American Electric Power Company Inc vs American States Water Company — how do they compare? American Electric Power Company Inc trades at $124.26 (market cap $67.28B), while American States Water Company trades at $87.53 (market cap $3.47B). The key difference: American Electric Power Company Inc is far larger — about 19.4× American States Water Company's market cap, and American Electric Power Company Inc pays the higher dividend (3.07%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AEP | AWR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $67.28B | $3.47B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $138.69 | $89.28 |
52-Week Low | $106.44 | $70.10 |
Enterprise Value | $120.17B | $4.37B |
Dividend Yield | 3.07% | 2.49% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
American Electric Power (AEP) trades at $123.89, up 0.85% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.36 EPS versus $1.48 expected, though revenue grew 7% year-over-year. The company raised full-year 2026 operating EPS guidance to $6.25–$6.55, citing robust demand from data centers and a $78 billion capital plan. Valuation metrics include a P/E of 21.42 and P/B of 2.1, with a consensus price target of $140.89 implying 14% upside.
AEP's outlook is supported by contracted load growth and infrastructure investments, but risks include execution of its capital plan and interest expense pressures. The stock offers a dividend yield with an upcoming $0.95 payment. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 61% buy ratings, though technical indicators suggest near-term caution. Long-term growth targets of 7–9% annually provide a solid foundation for patient investors.
American States Water (AWR) trades at $87.83, up 1.46% today, with strong technical momentum as moving averages signal bullish alignment. The company maintains robust fundamentals with 20.52% net income margin and consistent dividend growth, recently increasing its quarterly payout by 8.2%. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations at $1.09 per share, driven by water rate increases and operational gains across business segments.
Outlook remains stable with revenue growth and dividend reliability, though valuation multiples appear elevated versus utilities peers. Key risks include regulatory dependence on rate approvals and competitive pressures. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 20% buy ratings amid concerns about current price levels relative to earnings potential.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
American Electric Power is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States, providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. About 43% of AEP's of capacity is coal, with the remainder from a mix of natural gas (27%), renewable energy and hydro (19%), nuclear (7%), and demand response (4%). Vertically integrated utilities, transmission and distribution, and generation and marketing support earnings.
Read more on AEP →American States Water provides water and electric services to over one million people in the U.S. It also manages water and wastewater systems for various military bases under long-term privatization contracts.
Read more on AWR →