AWK vs. EVRG: American Water Works vs. Evergy Stock Comparison
How do American Water Works (AWK) and Evergy (EVRG) 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 Evergy (EVRG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while EVRG is classified in Electric Utilities.
| Profile Item | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | Evergy Inc. |
| 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 | 20.53 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.61% | 20.55% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.05% | 26.35% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.39% | 10.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.53% | 16.50% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 0.48 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.10% | -29.83% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.03M | 2.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | 0.99 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | 1.44 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and Evergy (EVRG) at 10.06% 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%
EVRG
Utilities industry group
10.06%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- EVRG
- 10.06%
- 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 Evergy (EVRG) at 16.67%, 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%
EVRG
Utilities industry group
16.67%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- EVRG
- 16.67%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% and Evergy (EVRG) at 38.46% 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%
EVRG
Utilities industry group
38.46%
- Max
- 53.83%
- EVRG
- 38.46%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.95% | 10.06% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.50% | 3.12% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 16.67% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 43.18% | 38.46% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 61.86% | 52.95% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Evergy (EVRG) at 1.95% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% and Evergy (EVRG) at -3.43% 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 | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.74% | 1.95% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.67% | 0.58% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.57% | -3.43% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.06% | 3.83% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 0.39 and Evergy (EVRG) at 0.49 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.
AWK
Utilities industry group
0.39
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AWK
- 0.39
- Min
- 0.29
EVRG
Utilities industry group
0.49
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- EVRG
- 0.49
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 and Evergy (EVRG) at 1.47 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
EVRG
Utilities industry group
1.47
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- EVRG
- 1.47
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.39 | 0.49 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.38 | 1.47 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.49 | 5.39 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% and Evergy (EVRG) at 3.18% 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%
EVRG
Utilities industry group
3.18%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- EVRG
- 3.18%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% and Evergy (EVRG) at 61.92% 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%
EVRG
Utilities industry group
61.92%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- EVRG
- 61.92%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.26% | 3.18% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.60% | 61.92% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Evergy (EVRG) at 19.50 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
EVRG
Utilities industry group
19.50
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- EVRG
- 19.50
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Evergy (EVRG) at 3.22 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
EVRG
Utilities industry group
3.22
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- EVRG
- 3.22
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Evergy (EVRG) at 1.86 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
EVRG
Utilities industry group
1.86
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- EVRG
- 1.86
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AWK | EVRG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 19.50 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.60 | 3.22 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 1.86 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.45% | -7.14% |