Tearsheet

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 9.6%, Dividend Yield is 3.3%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 5.4%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -71%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -104%
Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 109%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 28%
  Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -32%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 26%
  
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, and Desalination.
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 9.6%, Dividend Yield is 3.3%, ERPEquity Risk Premium (ERP) = Total Yield - Risk Free Rate, Reflects the premium above risk free assets offered by the investment. is 5.4%
1 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 28%
2 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 26%
3 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, Wastewater Management, and Desalination.
4 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -71%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -104%
5 Debt is significant
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is 109%
6 Not cash flow generative
FCF/Rev LTMFree Cash Flow / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is -32%

Valuation, Metrics & Events

HTO Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

H2O America (HTO) experienced a period of mixed news and analyst sentiment between August 31, 2025, and December 4, 2025, during which its stock price reportedly saw a decline of 3.9%. This movement can be attributed to several factors despite generally positive company-specific developments.

1. Shareholder Dilution Concerns from Equity Offerings. H2O America has consistently raised funds by selling shares "at the market" in recent quarters, including 495,500 shares at an average price of $53.87 in Q1 2025, generating over $26.5 million. This ongoing increase in share count has diluted the position of long-term shareholders.

2. High Capital Expenditure and Debt. The company faces a significant "hunger for capital" with average capital spending projected at $400 million per annum in the coming years, compared to $113 million in depreciation and amortization in 2024. While H2O America maintains an investment-grade credit rating of "A-" with a stable outlook from S&P Global, its net debt was reported around $1.8 billion with EBITDA at $283 million. These substantial capital needs and elevated debt levels could weigh on investor sentiment.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
HTO Return-0%8%13%-18%-23%-0%-23%
Peers Return6%27%-6%17%-12%10%43%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
HTO Win Rate58%50%58%33%33%50% 
Peers Win Rate58%62%47%52%42%48% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
HTO Max Drawdown-30%-15%-22%-28%-23%-8% 
Peers Max Drawdown-26%-9%-28%-21%-20%-7% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: CWT, MSEX, CWCO, AWK, WTRG.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventHTOS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-31.4%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven45.7%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-33.8%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven51.0%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven975 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-24.1%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven31.8%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven81 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-56.5%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven129.7%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven2725 days1480 days

Compare to CWT, MSEX, CWCO, AWK, WTRG


In The Past

H2O America's stock fell -31.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 12/27/2022. A -31.4% loss requires a 45.7% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About H2O America (HTO)

Better Bets than H2O America (HTO)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Title
0ARTICLES

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to HTO. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.7%-0.7%-0.7%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.5%2.5%0.0%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
9.3%9.3%-3.2%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.7%-0.7%-0.7%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.5%2.5%0.0%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
9.3%9.3%-3.2%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for H2O America

Peers to compare with:

Financials

HTOCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameH2O Amer.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
Mkt Price48.0044.5151.1433.98130.9738.8646.25
Mkt Cap1.72.70.90.525.511.02.2
Rev LTM8041,0021951295,0702,380903
Op Inc LTM18818954161,874921189
FCF LTM-257-181-3121-1,097-428-219
FCF 3Y Avg-168-173-3017-1,006-422-170
CFO LTM22332366302,035952273
CFO 3Y Avg20126958241,886863235

Growth & Margins

HTOCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameH2O Amer.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
Rev Chg LTM11.4%-2.6%6.2%-26.3%12.3%21.4%8.8%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg11.0%8.2%7.3%28.4%10.0%5.0%9.1%
Rev Chg Q6.9%3.9%-1.8%3.4%9.7%9.6%5.4%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.0%1.2%-0.5%0.9%2.6%1.8%1.5%
Op Mgn LTM23.4%18.9%27.6%12.1%37.0%38.7%25.5%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg23.4%17.0%26.3%15.5%36.1%34.9%24.9%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.3%-0.3%0.2%0.1%0.5%-0.1%0.2%
CFO/Rev LTM27.7%32.2%33.6%23.3%40.1%40.0%32.9%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg27.6%28.4%31.8%16.8%41.3%39.1%30.1%
FCF/Rev LTM-31.9%-18.0%-16.0%16.2%-21.6%-18.0%-18.0%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg-22.3%-18.9%-16.6%11.5%-22.0%-19.4%-19.2%

Valuation

HTOCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameH2O Amer.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
Mkt Cap1.72.70.90.525.511.02.2
P/S2.22.75.03.75.44.74.2
P/EBIT8.812.516.025.213.411.812.9
P/E15.820.022.830.224.416.821.4
P/CFO7.88.515.015.913.311.812.6
Total Yield9.6%7.6%6.9%4.7%5.8%9.2%7.3%
Dividend Yield3.3%2.7%2.5%1.4%1.7%3.3%2.6%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg-9.2%-6.1%-2.7%3.9%-3.8%-4.1%-3.9%
D/E1.10.60.40.00.60.70.6
Net D/E1.10.50.4-0.20.60.70.5

Returns

HTOCWTMSEXCWCOAWKWTRGMedian
NameH2O Amer.Californ.Middlese.Consolid.American.Essentia. 
1M Rtn4.8%-1.0%3.2%-1.5%4.6%2.9%3.0%
3M Rtn-2.4%-3.6%-2.9%4.8%-6.3%1.5%-2.7%
6M Rtn-5.5%-1.4%-7.7%26.3%-4.5%6.0%-3.0%
12M Rtn-8.3%-7.9%-16.1%33.0%0.1%1.5%-3.9%
3Y Rtn-29.9%-25.9%-40.1%140.8%-9.0%-11.3%-18.6%
1M Excs Rtn4.9%-1.0%3.2%-1.4%4.7%3.0%3.1%
3M Excs Rtn-8.4%-9.4%-8.6%-3.6%-12.2%-4.8%-8.5%
6M Excs Rtn-20.2%-16.1%-22.4%11.6%-19.2%-8.8%-17.7%
12M Excs Rtn-24.5%-24.2%-33.3%14.8%-15.6%-13.0%-19.9%
3Y Excs Rtn-103.5%-99.0%-113.7%77.3%-79.3%-82.9%-90.9%

Financials

Segment Financials

Assets by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Water Utility Services4,2433,6493,3883,2063,022
All Other5864616163
Real Estate Services4443434447
Total4,3453,7553,4923,3113,132


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity440,893
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-19.9%
Average Daily Volume247,349
Days-to-Cover Short Interest1.78
Basic Shares Quantity35,543,224
Short % of Basic Shares1.2%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251028202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025730202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025429202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024228202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241028202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024725202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024426202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023223202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231031202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023731202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023501202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022224202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221028202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022729202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022429202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021228202210-K 12/31/2021