AWK vs. FTS: American Water Works vs. Fortis Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while FTS is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Profile Item	AWK	FTS
Name	American Water Works Company, Inc.	Fortis Inc.
Country/Region	United States	Canada
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	31.00 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 23, 2008	January 5, 2010
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AWK

FTS

GSPC

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
Total Return (1Y)	17.61%	19.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	9.05%	17.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.39%	9.53%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AWK

FTS

GSPC

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.53%	14.85%
Beta (5Y)	0.54	0.40
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.10%	-30.13%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.03M	879.23K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AWK and FTS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.59	1.00
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.95	1.53

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Fortis (FTS) at 7.55% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

AWK

Utilities industry group

9.95%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
AWK: 9.95%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

FTS

Utilities industry group

7.55%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
FTS: 7.55%
Min: 2.17%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

American Water Works (AWK) at 21.26% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Fortis (FTS) at 15.01%, 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

15.01%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
FTS: 15.01%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Fortis (FTS) at 30.69%, 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

30.69%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
FTS: 30.69%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
ROE (TTM)	9.95%	7.55%
ROA (TTM)	3.50%	2.93%
Net Margin (TTM)	21.26%	15.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	43.18%	30.69%
Gross Margin (TTM)	61.86%	45.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% and Fortis (FTS) at 5.75% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% and Fortis (FTS) at 4.94% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.74%	5.75%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.67%	3.29%
EPS Growth (YoY)	5.57%	4.94%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.06%	6.94%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Fortis (FTS) at 0.69 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
FTS: 0.69
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 and Fortis (FTS) at 1.35 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
FTS: 1.35
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.39	0.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.38	1.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.49	6.22

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 4.18% 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, FTS 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

4.18%

Max: 6.66%
FTS: 4.18%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Fortis (FTS) at 72.73% 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%

FTS

Utilities industry group

72.73%

Max: 113.04%
FTS: 72.73%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.26%	4.18%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	59.60%	72.73%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 26.00 and Fortis (FTS) at 23.66 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

23.66

Max: 31.22
FTS: 23.66
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 2.47 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

2.47

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
FTS: 2.47
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Fortis (FTS) at 1.79 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

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.79

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
FTS: 1.79
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Fortis (FTS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Fortis (FTS)
Metric	AWK	FTS
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.00	23.66
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.60	2.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.51	1.79
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-5.45%	-9.42%