Framework Journal · one stock, one dated entry

Recorded 2026-07-19 · Permanent

American States Water Company logoAmerican States Water Company AWR

Clears both ethical standards

An entry written while the outcome is still unknown. It will be scored by what the market does next, and it will never be edited to look cleverer than it was.

In plain words · 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.

The label
Markup

read at $89.28

American States Water Company holds its Markup at $89.28.

PHINPOOPSC
  • PHPhase · the trend structure carries the Markup label
  • INInsiders · no filings inside 60 days, left as found
  • POPositioning · no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
  • OPOptions · no verdict drawn today, left as found
  • SCScreen · passes the values gate
  • edge confirmed
  • edge broken
  • edge forming

Each arm is one independent read. Conviction is not a single call, it is how many edges converge.

The investor read · the season, not the day

As held on the ledger · 2026-07-19
PhaseMarkup
Quantitative stateThe statistical read favours the sellers, held for 7 days
Price$89.28
Valuation26.03 trailing · 23.56 forward price to earnings
Values screenPASS · score 70.0
Beta0.58

The opportunity · what the numbers say it is worth

Read at
$89.28
26.03 P/E · 23.56 fwd
Our fair value
$66.67
25% premium
Analyst target (avg)
$76.50
-14% to current
Target low $76.00Analyst target rangeTarget high $77.00
▲ current $89.28 · | average target

Price history & projections · where it has been, where the models see it going

$85.7$75.5$65.3TODAY5y agoPROJECTIONAnalyst high$77.00 -3%Analyst avg$76.50 -4%Conservative$66.67 -16%Our fair value$66.67 -16%

The valuation journey · where the price sits against fair value and the Street

Current
$89.28
you are here
Conservative
$66.67
-25%
Analyst avg
$76.50
-14%
Our fair value
$66.67
-25%
Analyst high
$77.00
-14%

Green marks levels above today's price, red below; the shaded band is the gap between the price and our fair value.

Reading the gap · Both our model and the Street see limited upside at this price.

Revenue growth14.30%
Profit margin19.66%
Debt to equity87.47
Analyst consensusNone · 2 covering

Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; target range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.

The values screen, explained · five checks, plain English

This company clears both standards. There are two widely recognised ways to check whether a company is suitable for a Muslim investor. Here is how it did on each:

The common standard · AAOIFI
Used by most halal investing apps
✓ PASSES
Our stricter standard · asset-based
The one Titan applies
✓ PASSES

What these two standards are, and how they differ →

  • Business activity Its core business isn't built on prohibited lines — no gambling, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or interest-based lending. Pass
  • Debt load Interest-bearing debt is of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows. Fail
  • Interest-bearing cash Interest-bearing cash and securities are of assets, above the one-third limit. Fail
  • Receivables Money owed to the company is of assets, above the 49% limit. Fail
  • Revenue purity Only 0.0% of revenue comes from non-compliant sources — under the 5% line. Pass

Every security is read against two recognised standards: our stricter asset-based screen (ratios measured against total assets) and the more widely used market-value standard (measured against market capitalisation). Where they agree we say so plainly; where they part ways — almost always on the debt check — we show both readings and mark it, because that disagreement is the finding, not a fault. We report the score; you and your scholar make the call.

The business, in plain words · what the numbers mean

Taps flow steady but this price tag does not

Every time a household turns on the tap in California the bill lands with American States Water. The business earns a solid 20% profit margin and grows revenue at 14%, yet the shares trade at $89 against a fair value of $66, a 25% premium with no opportunity rating attached. Forward earnings sit at 23.6 times, well above what a regulated utility normally commands.

The ethical screen clears without issue and ROE holds at a respectable 13%. Two analysts see a median target of $76, still below the current quote, so nothing in the numbers suggests the market has mispriced a bargain.

Valuation risk sits front and centre here. Pay too much for steady cash flows and even reliable water assets can trap capital for years. Analysis, not advice.

The fundamentals · plain-English read
Forward P/E23.6x
priced for continued growth
Trailing P/E26.0x
a premium valuation
Revenue growth14.3%
steady growth
Profit margin19.7%
healthy profit margins
Return on equity13.2%
a solid return on shareholder capital
Debt to equity0.87
moderate, manageable leverage
Current ratio1.22
adequate liquidity, worth monitoring
Beta0.58
steadier than the market
Market cap$3.5B
Employees900

The risks · The main risks here are ordinary market swings and the chance our fair-value read proves too optimistic.

Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.

Related securities · others in AWR's space worth a look

Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.

Where & how to trade · wherever in the world you are

AWR trades on the NYSE. As a US-listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering US markets. New to this, or investing from outside the US? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.

The trader read · the latest dated commentary

The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved up 14.8% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 4% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 11%. The street (1 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $76. Entered 2026-07-22 · Markdown

The dated journal · newest first, never edited

2026-07-22 Markdown $89.28 +14.8% Entry 4

The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved up 14.8% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen. The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 4% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 11%. The street (1 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $76.

2026-07-18 Markdown $77.77 +0.0% Entry 3

The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen (70). The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 4% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 4%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 11%. The street (1 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $76.

2026-07-03 Markdown $77.77 +0.0% Entry 2

The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen (70). The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns.

2026-07-02 Markdown $77.77 Entry 1

The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Ethical screening: PASS with passing ethical screen (70). The risk-adjusted return profile shows modest positive risk-adjusted returns.

Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.

What holding actually paid · price plus dividends

If $1,000 had been placed · historical, not a promise
PeriodPrice thenPrice returnDivs per share$1,000 becameTotal return
1 month $76.64 +3.5% $0.50 $1,042 +4.2%
2 months $78.94 +0.5% $0.50 $1,012 +1.2%
3 months $73.94 +7.3% $0.50 $1,080 +8.0%
6 months $71.92 +10.3% $1.01 $1,117 +11.7%
1 year $76.60 +3.6% $2.02 $1,062 +6.2%
2 years $67.10 +18.3% $3.88 $1,240 +24.0%
3 years $84.33 -5.9% $5.60 $1,007 +0.7%
5 years $74.12 +7.1% $8.65 $1,187 +18.7%

Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever AWR does next, these words stay.

American States Water Company · AWR · Markup · $89.28
Recorded 2026-07-19 · before the outcome · scored mechanically

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