American States Water Company vs Heron Therapeutics Inc — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while Heron Therapeutics Inc trades at $0.32 (market cap $61.47M). The key difference: American States Water Company is far larger — about 56.5× Heron Therapeutics Inc's market cap, and American States Water Company pays a 2.49% dividend while Heron Therapeutics Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | HRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $61.47M |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $1.49 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $0.32 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $168.21M |
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.
Heron Therapeutics (HRTX) trades at $0.3409, up 3.24% today, but faces bearish technical signals with 18 sell indicators versus 6 buys. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue of $37.7 million but missed earnings expectations with a $0.03 per share loss. Despite strong analyst support (94.7% buy ratings), fundamental challenges persist with negative net income margins and elevated EV/EBITDA of 34.03.
Investment outlook remains cautious due to consistent earnings misses and negative cash flow from operations. The primary opportunity lies in analyst optimism and potential product growth, while risks include ongoing profitability challenges and competitive pressures in the biotechnology sector.
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 →Heron Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving patient care. It develops best-in-class medicines for pain management and cancer care to address unmet medical needs.
Read more on HRTX →