American States Water Lands on TIME’s Best Companies List Amid Utility Sector Scarcity — American States Water Company

Event summary

American States Water (NYSE:AWR) named to TIME’s America’s Best Companies 2026 list, one of only two investor-owned water utilities recognized.
Selection criteria: financial performance, employee satisfaction, and sustainability transparency.
Company boasts 71 consecutive years of annual dividend increases with a 5-year CAGR of 8.5% on quarterly dividends.
Serves over 1 million people across ten states through water, electric, and military base utility services.

The big picture

American States Water’s inclusion on TIME’s list underscores the rarity of utility sector recognition in broad corporate excellence rankings. The company’s long-term dividend growth and ESG focus come as regulatory scrutiny intensifies around water affordability and infrastructure investment needs. With only two water utilities making the cut, this distinction highlights both AWR’s operational discipline and the sector’s broader challenges in balancing profitability with public service obligations.

What we're watching

Dividend Sustainability: Whether AWR can maintain its 8.5% CAGR dividend growth amid potential regulatory or operational pressures.
Sector Differentiation: How being one of only two water utilities on the list positions AWR in a competitive landscape.
ESG Credibility: The pace at which sustainability transparency becomes a key differentiator for investor-owned utilities.