American States Water Company vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $411.81 (market cap $89.08B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 25.7× American States Water Company's market cap, and American States Water Company pays the higher dividend (2.49%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $89.08B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $361.32 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $139.62B |
Dividend Yield | 2.49% | 0.76% |
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.
HCA Healthcare trades at $414.66, up 0.15% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a P/E of 13.8. Revenue grew to $75.60B in 2025, with net income of $6.78B, and the company has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent corporate actions include a $0.78 dividend scheduled for September 2026.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $449.93, implying 8.5% upside, supported by strong earnings and institutional buy ratings. Risks include high debt levels, regulatory investigations, and expense pressures noted in Q2 2026 results. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against legal and operational headwinds.
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 →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →