HTO H2O AMERICA

Nasdaq Water Supply DE CIK: 0000766829
AI RATING
HOLD
52% Confidence

Investment Thesis

H2O America demonstrates solid operational efficiency with 20.4% operating margins and exceptional free cash flow generation (23.1% FCF margin), but is severely constrained by stagnant revenue growth (-0.6% YoY) and alarmingly low returns on capital (ROE 1.0%, ROA 0.4%). The 1.02x debt-to-equity ratio with 2.0x interest coverage limits financial flexibility in a no-growth environment.

Strengths

  • + Exceptional free cash flow generation at 23.1% FCF margin with minimal CapEx requirements
  • + Strong operating margin of 20.4% indicates efficient cost management
  • + Solid liquidity position with 2.02x current and quick ratios despite high leverage

Risks

  • ! Revenue essentially flat (-0.6% YoY) with minimal growth prospects in mature water utility sector
  • ! Critically low return on equity (1.0%) and ROA (0.4%) indicate severe capital inefficiency
  • ! Moderate leverage (1.02x D/E) combined with thin interest coverage (2.0x) provides minimal financial flexibility for adverse conditions

Key Metrics to Watch

Financial Metrics

Revenue
183.3M
Net Income
19.0M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.49
Free Cash Flow
42.3M
Total Assets
5.4B
Cash
153.0M

Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin 20.4%
Net Margin 10.4%
ROE 1.0%
ROA 0.4%
FCF Margin 23.1%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
2.02x
Quick Ratio
2.02x
Debt/Equity
1.02x
Debt/Assets
0.0%
Interest Coverage
1.99x
Long-term Debt
1.9B
Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: 2026-05-06T12:23:34.137078 | Data as of: 2026-03-31 | Powered by Claude AI