American States Water Company vs Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? American States Water Company trades at $87.85 (market cap $3.47B), while Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $85.08. The key difference: American States Water Company pays a 2.49% dividend while Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund pays none, and American States Water Company is trading nearer its 52-week high, Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWR | XLP | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $3.47B | — |
Sector | Utilities | — |
52-Week High | $89.28 | $90.00 |
52-Week Low | $70.10 | $75.61 |
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.
XLP trades at $85.08 with minimal daily movement (+0.15%), reflecting stable defensive positioning. Technical indicators show mixed signals with a neutral overall rating, while analyst consensus remains strongly bullish with 100% buy ratings. The consumer staples ETF benefits from recent positive sector momentum and defensive characteristics during market uncertainty.
The outlook remains positive given the defensive nature of consumer staples amid economic uncertainty, with potential for steady dividend income. Key risks include sector rotation away from defensive plays and valuation concerns if growth expectations moderate. The 2.6% dividend yield provides income support while awaiting capital appreciation.
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes companies that have been identified as Consumer Staples companies by the GICS®. It is non-diversified.
Read more on XLP →