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AWK vs AWR
Which Stock Would AI Choose? American Water Works (AWK) vs. American States Water (AWR) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- AWR has outperformed AWK year-to-date, with returns around 4.5% compared to AWK's 1.7%, reflecting stronger relative momentum in recent market activity.
- Both stocks offer similar dividend yields near 2.7-2.8% and P/E ratios (price-to-earnings) around 22, appealing to income-focused investors.
- AWK boasts a larger market cap of approximately $25 billion versus AWR's $3 billion, providing greater scale but higher debt exposure.
- Recent analyst upgrades for AWR highlight its balance sheet strength and customer growth, while AWK navigates a proposed merger and earnings pressures.
- In the water utilities sector, both exhibit defensive qualities amid volatility, with AWR showing better short-term stability.
Introduction
American Water Works (AWK) and American States Water (AWR) are leading regulated water utilities, offering essential services in a stable, recession-resistant sector. This stock comparison analyzes their business models, recent performance, and market positioning to aid dividend seekers, long-term holders, and traders evaluating defensive plays. With infrastructure demands rising and interest rate sensitivity impacting utilities, understanding relative momentum and growth drivers helps investors assess trade-offs in scale versus agility amid evolving regulatory and economic conditions.
American Water Works (AWK) Overview and Recent Performance
American Water Works (AWK), the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility, serves over 14 million people across 24 states. Its stock has traded in a 52-week range of $121 to $151, with a current price near $127 and a market cap exceeding $24 billion. In recent weeks, shares experienced pressure following a first-quarter earnings per share (EPS) miss, though revenues grew year-over-year and an 8.2% dividend hike was announced alongside reaffirmed 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $6.02-$6.12. A proposed $63 billion merger with Essential Utilities has drawn regulatory scrutiny, influencing sentiment with potential for expanded infrastructure investments but added execution risks. Overall, modest year-to-date gains reflect steady demand offset by earnings volatility.
American States Water (AWR) Overview and Recent Performance
American States Water (AWR) operates water and electric utilities primarily in California, serving about 270,000 customers through subsidiaries like Golden State Water Company. Trading in a 52-week range of $69 to $83, its current price hovers around $75 with a $3 billion market cap. Recent market activity has favored AWR, with year-to-date returns near 4.5% and analyst upgrades to "Strong Buy" citing robust balance sheet strength and customer growth prospects. Positive sector tailwinds and outperformance versus peers have boosted sentiment ahead of upcoming earnings. Dividend reliability remains a hallmark, supporting its appeal in uncertain environments despite broader utility sector headwinds.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both AWK and AWR operate in the regulated water utilities space, providing recession-proof services, but differ in scale and diversification. AWK's expansive footprint drives higher revenue ($5.2 billion TTM) and growth via infrastructure spending plans exceeding $48 billion, contrasted with AWR's focused operations yielding $658 million TTM and electric utility exposure for added stability. Recent momentum favors AWR, with superior year-to-date returns and analyst optimism, while AWK faces merger-related uncertainties. Risk profiles highlight AWK's elevated debt from acquisitions versus AWR's conservative balance sheet. Sector exposure is similar, but market sentiment leans toward AWR's relative undervaluation and growth trajectory in recent weeks.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors AWR over AWK based on stronger trend consistency, year-to-date outperformance, positive analyst revisions, and lower near-term catalysts risks. AWR's balance sheet resilience and sector-relative momentum position it probabilistically better for stability in volatile conditions, though AWK's scale offers long-term upside if merger hurdles clear.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full Disclaimers and Limitations.
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is AWK is a Hold and AWR is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
AWK’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileAWR’s FA Score has 0 green FA rating(s).
- AWK’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- AWR’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
AWK’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while AWR’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s).
- AWK’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
- AWR’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
Price Growth
AWK (@Water Utilities) experienced а -0.83% price change this week, while AWR (@Water Utilities) price change was -2.08% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Water Utilities industry was -1.17%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.15%, and the average quarterly price growth was +1.41%.
Reported Earning Dates
AWK is expected to report earnings on Jul 29, 2026.
AWR is expected to report earnings on Aug 11, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Water Utilities (-1.17% weekly)Water utilities operate water treatment plants, and/or distribute water to residential and commercial customers. Companies operating in this industry are largely responsible for the safe and timely distribution of water. While most water systems are local or regional, some of the companies might have operations across several states. The industry is expected to be closely monitored by regulators for quality checks on the water being distributed. Investing in upgrading infrastructure is a major factor in bolstering the supply of clean/safe-to-use water. Given the absolute necessity of water in our lives, the industry is largely non-cyclical. American Water Works Company, Inc., Aqua America, Inc., American States Water Co. and California Water Service Group are some of the major water utilities companies in the U.S.
| AWK | AWR | AWK / AWR | |
| Capitalization | 24.5B | 3.01B | 813% |
| EBITDA | 2.96B | 271M | 1,092% |
| Gain YTD | -2.557 | 7.538 | -34% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.24 | 22.42 | 99% |
| Revenue | 5.21B | 679M | 767% |
| Total Cash | 137M | 22.2M | 617% |
| Total Debt | 15.7B | 931M | 1,686% |
AWK | AWR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 24 | 72 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 61 Fair valued | 78 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 84 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 100 | 100 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 58 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 68 | 58 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 75 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
AWK's Valuation (61) in the Water Utilities industry is in the same range as AWR (78). This means that AWK’s stock grew similarly to AWR’s over the last 12 months.
AWR's Profit vs Risk Rating (84) in the Water Utilities industry is in the same range as AWK (100). This means that AWR’s stock grew similarly to AWK’s over the last 12 months.
AWR's SMR Rating (100) in the Water Utilities industry is in the same range as AWK (100). This means that AWR’s stock grew similarly to AWK’s over the last 12 months.
AWR's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Water Utilities industry is in the same range as AWK (58). This means that AWR’s stock grew similarly to AWK’s over the last 12 months.
AWR's P/E Growth Rating (58) in the Water Utilities industry is in the same range as AWK (68). This means that AWR’s stock grew similarly to AWK’s over the last 12 months.
| AWK | AWR | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 56% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 50% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 41% | 2 days ago 53% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 49% | 2 days ago 47% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 46% | 2 days ago 48% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 14 days ago 49% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 22 days ago 45% | 8 days ago 49% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 62% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 42% |
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AWK and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, AWK has been closely correlated with WTRG. These tickers have moved in lockstep 89% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if AWK jumps, then WTRG could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To AWK | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AWK | 100% | -2.38% | ||
| WTRG - AWK | 89% Closely correlated | -2.53% | ||
| AWR - AWK | 71% Closely correlated | -1.23% | ||
| CWT - AWK | 68% Closely correlated | -0.99% | ||
| MSEX - AWK | 61% Loosely correlated | -1.18% | ||
| HTO - AWK | 60% Loosely correlated | -1.52% | ||
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