AWK vs. CEG: American Water Works vs. Constellation Energy Stock Comparison
How do American Water Works (AWK) and Constellation Energy (CEG) 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
American Water Works (AWK) and Constellation Energy (CEG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while CEG is classified in Electric Utilities.
| Profile Item | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | Constellation Energy Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Water Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Water Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 29.92 billion USD | 88.56 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | January 19, 2022 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.61% | -23.27% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.05% | 32.21% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.39% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.53% | 49.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 1.11 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.10% | -50.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.03M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | -0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | -0.78 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CEG.
AWK
Utilities industry group
9.95%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AWK
- 9.95%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
CEG
Utilities industry group
15.06%
- Max
- 17.99%
- CEG
- 15.06%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 21.26% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Constellation Energy (CEG) at 11.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
AWK
Utilities industry group
21.26%
- Max
- 28.78%
- AWK
- 21.26%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
CEG
Utilities industry group
11.08%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- CEG
- 11.08%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% carries a top-quartile operating margin, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.66% operates in the bottom quartile.
AWK
Utilities industry group
43.18%
- Max
- 53.83%
- AWK
- 43.18%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
CEG
Utilities industry group
8.66%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- CEG
- 8.66%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.95% | 15.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.50% | 3.89% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 11.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 43.18% | 8.66% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 61.86% | 22.11% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% and Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.34% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at -37.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.74% | 8.34% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.67% | 1.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.57% | -37.76% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.06% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 1.46 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while American Water Works (AWK) at 0.39 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.
AWK
Utilities industry group
0.39
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AWK
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.29
CEG
Utilities industry group
1.46
- Max
- 1.90
- CEG
- 1.46
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.76 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
AWK
Utilities industry group
1.38
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AWK
- 1.38
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
CEG
Utilities industry group
0.76
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- CEG
- 0.76
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.39 | 1.46 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.38 | 0.76 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.49 | 3.02 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% and Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.68% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.26%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- AWK
- 2.26%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
CEG
Utilities industry group
0.68%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- CEG
- 0.68%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.92% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.
AWK
Utilities industry group
59.60%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AWK
- 59.60%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
CEG
Utilities industry group
15.92%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- CEG
- 15.92%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.26% | 0.68% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.60% | 15.92% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 26.00 and Constellation Energy (CEG) at 24.43 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
AWK
Utilities industry group
26.00
- Max
- 31.22
- AWK
- 26.00
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
CEG
Utilities industry group
24.43
- Max
- 31.22
- CEG
- 24.43
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.83 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while American Water Works (AWK) at 5.60 sits in the pricier quartile — AWK costs more per dollar of sales.
AWK
Utilities industry group
5.60
- Max
- 6.35
- AWK
- 5.60
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
CEG
Utilities industry group
2.83
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- CEG
- 2.83
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.51 and Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.78 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.51
- Max
- 3.12
- AWK
- 2.51
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
CEG
Utilities industry group
2.78
- Max
- 3.12
- CEG
- 2.78
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CEG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 24.43 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.60 | 2.83 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 2.78 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.45% | -7.48% |