American States Water Company vs Burlington Stores Inc — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while Burlington Stores Inc trades at $354.86 (market cap $22.59B). The key difference: Burlington Stores Inc is far larger — about 6.5× American States Water Company's market cap, and American States Water Company pays a 2.49% dividend while Burlington Stores Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | BURL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $22.59B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $372.19 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $242.43 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $27.71B |
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.
Burlington Stores (BURL) trades at $353.63, down 4.81% in the last session but maintains strong fundamental momentum with consistent earnings beats and robust revenue growth. The stock shows a bullish technical setup with key support at $346 and resistance at $365, while fundamentals reveal impressive profitability with 39.14% ROE and expanding margins. Recent news highlights the company's successful smaller-store strategy and upward revised 2026 outlook.
BURL presents a compelling growth opportunity with 94% analyst buy ratings and a $367 consensus target offering 3.8% upside. However, elevated valuation multiples (P/E 36.92) and competitive retail pressures warrant caution. The company's debt-to-asset ratio rising to 20.99% in 2026 and recent insider selling of $619,200 worth of shares represent notable risk factors for investors.
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 →Burlington is a leading off-price retailer in the US, offering branded apparel, footwear, and home goods at significant discounts. It operates hundreds of stores focused on delivering high-quality products at great value.
Read more on BURL →