ATO vs. AWK: Atmos Energy vs. American Water Works Stock Comparison
How do Atmos Energy (ATO) and American Water Works (AWK) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Atmos Energy (ATO) and American Water Works (AWK) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while AWK is classified in Water Utilities.
| Profile Item | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Atmos Energy Corporation | American Water Works Company, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Gas Utilities | Water Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Gas Utilities | Water Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 29.27 billion USD | 29.92 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | December 28, 1983 | April 23, 2008 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 0.43% | 17.61% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.83% | 9.05% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 16.10% | -0.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 16.06% | 22.53% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.55 | 0.54 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -19.08% | -37.10% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 1.03M | 2.03M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.24 | 0.59 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.34 | 0.95 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% and American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
ATO
Utilities industry group
9.79%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- ATO
- 9.79%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
AWK
Utilities industry group
9.95%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AWK
- 9.95%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% and American Water Works (AWK) at 21.26% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ATO
Utilities industry group
28.50%
- Max
- 28.78%
- ATO
- 28.50%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
AWK
Utilities industry group
21.26%
- Max
- 28.78%
- AWK
- 21.26%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% and American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
ATO
Utilities industry group
37.22%
- Max
- 53.83%
- ATO
- 37.22%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
AWK
Utilities industry group
43.18%
- Max
- 53.83%
- AWK
- 43.18%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.79% | 9.95% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.89% | 3.50% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 28.50% | 21.26% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.22% | 43.18% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 62.21% | 61.86% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% and American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% and American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 12.91% | 9.74% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.83% | 10.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.22% | 5.57% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.03% | 8.06% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Water Works (AWK) at 0.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AWK.
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.81
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- ATO
- 0.81
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
AWK
Utilities industry group
0.39
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AWK
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
ATO
Utilities industry group
0.68
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- ATO
- 0.68
- Min
- 0.00
AWK
Utilities industry group
1.38
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AWK
- 1.38
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.81 | 0.39 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 0.68 | 1.38 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 3.74 | 5.49 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% and American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
ATO
Utilities industry group
2.21%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- ATO
- 2.21%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.26%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- AWK
- 2.26%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% and American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
ATO
Utilities industry group
46.13%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- ATO
- 46.13%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
AWK
Utilities industry group
59.60%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AWK
- 59.60%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.21% | 2.26% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 46.13% | 59.60% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while American Water Works (AWK) at 26.00 sits in the richer quartile — AWK needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
ATO
Utilities industry group
20.65
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- ATO
- 20.65
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
AWK
Utilities industry group
26.00
- Max
- 31.22
- AWK
- 26.00
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 and American Water Works (AWK) at 5.60 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
ATO
Utilities industry group
5.95
- Max
- 6.35
- ATO
- 5.95
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
AWK
Utilities industry group
5.60
- Max
- 6.35
- AWK
- 5.60
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while American Water Works (AWK) at 2.51 carries an above-peer premium to book — AWK is pricier on assets.
ATO
Utilities industry group
1.92
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- ATO
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.51
- Max
- 3.12
- AWK
- 2.51
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ATO | AWK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.65 | 26.00 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.95 | 5.60 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.92 | 2.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -7.59% | -5.45% |