AWK vs. CNP: American Water Works vs. CenterPoint Energy Stock Comparison
How do American Water Works (AWK) and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) 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 CenterPoint Energy (CNP) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while CNP is classified in Multi-Utilities.
| Profile Item | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | CenterPoint Energy, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Water Utilities | Multi-Utilities |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Water Utilities | Multi-Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 29.92 billion USD | 26.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | January 2, 1962 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.61% | 5.91% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.05% | 18.08% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.39% | 11.79% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.53% | 18.24% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 0.44 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.10% | -22.81% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.03M | 6.95M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | 0.09 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | 0.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 10.14% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
AWK
Utilities industry group
9.95%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AWK
- 9.95%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
CNP
Utilities industry group
10.14%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- CNP
- 10.14%
- 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 CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 11.76%, 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%
CNP
Utilities industry group
11.76%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- CNP
- 11.76%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 30.26%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
AWK
Utilities industry group
43.18%
- Max
- 53.83%
- AWK
- 43.18%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
CNP
Utilities industry group
30.26%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- CNP
- 30.26%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.95% | 10.14% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.50% | 3.15% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 11.76% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 43.18% | 30.26% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 61.86% | 48.39% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 8.26% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.27% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.74% | 8.26% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.67% | 0.13% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.57% | 1.27% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.06% | 0.21% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 1.15 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.
AWK
Utilities industry group
0.39
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AWK
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.29
CNP
Utilities industry group
1.15
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- CNP
- 1.15
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.12 uses more debt funding than most peers.
AWK
Utilities industry group
1.38
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AWK
- 1.38
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.12
- Max
- 2.63
- CNP
- 2.12
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.39 | 1.15 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.38 | 2.12 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.49 | 5.98 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30% 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%
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.30%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- CNP
- 2.30%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 52.87% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
AWK
Utilities industry group
59.60%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AWK
- 59.60%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
CNP
Utilities industry group
52.87%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- CNP
- 52.87%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.26% | 2.30% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.60% | 52.87% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 26.00 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 23.37 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
CNP
Utilities industry group
23.37
- Max
- 31.22
- CNP
- 23.37
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.74 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
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.74
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- CNP
- 2.74
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.51 and CenterPoint Energy (CNP) at 2.30 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
CNP
Utilities industry group
2.30
- Max
- 3.12
- CNP
- 2.30
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AWK | CNP |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 23.37 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.60 | 2.74 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 2.30 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.45% | -18.50% |