H2O America vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? H2O America trades at $62.3 (market cap $2.61B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $248.31 (market cap $80.78B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 31× H2O America's market cap, and H2O America pays the higher dividend (2.83%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HTO | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $2.61B | $80.78B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $65.43 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $44.44 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $4.40B | $81.37B |
Dividend Yield | 2.83% | 0.71% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HTO trades at $62.42, up 1.92% in the past 24 hours, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The stock shows solid fundamentals with a 12.91% net income margin and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights transformative acquisitions in Texas, though dilution risks exist. Institutional interest is strong, with Fifth Third Bancorp increasing its stake by 3,753.2% in Q1 2026 (SEC filing, 2026-07-30).
Outlook is positive with an 83.33% analyst buy rating and a consensus price target of $69.50, implying ~11% upside. Risks include execution challenges from acquisitions and potential EPS pressure from equity issuance. The dividend yield remains supported, but growth sustainability depends on operational efficiency amid expansion.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $248.48, down 2.49% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong support near $247. The company reported robust earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 results expected on August 20, 2026. Revenue grew to $21.13B in 2025, and net income reached $2.09B, reflecting a 9.74% margin. Expansion continues with 47 new stores opened in mid-2026, signaling growth momentum.
ROST offers solid growth potential with high ROE of 38.98% and analyst consensus favoring a buy rating (63.83% of 47 analysts), targeting $259.00. Risks include elevated P/E of 35.17 and sensitivity to consumer spending shifts. The stock's proximity to its 52-week high suggests cautious optimism, but execution on store expansions and margin maintenance are key for sustained upside.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →