WallStSmart

H2O America (HTO)vsUniversal Corporation (UVV)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Universal Corporation generates 257% more annual revenue ($2.91B vs $816.28M). HTO leads profitability with a 12.9% profit margin vs 2.9%. HTO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.51. HTO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 57/100 (C).

HTO

Buy

57

out of 100

Grade: C

Growth: 5.3Profit: 5.5Value: 6.0Quality: 5.0

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

HTOUndervalued (+32.5%)

Margin of Safety

+32.5%

Fair Value

$76.99

Current Price

$57.60

$19.39 discount

UndervaluedFair: $76.99Overvalued
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

HTO2 strengths · Avg: 9.0/10
Price/BookValuation
1.4x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
21.5%8/10

Strong operational efficiency at 21.5%

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

HTO4 concerns · Avg: 2.8/10
EPS GrowthGrowth
0.0%4/10

0.0% earnings growth

Return on EquityProfitability
6.5%3/10

ROE of 6.5% — below average capital efficiency

PEG RatioValuation
2.512/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-49.23M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

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 : HTO

The strongest argument for HTO centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin.

Bull Case : UVV

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

Bear Case : HTO

The primary concerns for HTO are EPS Growth, Return on Equity, PEG Ratio.

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

UVV carries more volatility with a beta of 0.60 — expect wider price swings.

HTO is growing revenue faster at 9.4% — 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

HTO scores higher overall (57/100 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.

H2O America

UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA

H2O America, provides water utility and other related services in the United States. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Universal Corporation

CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · TOBACCO · USA

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

Want to dig deeper into these stocks?