WallStSmart

H2O America (HTO)vsTarget Corporation (TGT)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Target Corporation generates 12736% more annual revenue ($104.78B vs $816.28M). HTO leads profitability with a 12.9% profit margin vs 3.5%. TGT appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.44. 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

TGT

Hold

48

out of 100

Grade: D+

Growth: 2.0Profit: 5.5Value: 7.3Quality: 5.3
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 2.48
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
TGTUndervalued (+33.2%)

Margin of Safety

+33.2%

Fair Value

$171.51

Current Price

$130.19

$41.32 discount

UndervaluedFair: $171.51Overvalued

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%

TGT4 strengths · Avg: 8.5/10
Market CapQuality
$58.54B9/10

Large-cap with strong market position

Return on EquityProfitability
24.0%9/10

Every $100 of equity generates 24 in profit

P/E RatioValuation
15.8x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Free Cash FlowQuality
$2.29B8/10

Generating 2.3B in free cash flow

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

TGT4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.444/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Profit MarginProfitability
3.5%3/10

3.5% margin — thin

Operating MarginProfitability
4.9%3/10

Operating margin of 4.9%

Revenue GrowthGrowth
-1.5%2/10

Revenue declined 1.5%

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : HTO

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

Bull Case : TGT

The strongest argument for TGT centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, P/E Ratio.

Bear Case : HTO

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

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.

HTO is growing revenue faster at 9.4% — 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

HTO scores higher overall (57/100 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.

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.

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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