO‑to‑debt of ~11%–12% through 2027 (above the 11% downgrade threshold), rising to >12% in 2028 with a longer‑term target toward ~15%+ (A‑flat). Transaction and regulatory timing: QuadVest ratemaking FMV cited at $483.6 million with an expected close in H2 2026, QuadVest active connections >57,200 (up 5% Q1 and 16% in 2025; pipeline net +5,000 YTD despite converting 2,800), Texas share of customers projected to rise from 8% today to 26% by 2029, a combined Texas GRC to be filed early 2027 with new rates effective early 2028, and remaining regulatory items highlighted (e.g., SJWC Williams Station PFAS ion‑exchange capex ~$176M; CT GRC seeks ≈$26M annual revenue to recover ≈$129M of investments; ME GRC requests $9.5M to recover ≈$36M).H2O America Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
78
Positive
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
Cash Flow
55
Neutral
| Breakdown | TTM | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 816.28M | 800.59M | 748.44M | 670.36M | 620.70M | 573.69M |
| Gross Profit | 452.65M | 374.11M | 425.12M | 388.43M | 357.17M | 318.57M |
| EBITDA | 311.03M | 321.33M | 289.38M | 265.23M | 246.82M | 219.66M |
| Net Income | 105.04M | 102.58M | 93.97M | 84.99M | 73.83M | 60.48M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 5.35B | 5.15B | 4.66B | 4.35B | 3.76B | 3.49B |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 153.01M | 20.69M | 11.11M | 9.72M | 12.34M | 10.91M |
| Total Debt | 1.87B | 1.98B | 1.83B | 1.75B | 1.66B | 1.60B |
| Total Liabilities | 3.52B | 3.61B | 3.29B | 3.11B | 2.64B | 2.46B |
| Stockholders Equity | 1.83B | 1.54B | 1.37B | 1.23B | 1.11B | 1.03B |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | -437.82M | -278.10M | -185.11M | -99.89M | -78.04M | -123.77M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 245.33M | 244.80M | 195.53M | 190.83M | 166.20M | 130.04M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -528.27M | -520.10M | -340.10M | -322.27M | -244.33M | -260.00M |
| Financing Cash Flow | 412.26M | 284.87M | 145.96M | 128.82M | 78.35M | 132.81M |
H2O America Technical Analysis
Positive
58.05
Price Trends
58.92
Positive
58.18
Positive
53.53
Positive
Market Momentum
1.63
Negative
65.16
Neutral
77.60
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HTO, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 58.05 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 61.79, below the 50-day MA of 58.92, and above the 200-day MA of 53.53, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.63 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.16 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 77.60 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for HTO.
H2O America Risk Analysis
H2O America disclosed 42 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. H2O America reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks
H2O America Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
66 Neutral | $17.65B | 18.10 | 5.60% | 3.62% | 6.62% | 11.55% | |
65 Neutral | $2.70B | 22.02 | 6.60% | 3.40% | 6.47% | -1.90% | |
65 Neutral | $2.87B | 101.59 | 2.54% | 2.62% | -4.18% | -41.43% | |
64 Neutral | $3.46B | 25.77 | 13.06% | 2.64% | 11.68% | 5.79% | |
63 Neutral | $1.06B | 23.47 | 9.07% | 2.67% | 1.76% | -0.20% | |
55 Neutral | $3.08B | 25.72 | 6.96% | 2.88% | 4.20% | -12.47% |
* Utilities Sector Average
HTO
H2O America
64.02
14.73
29.88%
AWR
American States Water
86.60
12.96
17.60%
CWT
California Water Service
50.62
6.29
14.18%
MSEX
Middlesex Water Company
56.01
3.05
5.76%
WTTR
Select Energy Services
20.41
11.25
122.87%
ARIS
Aris Mining
14.70
7.32
99.19%
H2O America Corporate Events
Executive/Board Changes
H2O America announces executive Kristen Johnson’s upcoming departure
Neutral
Jun 12, 2026
On June 10, 2026, H2O America disclosed that it had reached a mutual agreement with executive Kristen Johnson for her to separate from the company, with her departure becoming effective July 3, 2026. The company classified the move as a separation...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
H2O America Shareholders Reaffirm Board and Governance Policies
Positive
May 19, 2026
At its May 13, 2026 stockholders’ meeting, H2O America shareholders elected nine directors to the board and approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the company’s named executive officers as presented in its 2026 proxy mater...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.