American States Water Company vs Baidu Inc — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while Baidu Inc trades at $104.87 (market cap $36.18B). The key difference: Baidu Inc is far larger — about 10.4× American States Water Company's market cap, and American States Water Company pays a 2.49% dividend while Baidu Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | BIDU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $36.18B |
Sector | Utilities | Media |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $162.52 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $86.76 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $32.81B |
Dividend Yield | 2.49% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AWR trades at $87.95, up 1.59% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported a Q2 2026 EPS beat of $1.09 versus $0.915 expected, driven by water rate increases and revenue growth. Recent news highlights its 71-year dividend growth streak and an 8.2% dividend hike announced in July 2026. Financials show solid profitability with a 20.52% net income margin and ROE of 13.62%, though valuation ratios like P/E of 23.92 are above sector averages.
Outlook is mixed: strong dividend history and earnings growth support income investors, but elevated valuation and mixed analyst consensus (20% buy, 50% hold, 30% sell) suggest limited near-term upside. Key risks include regulatory dependence on rate approvals and potential overvaluation relative to peers.
Baidu (BIDU) trades at $104.41, down 4.65% today amid broader pressure on Chinese stocks. The stock shows a bearish technical signal, with recent earnings missing expectations in Q1 2026. Revenue declined to $129.08B in 2025, and net income margin compressed to 1.02%. However, analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with a $169.80 price target, and the company is advancing AI initiatives, including autonomous vehicle testing in London.
The outlook is mixed: strong analyst support and AI growth potential offer upside, but weak profitability, declining revenue, and macroeconomic risks in China pose significant challenges. Investors should weigh the high P/E of 78.19 against future AI-driven earnings acceleration.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Baidu, Inc. operates an Internet search engine. The Company offers algorithmic search, enterprise search, news, MP3, and image searches, voice assistance, online storage, and navigation services. Baidu serves clients globally.
Read more on BIDU →