American States Water Company vs PepsiCo, Inc. — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while PepsiCo, Inc. trades at $138.6 (market cap $188.91B). The key difference: PepsiCo, Inc. is far larger — about 54.4× American States Water Company's market cap, and PepsiCo, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.28%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | PEP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | $188.91B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $170.44 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $134.95 |
Enterprise Value | $4.37B | $231.41B |
Dividend Yield | 2.49% | 4.28% |
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.
PepsiCo (PEP) trades at $138.22, up 0.38% on the day, with the stock showing mixed technical signals amid a bearish overall trend. The company maintains strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, including Q2 2026 EPS of $2.20 beating expectations of $2.19, and robust profitability metrics including 10.78% net income margin and 51.59% ROE. Recent news highlights price adjustments for snacks and sponsorship changes, while analysts maintain a cautious but generally positive outlook.
PepsiCo presents a stable investment case with strong cash flow generation and dividend consistency, though near-term headwinds include pricing sensitivity and competitive pressures. The consensus price target of $158.79 suggests 15% upside potential, supported by ongoing business optimization efforts. Key risks include consumer pushback on pricing and execution challenges in North American markets.
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 →PepsiCo is one of the largest food and beverage companies globally. It makes, markets, and sells a slew of brands across the beverage and snack categories, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Doritos, Lays, and Ruffles. The firm uses a largely integrated go-to-market model, though it does leverage third-party bottlers, contract manufacturers, and distributors in certain markets. In addition to company-owned trademarks, Pepsi manufactures and distributes other brands through partnerships and joint ventures with companies such as Starbucks. The firm segments its operations into five primary geographies, with North America (comprising Frito-Lay North America, Quaker Foods North America, and North America beverages) constituting around 60% of consolidated revenue.
Read more on PEP →