California Water Service Group (CWT)vsTarget Corporation (TGT)
CWT
California Water Service Group
$43.03
-0.02%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.54B
TGT
Target Corporation
$130.19
+1.06%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $58.54B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Target Corporation generates 10267% more annual revenue ($104.78B vs $1.01B). CWT leads profitability with a 11.8% profit margin vs 3.5%. CWT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.93. CWT earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 53/100 (C-).
CWT
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
TGT
Hold48
out of 100
Grade: D+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
+30.3%
Fair Value
$63.31
Current Price
$43.03
$20.28 discount
Margin of Safety
+33.2%
Fair Value
$171.51
Current Price
$130.19
$41.32 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Large-cap with strong market position
Every $100 of equity generates 24 in profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Generating 2.3B in free cash flow
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of 7.2% — below average capital efficiency
Weak financial health signals
Earnings declined 69.3%
Expensive relative to growth rate
3.5% margin — thin
Operating margin of 4.9%
Revenue declined 1.5%
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CWT
The strongest argument for CWT centers on Price/Book.
Bull Case : TGT
The strongest argument for TGT centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, P/E Ratio.
Bear Case : CWT
The primary concerns for CWT are PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : TGT
The primary concerns for TGT are PEG Ratio, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Thin 3.5% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
TGT carries more volatility with a beta of 1.03 — expect wider price swings.
CWT is growing revenue faster at 5.2% — sustainability is the question.
TGT generates stronger free cash flow (2.3B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
CWT scores higher overall (53/100 vs 48/100). TGT offers better value entry with a 33.2% 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 →Target Corporation
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · DISCOUNT STORES · USA
Target Corporation is an American retail corporation. Their retail formats include the discount store Target, the hypermarket SuperTarget, and small-format stores previously named CityTarget and TargetExpress before being consolidated under the Target branding.
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