We recently compiled a list of the 10 Worst Performing Utilities Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. In this article, we are going to take a look at where California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) stands against the other bad performing utilities stocks.
As 2025 kicks off, the global energy sector continues to face a volatile and fast-moving landscape, says James Forrest (Group Industry Leader for Energy Transition and Utilities at Capgemini). The pressures due to higher electricity demands, shifts in geopolitical conditions, and digital advancements converge to reassess the way energy is produced, managed, and consumed. The global increase in electricity demand continues, courtesy of the electrification of transport, industrial transformation, and the strong growth of digital infrastructure, such as AI and data centers. To address this, utilities and grid operators have been embracing modernization and demand-response tactics.
Utility CapEx to Increase, Says Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings’ neutral outlook demonstrates moderation in inflationary conditions and a subdued commodity environment. Furthermore, a resurgence of growth in sales, mainly among commercial and industrial customers, cost control, and the tax subsidies and transferability provision of the Inflation Reduction Act can be beneficial for the broader sector. The rating agency believes that utility capex is expected to grow at a double-digit rate, fueled by the investments to make the electric infrastructure more resilient to withstand extreme weather events, accommodate renewable generation, and cater to the needs of the expected surge in power demand from data centers.
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Power Demand Needs Utility Investment, Opines Goldman Sachs
With data centers contributing to an increasing need for power, the electric grid will need a significant investment. Goldman Sachs Research projects that ~$720 billion of grid spending through 2030 might be the requirement. Such transmission projects might take several years to permit, and then even more to build, resulting in another bottleneck for data center growth in case the regions are not proactive about this considering the lead time, says James Schneider, a senior equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs. The firm expects global power demand from data centers to increase by 50% by 2027 and by 165% by the decade’s end (as compared to 2023).
Economic Times mentioned that the US electric utilities continue to add billions of dollars to spending plans so that they can build new power supplies and bolster the grid as data centers for AI and cloud computing have been fueling energy demand.
Our Methodology
To list the 10 Worst Performing Utilities Stocks to Buy According to Analysts, we used a screener and shortlisted the companies catering to the utilities sector that have performed the worst over the past year, as of February 19. Next, we chose the ones that analysts see significant upside to. Finally, the stocks were arranged in ascending order of their average upside potential, as of February 19. We also mentioned hedge fund sentiments around each stock, as of Q4 2024.
At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
An aerial view of an expansive reservoir and surrounding landscape supplying the utility’s water.
California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT)
% Decline Over Past Year: ~4.4%
Average Upside Potential: ~25.2%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) provides water utility and other related services in California, Washington, New Mexico, Hawaii, and Texas. The company’s Chief stated that its financial results for Q3 2024 were in line with expectations. California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) continued to benefit from the effects of the 2021 California General Rate Case decision received on March 7, 2024. The company’s capital investments during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 rose to a record total of $332.2 million, exhibiting an increase of 21% over the same period last year.
California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) has proposed to invest over $1.6 billion in its districts from 2025-2027 to support its ability to offer a reliable supply of high-quality water and enhance sustainability. The company has submitted a GRC which included Infrastructure Improvement Plans for 2025-2027. In the application, California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT) proposed to adjust rates to increase total revenue by $140.6 million (17.1%) in 2026, $74.2 million (7.7%) in 2027, and $83.6 million (8.1%) in 2028.
Moving forward, the company is well-placed to capitalize on the growth opportunities provided by the broader utility sector as a result of infrastructure investments, regulatory support, and sustainability initiatives. Also, rate base growth and long-term capital investments can support California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT)’s prospects.
Overall CWT ranks 8th on our list of the worst performing utilities stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of CWT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than CWT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
