$49.53
Value $3.1B
California Water ServicevsSouthern
CWT and SO stock compared: price, dividend, valuation and results, from SEC filings.
+0.28%
$93.59
Value $105B
California Water Service (CWT) has a market value of $3.1B and Southern (SO) $105B. Over the last year, with dividends, CWT moved +12.1% and SO +5.2%. The P/E is 22.7 for CWT and 22.5 for SO. Dividend yield: CWT 2.71%, SO 3.21%.
At a glance
The main figures of both. A bar only shows which number is larger, not which is better.
Market value
CWT$3.1B
SO$105B
SO is 34 times CWT
Revenue, 12 months
CWT$1.0B
SO$30.2B
SO is 30 times CWT
Net income, 12 months
CWT$137M
SO$4.7B
SO is 34 times CWT
Operating margin
CWT19.4%
SO24.2%
4.8 points apart
ROIC
CWT4.6%
SO5.8%
1.2 points apart
P/E
CWT22.7
SO22.5
About the same
Dividend yield
CWT2.7%
SO3.2%
0.5 points apart
5-year return
CWT-11.5%
SO+79.5%
91.0 points apart
A fainter bar means a negative number. The 5-year return includes dividends.
The price over time
Both start at 100 at the beginning of the period, so the lines show how much each changed. With dividends means each dividend buys more shares.
CWT-11.5%
SO+79.5%
| Period | CWTWith dividends | SOWith dividends |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year since November 12, 2025 | +12.1%Price +8.9% | +5.2%Price +1.9% |
| 3 years since November 13, 2023 | +9.9%+3.2% a yearPrice +1.6% | +54.0%+15.5% a yearPrice +39.0% |
| 5 years since November 12, 2021 | -11.5%-2.4% a yearPrice -21.1% | +79.5%+12.4% a yearPrice +51.2% |
| 10 years since November 15, 2016 | +80.6%+6.1% a yearPrice +47.9% | +191.9%+11.3% a yearPrice +93.6% |
Each cell: the total return with dividends, its yearly rate, and the price change alone. Before taxes and costs. Past returns do not predict future ones.
Every figure
As on each company's page. A description, not a recommendation: no one figure says which is better.
CWTCalifornia Water ServiceSOSouthern
Valuation
CWTSO| Price | $49.53 | $93.59 |
|---|---|---|
| Market value | $3.1B | $105B |
| Enterprise value (EV) | $4.7B | $177B |
| P/E | 22.7 | 22.5 |
| P/E, 5-year median | 34.3 | 21.9 |
| P/B | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| EV/EBIT | 23.9 | 24.3 |
| Free cash flow yield | – | – |
Results and growth
CWTSO| Revenue, 12 months | $1.0B | $30.2B |
|---|---|---|
| Net income, 12 months | $137M | $4.7B |
| Free cash flow, 12 months | – | -$3.5B |
| Earnings per share, 12 months | $2.24 | $4.15 |
| Revenue growth, year on year | 6.4% | 10.6% |
| Revenue growth a year, past | +6.7%over 5 years | +7.7%over 5 years |
| EPS growth a year, past | +1.8%over 5 years | +6.0%over 5 years |
Margins and returns on capital
CWTSO| Gross margin | – | – |
|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 19.4% | 24.2% |
| Net margin | 13.5% | 15.4% |
| ROIC | 4.6% | 5.8% |
| ROE | 7.8% | 12.0% |
Balance sheet
CWTSO| Cash | $45M | $3.0B |
|---|---|---|
| Total debt | $1.6B | $77.1B |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 4.7 | 5.4 |
| Interest cover | 2.5× | 2.3× |
Dividends and buybacks
CWTSO| Dividend yield | 2.7% | 3.2% |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend per share, 12 months | $1.34 | $3.00 |
| Dividend growth a year, past | +7.9%over 5 years | +3.0%over 5 years |
| Buyback yield | 0.1% | – |
| Shareholder yield | 2.8% | 3.2% |
Last 12 months from the latest 10-Q and 10-K. Value, P/E and yields at today's price. A dash means the figure does not exist or did not pass our checks.
Which is bigger, California Water Service or Southern?
By market value, Southern ($105B) is about 33.6 times California Water Service ($3.1B), at today's prices.
How did CWT and SO stock do over the last 10 years?
Since November 15, 2016, CWT's price moved +47.9% and SO's +93.6%. With dividends: CWT +80.6% (+6.1% a year), SO +191.9% (+11.3% a year). Past returns do not predict future ones.
Which pays the higher dividend, CWT or SO?
The dividend yield at today's price is 2.71% for California Water Service and 3.21% for Southern. Over the last twelve months they paid $1.34 and $3.00 per share.
What is the P/E of CWT and SO?
At today's price, the P/E is 22.7 for CWT and 22.5 for SO. The median of the last five years was 34.3 and 21.9, which shows where each stands against its own past.
Which has the higher profit margins, California Water Service or Southern?
Over the last twelve months, the net margin was 13.5% for California Water Service and 15.4% for Southern, and the operating margin 19.4% and 24.2%. Revenue was $1.0B and $30.2B.
Which is the better investment, California Water Service or Southern?
The page does not answer that and does not suggest buying or selling. It puts the two companies' numbers side by side, from their SEC filings, for you to read and form your own view. The decision depends on your goals and situation.
Other comparisons
With each of the two, and with the largest in its sector.
Related pages
The other pages on US stocks, free to read. On the company pages, the last three fiscal years are open to everyone, five with a free account, and every year with Ploutos Investor.
US stocksThe market today, the sectors, the largest companies and the week's results.The market's sectorsThe 11 sectors side by side: returns, share of the market, median P/E and dividend.Compare stocksTwo companies side by side: price over up to ten years, with and without dividends, and every figure.US dividend stocksEach dividend's yield next to whether the company's cash covers it and whether it was ever cut.
Descriptive data from SEC filings and market prices.