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⚠️ Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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American Water Works AWK

United States Utilities
5.8/10
AI Analyst score
130.91 USD
Last price at analysis date · analyst target 141.45 (+8.1%)
🛒 Where to buy AWKPartner brokers · US (NYSE/Nasdaq) · sample 200.00 € orderUS (NYSE/Nasdaq)
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🟡 HOLD — Hold; the strength of the regulated model and the dividend (yield 2.73%) offer stability, but the valuation is not attractive and leverage limits upside potential.

American Water Works is the largest water and wastewater utility in the US, operating under a regulated model with rates approved by state agencies. American Water Works shows acceptable financial health (6.45) with an exceptional operating margin of 40.66%, but its high debt (ND/EBITDA of 5.44) and negative free cash flow conversion (-61.29%) weigh on its quality and valuation, which already discounts a P/E of 22.69.

Financial health
6.2
Quality / Moat
4.4
Valuation
4.0
Growth
6.0
Dividend
7.0
Momentum
4.5
Risk & Context
7.7

Detailed metrics

Market and fundamental data as of the analysis date.

💵 Valuation
P/E22.69
Fwd P/E19.94
EV/EBITDA14.37
P/B2.23
P/S4.92
PEG2.32
Market cap26.02 B USD
Enterprise value41.86 B USD
🏰 Quality and moat
ROIC (approx.)7.8%
Gross margin61.47%
FCF conversion-61%
Operating margin40.66%
📈 Profitability and margins
ROE10.10%
ROA3.52%
Net margin21.35%
FCF-1.79 B USD
FCF yield-6.86%
🏦 Solvency and liquidity
Total debt16.07 B USD
Net debt15.84 B USD
Cash227.0 M USD
EBITDA2.91 B USD
Net debt / EBITDA5.44
D/E137.75
Current ratio0.52
Quick ratio0.40
🚀 Growth
Revenue growth6.20%
Earnings growth8.60%
EPS (TTM)5.77 USD
EPS (Fwd)6.57 USD
💰 Dividend and risk
Dividend yield2.73%
Payout58.5%
Beta0.58
Analyst consensusHold (11)
Target price141.45 USD
52-week range120.57 USD – 145.64 USD
⚠️ Main risk: The main risk is the high leverage (net debt/EBITDA of 5.44) in a rising interest rate environment, which makes refinancing more expensive and pressures the valuation of a long-duration cash flow company.
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Full AI report

Generated automatically from the metrics, the macro context and the company's news.

American Water Works is the largest water and wastewater utility in the US, operating under a regulated model with rates approved by state agencies. American Water Works shows acceptable financial health (6.45) with an exceptional operating margin of 40.66%, but its high debt (ND/EBITDA of 5.44) and negative free cash flow conversion (-61.29%) weigh on its quality and valuation, which already discounts a P/E of 22.69.

Score by category

CategoryScore
Financial health6.2
Quality / Moat4.4
Valuation4.0
Growth6.0
Dividend7.0
Momentum4.5
Risk & Context7.7

OVERALL SCORE: 5.8/10

Context and risks

The rise in 10-year Treasury yields (5.17%) pressures AWK's valuation, a regulated utility with long-duration cash flows and net debt/EBITDA of 5.44. However, its regulated rate model with inflation pass-through clauses and its position as the largest water utility in the US partially mitigate this risk.

News considered in the analysis

  • American Water Works (AWK) Stock Looks Fully Priced On Its 14% Three Year Gain — Artículo de opinión que sugiere que la acción está totalmente valorada tras una ganancia moderada; refleja una visión de valoración, no un hecho material.
  • American Water Works Company (AWK), What Is Behind The Latest Attention? — Titular genérico sin información nueva o cuantificable.
  • 3 U.S. Utility Stocks Built For Higher Rates And Inflation Pass Through — Destaca la capacidad de AWK para trasladar la inflación a las tarifas, un atributo clave de su modelo regulado que mitiga el impacto de tipos altos.
  • What Does American Water Works Company (AWK) Gain From Its Digital Push And Training Hub? — La inversión en digitalización y formación puede mejorar la eficiencia operativa y el servicio, apoyando el crecimiento a largo plazo.
  • Can Rising Water Demand Boost California Water's Long-Term Growth? — Artículo sobre California Water Service Group, no sobre American Water Works; irrelevante para AWK.

Verdict: Hold; the strength of the regulated model and the dividend (yield 2.73%) offer stability, but the valuation is not attractive and leverage limits upside potential.

Main risk: The main risk is the high leverage (net debt/EBITDA of 5.44) in a rising interest rate environment, which makes refinancing more expensive and pressures the valuation of a long-duration cash flow company.

Other Utilities companies

Neighbours in the sector ranking, to compare without going back to the index.

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Automatically generated analysis from fundamental, market and news data. Not personalised financial advice — a research tool, not an individual recommendation. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Last update of this analysis: 2026-09-28. Legal notice, privacy & cookies.