American States Water Company(AWR)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
2-STAR RATING
WEAK BUY
BUY for 136 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+14.62%
LAST CLOSE
$86.45
09/15/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for AWR

09/15/2026: AWR (2-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

American States Water Company is a steady, regulated water utility and government infrastructure services provider. Its core business benefits from a reliable, rate-regulated revenue base in California and unique, long-term contracts serving U.S. military installations nationwide. The company is known for its consistent and growing dividend, appealing strongly to income-oriented investors. Primary risks include heavy regulatory reliance in California, sensitivity to drought, and the capital-intensive nature of maintaining aging infrastructure. Investors should monitor the outcomes of regional rate cases and the renewal of government contracts, as these are the primary drivers of future growth and financial stability for this defensive utility stock.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitUtility stocks typically offer steady, modest growth rather than the aggressive growth sought by this style.
Momentum investorWeak fitAWR's price movement is generally slow and steady, not exhibiting the high-volatility trends momentum traders seek.
Value investorMixed fitUtility valuations are often at a premium due to their defensive characteristics, potentially limiting value opportunities.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company has a well-regarded history of consistent and growing dividend payments.
Low-risk investorStrong fitThe regulated nature of the utility business provides predictable cash flows and lower relative volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityLowUtilities are traditionally defensive stocks with lower beta than the broader market.
Valuation riskMediumAs a yield-sensitive asset, valuations can compress if interest rates rise significantly.
Competition risk (Regulatory constraints)MediumAs a regulated monopoly, AWR's main risk is regulatory pressure rather than direct consumer competition.
Business qualityStrongThe company operates in a stable, essential service sector with long-term revenue visibility.
Dividend incomeStrongA decades-long history of dividend growth provides a reliable income stream for investors.
Execution riskMediumOperational delays in infrastructure projects or government contract renewals could temporarily affect earnings.

Price Behavior

Hockey-Stick Growth
PRICE PATH

Hockey-Stick Growth

The stock demonstrates a Hockey-Stick Growth price path pattern.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 2.41%
Avg. Invested days 71
Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/15/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

AWR receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and solid quantitative characteristics. The rating is constrained by soft analyst coverage, weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

AWR has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+9.4%) and solid revenue growth (+10.5%) are partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin -1.1%), very low insider ownership of 0.82%.

Financial Health Rating

AWR's financial health is supported by solid profitability, including gross margin of 50.8% and operating margin of 30.9%. Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

Free-cash-flow growth is AWR's strongest growth driver at +78.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, revenue growth (+10.5%, solid) is also solid, while earnings growth (+9.4%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

Institutional ownership is 87.8% and approximately 98.9% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.82%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 17.31%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 7.84%
Neuberger Berman Group LLC 6.38%
State Street Corp 5.21%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.43%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

AWR generates approximately $508 of gross profit, $309 of operating income, and $-11 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

Effective Tax Rate: 23.18%

Quantitative Style Profile

AWR has a high-quality, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 3.45B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 23.8
1Y Target Price 84
Price to earnings Ratio 23.8
1Y Target Price 84
Volume (30-day avg) 205.6K shares
Beta 0.56
52 Weeks Range 67.63 - 91.72
Updated Date 09/15/2026
52 Weeks Range 67.63 - 91.72
Updated Date 09/15/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 2.33%
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.66

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Regulated Water UtilityWater production, treatment, and distribution to California customers.The bread-and-butter business providing steady, regulated income.
Contracted ServicesLong-term contracts for utility management on military bases.A unique, government-backed revenue stream that helps diversify the business.
Electric UtilityElectricity distribution in specific California regions.A small, stable supplementary business providing localized power services.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 23.8
Forward PE 22.99
Enterprise Value 4.32B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.95
Enterprise Value 4.32B
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.95
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.2
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 15.11
Shares Outstanding 39.64M
Shares Floating 39.21M
Shares Outstanding 39.64M
Shares Floating 39.21M
Percent Insiders 0.82
Percent Institutions 87.81

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About American States Water Company

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters San Dimas, CA, United States
IPO Launch date 1990-03-26
CEO, President & Director Mr. Robert J. Sprowls C.M.A.
Sector Utilities
Industry Utilities - Regulated Water
Full time employees 900
Full time employees 900

American States Water Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of water and electric services to residential, commercial, industrial, and other customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Water, Electric, and Contracted Services. The company purchases, produces, distributes, and sells water, as well as distributes electricity. It provides water service to approximately 265,100 customers; and distributes electricity to approximately 24,900 customers in several San Bernardino County Mountain communities in California. The company also offers water and/or wastewater services at various military installations. American States Water Company was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in San Dimas, California.