American States Water Raises Quarterly Dividend 8.33%

American States Water Company (NYSE: AWR) increased its quarterly dividend to $0.546 per share from $0.504, an 8.33% rise. The shares had an ex-dividend date of Aug. 17, 2026.

The new payout corresponds to an annual dividend of $2.18 per share. At a share price of $91.10, that represents a forward annual yield of 2.46%.

The increase extends American States Water’s dividend-growth streak to 23 consecutive years. The utility has a dividend safety score of 91 out of 100, equivalent to an A grade, based on the supplied dividend data.

Operating context

American States Water is the parent of Golden State Water Company, Bear Valley Electric Service and American States Utility Services, according to its latest quarterly filing. The businesses give AWR exposure to regulated water and electric operations as well as contracted utility services. SEC Form 10-Q

The dividend increase followed a quarter in which the company reported higher earnings across all operating segments. Management said the water business benefited primarily from customer rate increases approved by the California Public Utilities Commission. Increased construction activity also supported the contracted-services segment. Second-quarter results

The company also said Standard & Poor’s affirmed its A credit rating with a stable outlook, while assigning an A+ rating and stable outlook to the regulated water utility. Credit quality is relevant to dividend durability because utilities typically depend on debt and equity markets to finance capital-intensive infrastructure programs. Second-quarter results

What it means for income investors

The higher rate adds $0.042 per share to each quarterly distribution compared with the previous payout. On an annual basis, the stated $2.18 dividend provides a 2.46% forward yield at the supplied share price.

Investors who purchased shares on or after the Aug. 17 ex-dividend date would generally not qualify for the associated distribution. The safety grade indicates a strong assessed dividend profile, though it does not guarantee future payments; dividends remain subject to board approval and the company’s financial and regulatory conditions.