What is H2O America Predictability Rank?
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Warren Buffett said many times that the companies he likes are:
1. Simple businesses that he understands
2. that have predictable and proven earnings and
3. with economic moat
4. those can be bought at a reasonable price.
It is hard to quantify "simple businesses that he (Buffett) understands", so we will focus on the other three characteristics instead. In GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank, we will show that the businesses that have predictable and proven earnings are usually also simple businesses that an average person could understand.
GuruFocus conducted a back test study of Warren Buffett's strategy of "buying good companies at fair prices" for the years from 1998-2008.
H2O America Predictability Rank Calculation
In our database there are 2403 stocks that have been traded from Jan. 2, 1998 to Aug. 31, 2008. We have the complete 10-year financial data and trading prices of these companies for this period. We rank the predictability of these companies based on the consistency of their revenue per share and EBITDA (earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) per share over the past ten fiscal years, and study the correlation between the stock performances and the predictability of the business.
Our study may be subject to these biases and assumptions:
Dividend yields are not counted for investment returns
Effects of price changes due to spin-offs may not be fully adjusted
Study is subjected to survivorship bias due to de-listing, bankruptcy, LBO, M&A, etc.
The correlation between business predictability and investment returns of a company is showed below.
Correlation Between Business Predictability and Investment Returns
| Predictables | Non-Predictable | All stocks |
|---|
| Total Number of stocks | 570 | 1833 | 2403 |
| Total Lost Money | 61 | 830 | 891 |
| Total Lost More Than 50% | 18 | 412 | 430 |
| Total Lost More Than 90% | 4 | 86 | 90 |
| Average Gain | 260.6% | 100.0% | 138.1% |
| Median Gain | 150.0% | 13.0% | 39.0% |
| Maximum Gain | 2852.0% | 11483.0% | 11483.0% |
| Maximum Loss | -100.0% | -100.0% | -100.0% |
| Annualized Average Gain | 12.7% | 6.7% | 8.4% |
| Annualized Median Gain | 8.9% | 1.1% | 3.1% |
For the 570 predictable companies, we have seen strong correlation between the predictability of businesses and the stock performances over the past 10 years, regardless of the valuation of business at 1998. Accordingly, we have ranked the business predictability from 5-star to 1-star, as shown in this table.
| Predictability Rank | 5-Star | 4.5-Star | 4-Star | 3.5-Star | 3-Star | 2.5-Star | 2-Star | 1-Star (non-predictable) | Average among all |
|---|
| % Out of All 2403 Stocks |
3.3% |
2.9% |
3.7% |
3.3% |
3.3% |
3.7% |
3.3% |
76.3% |
100% |
| % that are in Loss (10y) |
3% |
10% |
8% |
9% |
11% |
18% |
16% |
45% |
37% |
| Average Gain (10y) |
364.6% |
330.9% |
278.0% |
235.1% |
243.5% |
227.8% |
154.8% |
100.0% |
138.1% |
| Median Gain (10y) |
238.5% |
193.5% |
171.0% |
159.0% |
132.5% |
113.5% |
87.0% |
13.0% |
39.0% |
| Maximum Gainer |
2228.0% |
2547.0% |
2452.0% |
2852.0% |
2432.0% |
1892.0% |
1807.0% |
11483.0% |
11483.0% |
| Maximum Loser |
-82.0% |
-53.0% |
-67.0% |
-100.0% |
-83.0% |
-100.0% |
-78.0% |
-100.0% |
-100.0% |
| Annualized Average Gain |
15.4% |
14.6% |
13.2% |
12.0% |
12.2% |
11.7% |
9.1% |
6.7% |
8.4% |
| Annualized Median Gain |
12.1% |
10.6% |
9.8% |
9.3% |
8.2% |
7.3% |
6.0% |
1.1% |
3.1% |
For detailed information about each predictability rank, please go to GuruFocus Research: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part I: Introduction of Predictability Rank
Also read:
Part II: What worked in the market from 1998-2008? Part II: Role of Valuations
Part III: Intrinsic Value, Discounted Cash Flow and Margin of Safety
H2O America Business Description
Traded in Other Exchanges
Address
110 West Taylor Street, San Jose, CA, USA, 95110
H2O America is a national investor-owned network of local water and wastewater utilities united by one purpose: delivering clean, high-quality water to the communities it calls home. Across approximately 407,000 water and wastewater service connections, the company invests in critical infrastructure to strengthen the water supply for generations to come.
Executives
| Bruce A Hauk |
officer: Chf. Crp. Dev. & Str. Offcr. |
110 W. TAYLOR STREET, SAN JOSE CA 95110 |
| Craig J Patla |
officer: President of CTWS |
CONNECTICUT WATER COMPANY, 93 WEST MAIN STREET, CLINTON CT 06413 |
| Denise L Kruger |
director |
|
| Carl Guardino |
director |
110 W. TAYLOR STREET, SAN JOSE CA 95110 |
| Mohammed G. Zerhouni |
officer: SVP of Fin., Prin. Acct. Ofcr. |
110 W. TAYLOR STREET, SAN JOSE CA 95110 |
| Andrew Gere |
officer: President and COO |
1221 SOUTH BASCOM AVENUE, SAN JOSE CA 95128 |
| James Patrick Lynch |
officer: CFO/Treasurer |
1675 LAURELWOOD DRIVE, SAN JOSE CA 95125 |
| Rebecca A Klein |
director |
1411 E MISSION AVE, SPOKANE WA 99202 |
| Katharine Armstrong |
director |
919 CONGRESS AVENUE #1400, AUSTIN TX 78701 |
| Brown Willie D. Jr. |
officer: VP, Gen Counsel, & Corp Sec |
110 W. TAYLOR STREET, SAN JOSE CA 95110 |
| Wendy Avila-walker |
officer: VP of Finance, Controller |
110 W. TAYLOR STREET, SAN JOSE CA 95110 |
| Andrew F Walters |
officer: Chief Administrative Officer |
8 RIVER TERRACE, APT 8-T, NEW YORK NY 10282 |
| Daniel B. More |
director |
56 W BROTHER DRIVE, GREENWICH CT 06830 |
| Douglas R King |
director |
465 EL CENTRO ROAD, HILLSBOROUGH CA 94010 |
| Mary Ann Hanley |
director |
93 WEST MAIN STREET, CLINTON CT 06413 |
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