H2O America vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? H2O America trades at $63.78 (market cap $2.70B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $237.21 (market cap $75.63B). The key difference: Ross Stores, Inc. is far larger — about 28× H2O America's market cap, and H2O America pays the higher dividend (2.73%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HTO | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $2.70B | $75.63B |
Sector | Technology | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $65.43 | $240.13 |
52-Week Low | $44.44 | $134.02 |
Enterprise Value | $4.42B | $76.23B |
Dividend Yield | 2.73% | 0.75% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HTO trades at $64.52, down 1.39% today, with strong technical indicators showing a bullish trend. The company maintains solid fundamentals with 12.87% net income margin and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. Recent news highlights upcoming Q2 2026 earnings report on July 27, 2026, and institutional buying activity. Technical analysis shows support at $62-$64 with resistance at $65-$66 levels.
HTO presents a balanced investment case with 80% analyst buy ratings and a $63.50 consensus target. The water utility's stable revenue streams and dividend yield provide defensive characteristics, though valuation multiples appear full and RSI levels suggest near-term overbought conditions. Execution on $2.7 billion capex plan remains key for growth.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $235.36, up 0.87% with strong technical and fundamental momentum. The stock shows bullish moving averages and recent earnings beats, with Q1 2026 EPS of $2.02 exceeding expectations by 17%. Revenue growth accelerated to $21.13B in 2025, while net income margin improved to 9.74%. Analyst sentiment remains positive with a $259 consensus target, supported by robust store expansion and customer acquisition trends noted in recent media coverage.
Outlook is favorable given consistent earnings outperformance and high ROE of 38.98%, though valuation multiples like P/E of 32.6 suggest premium pricing. Key risks include consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures in off-price retail. Institutional ownership trends and technical support near $232 provide a cushion for near-term stability.
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 →