Albertsons Companies Inc vs H2O America — how do they compare? Albertsons Companies Inc trades at $12.14 (market cap $5.95B), while H2O America trades at $62.65 (market cap $2.61B). The key difference: Albertsons Companies Inc is far larger — about 2.3× H2O America's market cap, and Albertsons Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (5.55%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ACI | HTO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $5.95B | $2.61B |
Sector | Consumer Staples | Technology |
52-Week High | $19.74 | $65.43 |
52-Week Low | $11.03 | $44.44 |
Enterprise Value | $21.35B | $4.40B |
Dividend Yield | 5.55% | 2.83% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Albertsons (ACI) trades at $12.13, up 1.0% on the day, but remains near multi-year lows after a sharp 22% drop following Q2 2026 earnings miss and lowered guidance. The stock shows a bearish technical trend with neutral oscillators. Fundamentally, revenue grew to $80.39B in 2025, but net income margin compressed to 0.08%, reflecting margin pressure. Recent news highlights CEO and CFO stock purchases, AI initiatives like the Safeway ChatGPT plugin, and ongoing shareholder litigation investigations.
The outlook is cautious; ACI presents a deep-value case with low P/S of 0.08, but execution risks and weak profitability trends pose challenges. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $13.20 price target. Key risks include competitive grocery margins, litigation overhangs, and macroeconomic headwinds affecting consumer spending.
HTO trades at $62.39, up 1.87% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and support near $61. Recent earnings show Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $0.72 beating expectations, while Q4 2025 missed. Revenue grew to $829 million in 2026, with a net margin of 12.9%. The company announced a $0.44 dividend payable September 1, 2026, and faces execution risks from acquisitions like Quadvest, which diluted shares.
The stock offers upside to the $69.50 consensus price target, supported by strong analyst buy ratings (83%) and institutional accumulation. Risks include acquisition integration challenges and EPS pressure from equity issuance. Fundamentals remain solid with steady profitability, but investors should monitor debt levels and dividend sustainability amid expansion.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Albertsons is the second-largest traditional grocer in America, operating 2,276 stores under 24 banners in 34 states (as of the end of fiscal 2021). Around 75% of stores have pharmacies, while nearly 20% also sell fuel. Albertsons has a significant private-label operation, accounting for around 20% of sales (excluding fuel). While its own brand assortment is mainly manufactured by third parties, Albertsons operates 20 food production plants (as of the end of fiscal 2021). Albertsons is a top-two grocer in two thirds of its major markets (as of early 2022, according to company data), and virtually all of its sales come from the United States.
Read more on ACI →H2O America is a utility company that provides essential water and wastewater services, primarily in the United States. The company operates a network of regulated water and wastewater systems, focusing on responsible resource management and high-quality service delivery. HTO aims to expand its operational footprint through acquisitions and internal growth, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Read more on HTO →