American States Water Company vs iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF trades at $79.61. The key difference: American States Water Company pays a 2.49% dividend while iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF pays none, and American States Water Company is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | HYG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | — |
Sector | Utilities | Fixed Income |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $81.32 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $78.72 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | — |
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.
HYG trades at $79.61, up 0.16% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. Recent dividends include $0.38 paid in August 2026. News highlights bond market volatility amid oil price swings and inflation data, with HYG facing criticism for underperformance versus peers on expenses and yield.
The outlook is cautious due to high-yield bond risks from rising rates and economic uncertainty. Opportunities exist for income seekers, but downside risks are elevated with support at $79. Investors should weigh HYG's liquidity against weaker metrics compared to alternatives.
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 →HYG is the world's largest high-yield bond ETF, tracking the Markit iBoxx USD Liquid High Yield Index. It provides liquid exposure to non-investment grade corporate debt, with 2026 top holdings including Cloud Software Group and Medline.
Read more on HYG →