FTS vs. SBS: Fortis vs. Sabesp Stock Comparison
How do Fortis (FTS) and Sabesp (SBS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Fortis (FTS) and Sabesp (SBS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but FTS is classified in Electric Utilities while SBS is classified in Water Utilities.
Fortis (FTS) trades as ordinary local shares, while Sabesp (SBS) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Fortis Inc. | Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADR |
| Country/Region | Canada | Brazil |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Water Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Water Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 31.00 billion USD | 16.96 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 5, 2010 | May 10, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 19.13% | -3.72% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.59% | 28.33% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.53% | 32.85% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Sabesp (SBS) is heavily traded at around 11.85M shares per day, whereas Fortis (FTS) sees a more moderate 879.23K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 14.85% | 46.80% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.40 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -30.13% | -37.59% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 879.23K | 11.85M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.00 | -0.17 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.53 | -0.22 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Fortis (FTS) at 7.55% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on equity.
FTS
Utilities industry group
7.55%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- FTS
- 7.55%
- Min
- 2.17%
SBS
Utilities industry group
16.27%
- Max
- 17.99%
- SBS
- 16.27%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Fortis (FTS) at 15.01%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
FTS
Utilities industry group
15.01%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- FTS
- 15.01%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
SBS
Utilities industry group
17.52%
- Max
- 28.78%
- SBS
- 17.52%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Fortis (FTS) at 30.69% and Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
FTS
Utilities industry group
30.69%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- FTS
- 30.69%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
SBS
Utilities industry group
29.28%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- SBS
- 29.28%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 7.55% | 16.27% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.93% | 8.08% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.01% | 17.52% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 30.69% | 29.28% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 45.52% | 36.96% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Fortis (FTS) at 5.75% and Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Fortis (FTS) at 4.94% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 5.75% | 5.39% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.29% | 19.98% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 4.94% | -11.79% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.94% | 40.65% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Fortis (FTS) at 0.69 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
FTS
Utilities industry group
0.69
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- FTS
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
SBS
Utilities industry group
1.22
- Max
- 1.90
- SBS
- 1.22
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both Fortis (FTS) at 1.35 and Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
FTS
Utilities industry group
1.35
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- FTS
- 1.35
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.99
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- SBS
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.69 | 1.22 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.35 | 0.99 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 6.22 | 2.30 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Fortis (FTS) reports a yield of 4.18%, ranking against industry peers normally.
FTS
Utilities industry group
4.18%
- Max
- 6.66%
- FTS
- 4.18%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- SBS
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Fortis (FTS) at 72.73% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
FTS
Utilities industry group
72.73%
- Max
- 113.04%
- FTS
- 72.73%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
SBS
Utilities industry group
35.95%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- SBS
- 35.95%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 4.18% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 72.73% | 35.95% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Fortis (FTS) at 23.66 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.
FTS
Utilities industry group
23.66
- Max
- 31.22
- FTS
- 23.66
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
SBS
Utilities industry group
11.73
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- SBS
- 11.73
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Fortis (FTS) at 2.47 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
FTS
Utilities industry group
2.47
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- FTS
- 2.47
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
SBS
Utilities industry group
0.41
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- SBS
- 0.41
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Fortis (FTS) at 1.79 and Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
FTS
Utilities industry group
1.79
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- FTS
- 1.79
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
SBS
Utilities industry group
1.84
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- SBS
- 1.84
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | FTS | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.66 | 11.73 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.47 | 0.41 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.79 | 1.84 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -9.42% | -62.11% |