American States Water Company vs KLA Corp. — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while KLA Corp. trades at $207.9 (market cap $261.92B). The key difference: KLA Corp. is far larger — about 75.5× 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 | KLAC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $261.92B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $301.71 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $84.39 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $263.17B |
Dividend Yield | 2.49% | 0.46% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
American States Water (AWR) trades at $87.45, up 1.02% with a bullish technical outlook. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $1.09 per share, beating estimates, driven by water rate increases and revenue growth of 11.2%. Profitability remains robust with a 20.52% net income margin and ROE of 13.62%. Recent news highlights AWR's 71-year dividend growth streak and inclusion in TIME's America's Best Companies 2026 list.
AWR offers stable income with consistent dividend growth but faces valuation concerns at 23.92 P/E. Analyst consensus is cautious with 50% hold ratings. Key risks include regulatory dependence and competitive pressures. The stock presents a defensive play with reliable dividends but limited near-term upside given current multiples.
KLA Corporation (KLAC) trades at $208.27, up 8.06% on the day, reflecting strong momentum amid the AI-driven semiconductor equipment rally. The stock exhibits bullish technical signals with recent earnings beats and robust profitability, including a 35.57% net income margin. Recent corporate actions include a 1:10 stock split and dividend declarations, while analyst consensus leans heavily bullish with a $246.93 price target.
Outlook remains positive given KLAC's exposure to advanced packaging growth and AI chip demand, though elevated valuation ratios (P/E of 54.77) and technical overbought conditions near resistance at $209 pose near-term risks. Long-term investors may find value in its fundamental strength, but volatility from sector cyclicality warrants caution.
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 →KLA designs and manufactures yield-management and process-monitoring diagnostic and control systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. The systems are used to analyze the manufacturing process at various steps in a semiconductor's development. The firm's laser-scanning products are used for wafer qualification, process monitoring, and equipment monitoring. KLA also provides inspection tools and systems for optical metrology and e-beam metrology.
Read more on KLAC →