American States Water Company (AWR)vsSouthwest Gas Holdings Inc (SWX)
AWR
American States Water Company
$75.29
-3.31%
UTILITIES · Cap: $3.05B
SWX
Southwest Gas Holdings Inc
$91.90
+0.21%
UTILITIES · Cap: $6.65B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southwest Gas Holdings Inc generates 195% more annual revenue ($1.94B vs $658.07M). SWX leads profitability with a 22.7% profit margin vs 19.8%. SWX appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.24. SWX earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 57/100 (C).
AWR
Buy56
out of 100
Grade: C
SWX
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-3.5%
Fair Value
$68.55
Current Price
$75.29
$6.74 premium
Margin of Safety
-18.3%
Fair Value
$72.67
Current Price
$91.90
$19.23 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 28.8%
Strong operational efficiency at 33.9%
Keeps 23 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Areas to Watch
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 1.2%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Expensive relative to growth rate
Moderate valuation
ROE of 6.1% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 13.1%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AWR
The strongest argument for AWR centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 19.8% and operating margin at 28.8%. Revenue growth of 14.8% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : SWX
The strongest argument for SWX centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 22.7% and operating margin at 33.9%.
Bear Case : AWR
The primary concerns for AWR are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : SWX
The primary concerns for SWX are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Return on Equity.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AWR profiles as a mature stock while SWX is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.
AWR carries more volatility with a beta of 0.65 — expect wider price swings.
AWR is growing revenue faster at 14.8% — sustainability is the question.
AWR generates stronger free cash flow (-36M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
SWX scores higher overall (57/100 vs 56/100), backed by strong 22.7% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
American States Water Company
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA
American States Water Company provides water and electricity services to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers in the United States. The company is headquartered in San Dimas, California.
Visit Website →Southwest Gas Holdings Inc
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED GAS · USA
Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc. purchases, distributes and transports natural gas in Arizona, Nevada and California. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?