American States Water Company vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $45.6 (market cap $22.27B). The key difference: Southwest Airlines Co is far larger — about 6.4× 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 | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $22.27B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $29.67 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $25.37B |
Dividend Yield | 2.49% | 1.58% |
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.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $45.06, up 0.36% with mixed technical signals showing bearish moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings with $0.94 EPS beating expectations by 84%, while Q1 missed estimates. Revenue growth continues with 2026 projections at $30.1B, though net margins remain thin at 2.78%. Recent board appointments and business travel initiatives signal strategic focus on premium segments.
LUV presents a value opportunity with attractive P/S (0.79) and dividend yield, but faces headwinds from fuel cost volatility and competitive pressures. Analyst consensus targets $53.86 (20% upside) with mixed ratings. The stock's outlook hinges on sustained travel demand and effective cost management amid industry challenges.
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 →Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →