American States Water Company (AWR)vsUniversal Corporation (UVV)
AWR
American States Water Company
$75.84
-0.47%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.95B
UVV
Universal Corporation
$53.90
-0.33%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $1.35B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Universal Corporation generates 342% more annual revenue ($2.91B vs $658.07M). AWR leads profitability with a 19.8% profit margin vs 2.9%. AWR appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.71. AWR earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 56/100 (C).
AWR
Buy56
out of 100
Grade: C
UVV
Hold45
out of 100
Grade: D+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-3.5%
Fair Value
$68.58
Current Price
$75.84
$7.26 premium
Margin of Safety
+33.4%
Fair Value
$79.32
Current Price
$53.90
$25.42 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 28.8%
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Earnings declined 1.2%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
ROE of 7.0% — below average capital efficiency
2.9% margin — thin
Expensive relative to growth rate
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 : UVV
The strongest argument for UVV centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.
Bear Case : AWR
The primary concerns for AWR are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth.
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
AWR profiles as a mature stock while UVV is a value 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.
UVV generates stronger free cash flow (95M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
AWR scores higher overall (56/100 vs 45/100), backed by strong 19.8% margins and 14.8% revenue growth. 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.
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 →Universal Corporation
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · TOBACCO · USA
Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant ingredients worldwide. The company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?