American States Water Company vs Bank of Nova Scotia — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while Bank of Nova Scotia trades at $89.03 (market cap $108.32B). The key difference: Bank of Nova Scotia is far larger — about 31.2× American States Water Company's market cap, and Bank of Nova Scotia pays the higher dividend (3.64%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | BNS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $108.32B |
Sector | Utilities | Financials |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $90.29 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $56.41 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.49% | 3.64% |
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.
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) trades at $90.34, up 2.01% with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages. The bank has delivered three consecutive earnings beats, with Q2 2026 EPS expected at $1.53. Recent acquisition of MapleMark Bank and dividend increase to $1.14 demonstrate strategic growth initiatives. Valuation metrics show P/E of 17.1 and P/B of 1.96, while maintaining strong profitability with 24.86% net income margin.
BNS presents a compelling investment case with strong fundamentals and analyst support (52.63% buy ratings), though revenue growth has been modest and interest expenses remain elevated. The stock faces risks from economic uncertainty and credit quality concerns, but dividend stability and improving ROE to 11.87% provide downside protection. Upside potential exists if the bank maintains earnings momentum.
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 →Bank of Nova Scotia is a global financial services provider. The bank has five business segments: Canadian banking, international banking, global wealth management, global banking and markets, and other. It offers a range of advice, products, and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. The bank's international operations span numerous countries and are more concentrated in Central and South America.
Read more on BNS →