American States Water Company vs Paycom Software Inc — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $85.55 (market cap $3.33B), while Paycom Software Inc trades at $144.2 (market cap $6.70B). The key difference: Paycom Software Inc is far larger — about 2× American States Water Company's market cap, and American States Water Company pays the higher dividend (2.37%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | PAYC | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.33B | $6.70B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $85.05 | $238.80 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $113.59 |
Enterprise Value | $4.24B | $7.31B |
Dividend Yield | 2.37% | 1.04% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
American States Water (AWR) trades at $85.05, up 0.64% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong profitability metrics including a 19.66% net income margin. Recent news highlights its inclusion in TIME's America's Best Companies 2026 list and a completed $200 million ATM equity offering. The stock shows consistent dividend performance with a 71-year growth streak, though recent quarters saw mixed earnings results versus expectations.
Outlook remains stable with revenue growth to $679 million in 2026 and solid cash flow, but risks include regulatory pressures and interest rate sensitivity. Analysts are cautious with only 20% buy ratings. The stock offers defensive appeal but faces execution risks in a high-valuation environment.
Paycom Software (PAYC) trades at $146.50, up 5.34% on the day, with strong technical momentum and bullish moving average signals. The company demonstrates robust fundamentals with 22.44% net income margin and 37.15% ROE, though Q2 2026 earnings are pending. Recent news highlights product innovation with the launch of Asset Management tool and board appointments, supporting growth prospects in the HCM software sector.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus price target of $151 suggesting modest upside, balanced by high valuation multiples and competitive pressures. Key risks include execution challenges in maintaining growth momentum and sensitivity to economic cycles affecting HR software demand.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Paycom is a fast-growing provider of payroll and human capital management, or HCM, software primarily targeting clients with 50-10,000 employees in the United States. Paycom was established in 1998 and services about 18,000 clients as of 2021, based on parent company grouping. Alongside its core payroll software, Paycom offers various HCM add-on modules, including time and attendance, talent management, and benefits administration.
Read more on PAYC →