California Water Service Group (CWT)vsSouthern Company (SO)
CWT
California Water Service Group
$42.24
-6.92%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.72B
SO
Southern Company
$96.70
+3.41%
UTILITIES · Cap: $109.01B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Southern Company generates 2855% more annual revenue ($29.55B vs $1.00B). SO leads profitability with a 14.7% profit margin vs 12.8%. CWT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.12. SO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 54/100 (C-).
CWT
Hold47
out of 100
Grade: D+
SO
Buy54
out of 100
Grade: C-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+29.8%
Fair Value
$62.85
Current Price
$42.24
$20.61 discount
Margin of Safety
-35.0%
Fair Value
$71.61
Current Price
$96.70
$25.09 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Large-cap with strong market position
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of 7.7% — below average capital efficiency
Weak financial health signals
Revenue declined 1.0%
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 22.1%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CWT
The strongest argument for CWT centers on Price/Book.
Bull Case : SO
The strongest argument for SO centers on Market Cap. Revenue growth of 10.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : CWT
The primary concerns for CWT are PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : SO
The primary concerns for SO are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CWT profiles as a declining stock while SO is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
CWT carries more volatility with a beta of 0.61 — expect wider price swings.
SO is growing revenue faster at 10.1% — sustainability is the question.
CWT generates stronger free cash flow (-104M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
SO scores higher overall (54/100 vs 47/100) and 10.1% revenue growth. CWT offers better value entry with a 29.8% margin of safety. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
California Water Service Group
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA
California Water Service Group provides public water and related services in California, Washington, New Mexico and Hawaii. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California.
Visit Website →Southern Company
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC · USA
Southern Company is an American gas and electric utility holding company based in the southern United States. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with executive offices also located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?