Fact based stock research
SJW Group (NYSE:SJW)
US7843051043
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
SJW Group stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 6 (worse than 94% compared with investment alternatives), SJW Group (Water Utilities, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of SJW Group are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 37 (worse than 63% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 23), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 34), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 6, is a sell recommendation based on SJW Group's financial characteristics. As the company SJW Group's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 37), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 23), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 34), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
Latest Obermatt Ranks
Log in or sign up to see the new 360° View and Sentiment ranks.
360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Water Utilities |
| Index | |
| Size class | Medium |
14-Nov-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: SJW Group
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 15 |
|
29 |
|
16 |
|
37 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 9 |
|
45 |
|
47 |
|
23 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 7 |
|
8 |
|
40 |
|
34 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
75 |
|
70 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
21 |
|
24 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 6 (worse than 94% compared with investment alternatives), SJW Group (Water Utilities, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of SJW Group are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 37 (worse than 63% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 23), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 34), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 6, is a sell recommendation based on SJW Group's financial characteristics. As the company SJW Group's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 37), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 23), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 34), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 15 |
|
29 |
|
16 |
|
37 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 9 |
|
45 |
|
47 |
|
23 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 7 |
|
8 |
|
40 |
|
34 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 3 |
|
6 |
|
8 |
|
6 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 37 (worse than 63% compared with alternatives), SJW Group shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators where three out of four are below average for SJW Group. Only the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) indicates good stock value with a Price-to-Book Rank of 81, which means that the stock price is lower compared with invested capital than for 81% of comparable investments. All other value indicators are below the market median. Price-to-Sales is 46 which means the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 54% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning SJW Group's revenue levels. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 81 and for the dividend yields rank which is lower than for 77% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to with the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 37, is a hold recommendation based on SJW Group's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Why are market participants paying such a high price for SJW Group, where three out of four value indicators are below par? One reason could be that the company is well financed, indicated by the high book capital level, and has a promising future that is not yet visible in reported revenues and profits. That would also explain the low dividend yield because the company needs the cash to invest in its future. If investors can verify a picture in this sense, the stock may still be a good investment, even though current company-reported financials don't fully explain current stock prices. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 9 |
|
30 |
|
21 |
|
46 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 21 |
|
15 |
|
13 |
|
28 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 36 |
|
47 |
|
42 |
|
81 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 45 |
|
13 |
|
16 |
|
23 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 15 |
|
29 |
|
16 |
|
37 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 23 (better than 23% compared with alternatives), SJW Group shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for SJW Group. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 97, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 32% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 20 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 80% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 32 and Stock Returns with a rank of 9 are also low (below 91% of alternative investments). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 23, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for SJW Group is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is limited here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 24 |
|
79 |
|
41 |
|
20 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 48 |
|
14 |
|
87 |
|
32 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
63 |
|
67 |
|
97 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 40 |
|
27 |
|
27 |
|
9 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 9 |
|
45 |
|
47 |
|
23 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 34 (better than 34% compared with alternatives), the company SJW Group has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of SJW Group is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for SJW Group and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 50 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 50% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 48, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 52% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 30, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 70% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 34 (worse than 66% compared with alternatives), SJW Group has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of SJW Group are on the safer side. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge and liquidity issues with SJW Group and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 24 |
|
18 |
|
44 |
|
50 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 46 |
|
42 |
|
54 |
|
48 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 6 |
|
12 |
|
22 |
|
30 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 7 |
|
8 |
|
40 |
|
34 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
52 |
|
33 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
75 |
|
75 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
21 |
|
74 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
90 |
|
63 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
75 |
|
70 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for SJW Group from November 14, 2024.
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our free research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.