AES Corp vs American States Water Company — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.73 (market cap $10.49B), while American States Water Company trades at $87.53 (market cap $3.47B). The key difference: AES Corp is far larger — about 3× American States Water Company's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.79%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | AWR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.49B | $3.47B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $89.28 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $70.10 |
Enterprise Value | $40.75B | $4.37B |
Dividend Yield | 4.79% | 2.49% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, down slightly by 0.03%, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company shows strong profitability with a 14.34% net income margin and 45.05% ROE, supported by recent earnings beats. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders in June 2026, dominates recent news, alongside a quarterly dividend of $0.18 per share.
The outlook is heavily influenced by the acquisition, offering a near-term upside to the $15 buyout price, but regulatory and shareholder approval risks remain. Long-term fundamentals are solid with projected revenue growth to $13.1 billion in 2026, though high debt levels and integration challenges post-acquisition pose risks. Analyst sentiment is mixed with a buy consensus of 43%.
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
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →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 →