WallStSmart

California Water Service Group (CWT)vsUniversal Corporation (UVV)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Universal Corporation generates 188% more annual revenue ($2.91B vs $1.01B). CWT leads profitability with a 11.8% profit margin vs 2.9%. CWT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.93. CWT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).

CWT

Buy

53

out of 100

Grade: C-

Growth: 4.7Profit: 5.0Value: 6.7Quality: 2.8
Piotroski: 1/9Altman Z: 0.74

UVV

Hold

45

out of 100

Grade: D+

Growth: 4.0Profit: 5.0Value: 6.7Quality: 5.0
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

CWTUndervalued (+30.3%)

Margin of Safety

+30.3%

Fair Value

$63.31

Current Price

$43.03

$20.28 discount

UndervaluedFair: $63.31Overvalued
UVVUndervalued (+33.4%)

Margin of Safety

+33.4%

Fair Value

$79.32

Current Price

$53.90

$25.42 discount

UndervaluedFair: $79.32Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

CWT1 strengths · Avg: 8.0/10
Price/BookValuation
1.5x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

UVV2 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Price/BookValuation
0.9x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

P/E RatioValuation
16.0x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Areas to Watch

CWT4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
1.934/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Return on EquityProfitability
7.2%3/10

ROE of 7.2% — below average capital efficiency

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
1/93/10

Weak financial health signals

EPS GrowthGrowth
-69.3%2/10

Earnings declined 69.3%

UVV4 concerns · Avg: 2.8/10
Market CapQuality
$1.35B3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Return on EquityProfitability
7.0%3/10

ROE of 7.0% — below average capital efficiency

Profit MarginProfitability
2.9%3/10

2.9% margin — thin

PEG RatioValuation
3.082/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : CWT

The strongest argument for CWT centers on Price/Book.

Bull Case : UVV

The strongest argument for UVV centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.

Bear Case : CWT

The primary concerns for CWT are PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Piotroski F-Score.

Bear Case : UVV

The primary concerns for UVV are Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Thin 2.9% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

CWT carries more volatility with a beta of 0.61 — expect wider price swings.

CWT is growing revenue faster at 5.2% — sustainability is the question.

UVV generates stronger free cash flow (95M), providing more financial flexibility.

Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.

Bottom Line

CWT scores higher overall (53/100 vs 45/100). UVV offers better value entry with a 33.4% 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.

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Universal Corporation

CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · TOBACCO · USA

Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant ingredients worldwide. The company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.

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