AWK vs. D: American Water Works vs. Dominion Energy Stock Comparison
How do American Water Works (AWK) and Dominion Energy (D) 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 Dominion Energy (D) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while D is classified in Multi-Utilities.
| Profile Item | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | Dominion 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 | 60.34 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.61% | 16.61% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.05% | 20.91% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.39% | 2.95% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.53% | 21.38% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 0.60 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.10% | -52.20% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.03M | 4.42M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | 0.58 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | 0.94 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and Dominion Energy (D) at 8.82% 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%
D
Utilities industry group
8.82%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- D
- 8.82%
- 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 Dominion Energy (D) at 13.99%, 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%
D
Utilities industry group
13.99%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- D
- 13.99%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% and Dominion Energy (D) at 35.07% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
AWK
Utilities industry group
43.18%
- Max
- 53.83%
- AWK
- 43.18%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
D
Utilities industry group
35.07%
- Max
- 53.83%
- D
- 35.07%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.95% | 8.82% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.50% | 3.17% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 13.99% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 43.18% | 35.07% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 61.86% | 46.51% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Dominion Energy (D) at 14.16% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for D.
EPS Growth
Dominion Energy (D) at 39.78% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for D.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.74% | 14.16% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.67% | 5.80% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.57% | 39.78% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.06% | 46.26% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Dominion Energy (D) at 0.88 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
D
Utilities industry group
0.88
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- D
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 and Dominion Energy (D) at 1.62 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
AWK
Utilities industry group
1.38
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AWK
- 1.38
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
D
Utilities industry group
1.62
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- D
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.39 | 0.88 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.38 | 1.62 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.49 | 6.21 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Dominion Energy (D) at 3.83% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, D the richer one.
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.26%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- AWK
- 2.26%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
D
Utilities industry group
3.83%
- Max
- 6.66%
- D
- 3.83%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Dominion Energy (D) at 88.12% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.
AWK
Utilities industry group
59.60%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AWK
- 59.60%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
D
Utilities industry group
88.12%
- Max
- 113.04%
- D
- 88.12%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.26% | 3.83% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.60% | 88.12% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Dominion Energy (D) at 22.64 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.
AWK
Utilities industry group
26.00
- Max
- 31.22
- AWK
- 26.00
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
D
Utilities industry group
22.64
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- D
- 22.64
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Dominion Energy (D) at 3.14 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
D
Utilities industry group
3.14
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- D
- 3.14
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Dominion Energy (D) at 2.11 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.
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.51
- Max
- 3.12
- AWK
- 2.51
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
D
Utilities industry group
2.11
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- D
- 2.11
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AWK | D |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 22.64 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.60 | 3.14 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 2.11 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.45% | -12.95% |