California Water Service Group (CWT)vsWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc (WST)
CWT
California Water Service Group
$43.03
-0.02%
UTILITIES · Cap: $2.54B
WST
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
$312.55
+0.83%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $21.24B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc generates 219% more annual revenue ($3.22B vs $1.01B). WST leads profitability with a 16.9% profit margin vs 11.8%. CWT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.93. WST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
CWT
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
WST
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
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
-32.8%
Fair Value
$185.39
Current Price
$312.55
$127.16 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 56.1% YoY
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Strong operational efficiency at 21.7%
Revenue surging 21.0% year-over-year
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
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : CWT
The strongest argument for CWT centers on Price/Book.
Bull Case : WST
The strongest argument for WST centers on EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.9% and operating margin at 21.7%. Revenue growth of 21.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : CWT
The primary concerns for CWT are PEG Ratio, Return on Equity, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : WST
The primary concerns for WST are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 40.1x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
CWT profiles as a value stock while WST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WST carries more volatility with a beta of 1.15 — expect wider price swings.
WST is growing revenue faster at 21.0% — sustainability is the question.
WST generates stronger free cash flow (47M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WST scores higher overall (67/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 16.9% margins and 21.0% revenue growth. CWT offers better value entry with a 30.3% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" 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 →West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
HEALTHCARE · MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES · USA
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of injectable pharmaceutical packaging and delivery systems. The company is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.
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