California Water Service Group (CWT)

In the past six months, California Water Service Group's stock has shown an 8% gain over the past month and more than 10% over the past three months as of late October 2025, signaling a resurgence in momentum. Analysts have assigned a consensus rating of 'Buy' for CWT, with an average price target of $56.00. Seaport Global upgraded CWT from 'Hold' to 'Strong Buy' with a price target of $54 in April 2025. In May 2025, the company presented its Q1 2025 earnings, and Wells Fargo maintained a 'Buy' rating, adjusting its price target from $54 to $59. California Water Service Group was dropped from the Russell 3000 Growth Index and Russell 2500 Growth Index in June 2025. In July 2025, the company outlined a $1.6 billion infrastructure plan and projected nearly 12% compounded rate base growth through 2028, reported strong Q2 2025 earnings, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.30, and launched a significant wastewater infrastructure project in San Bernardino County. Wells Fargo adjusted its target price from $59.00 to $55.00, maintaining an 'overweight' rating, and Wall Street Zen upgraded the stock from a 'Sell' to a 'Hold' rating in August 2025. In October 2025, California Water Service Group raised $370 million in private placement debt, the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved new rates for Hawaii Water Service's Waikoloa systems, resulting in a $4.7 million revenue increase, and the stock surged 2.7% on October 15, 2025. Weiss Ratings reiterated a 'Hold (C)' rating for the stock.

Water demand for utilities like California Water Service Group typically exhibits seasonality, with higher demand during the summertime due to warmer temperatures and increased irrigation. Demand tends to ease during cooler months with reduced irrigation use. This seasonal variability means that water consumption can fluctuate significantly throughout the year, with peak daily and hourly demands occurring during the summer. Utilities often plan their infrastructure and operations to meet these maximum demands, which can be as much as 150% of the average day demand and peak hour demand up to 400% of the average day demand. Drought conditions can also impact demand and may necessitate water use restrictions.

California Water Service Group (CWT) is an American public utility company providing regulated and non-regulated water utility and related services, operating primarily in the Water and Wastewater industry. Its core business involves the production, purchase, storage, treatment, testing, distribution, and sale of water for various uses, including domestic, industrial, public, and irrigation, as well as fire protection services. CWT also offers non-regulated water-related services such as operating municipally owned water systems, privately owned water and recycled water distribution systems, water system operation, meter reading, and billing services to private companies and municipalities. Additionally, it leases communication antenna sites on its properties and provides wastewater collection and treatment services.

California Water Service Group serves over 2 million people across five states. In California, it serves approximately 499,400 customer connections in 100 communities. In Washington, it serves approximately 38,300 customer connections in areas including Tacoma, Olympia, Graham, Spanaway, Puyallup, Rainier, Yelm, and Gig Harbor. In New Mexico, it serves approximately 11,500 water and wastewater customer connections in communities such as Rio Communities, Rio Del Oro, Meadow Lake, Indian Hills, Squaw Valley, Elephant Butte, Morningstar, Sandia Knolls, Juan Tomas, Monterey, and Cypress Gardens. In Hawaii, it serves approximately 6,700 water and wastewater customer connections on the islands of Kauai, Maui, Oahu, and Hawaii. It also provides water utility and related services in Texas.

California Water Service Group has maintained a strong brand reputation in the past year, particularly in environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility. Newsweek recognized California Water Service Group as one of 'America's Greenest Companies' for the second consecutive year in October 2025. The company has also been named one of 'America's Most Responsible Companies' and the 'World's Most Trustworthy Companies' by Newsweek, a USA Top Workplace, and a Great Place to Work®. CWT emphasizes its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs, investing in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. No significant negative events impacting California Water Service Group's reputation were found within the past year.

Institutional investors hold a significant majority stake in California Water Service Group. As of July 2024, institutions held approximately 87% of the shares, and more recent data from October 2025 still report high institutional ownership, with 82.78% of the stock held by institutional investors. BlackRock, Inc. was the largest individual shareholder as of April 2025, owning 18.77% of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. held the second-largest position with 12.63% of the company as of April 2025. State Street Corp. owned 5.76% as of April 2025. Other major institutional owners include T. Rowe Price Investment Management, Inc., Amundi, Nuance Investments LLC, Geode Capital Management LLC, First Trust Advisors LP, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, Norges Bank, and Raymond James Financial Inc. The general public holds a smaller stake, around 12% as of July 2024.