AWK vs. NGG: American Water Works vs. National Grid Stock Comparison
How do American Water Works (AWK) and National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while NGG is classified in Multi-Utilities.
American Water Works (AWK) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | National Grid plc Sponsored ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | United Kingdom |
| 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 | 83.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | August 10, 2005 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.61% | 13.00% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.05% | 19.82% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.39% | 12.34% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.53% | 22.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 0.73 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.10% | -39.20% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.03M | 911.70K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | 0.39 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | 0.54 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and National Grid (NGG) at 10.31% 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%
NGG
Utilities industry group
10.31%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- NGG
- 10.31%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both American Water Works (AWK) at 21.26% and National Grid (NGG) at 21.15% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
AWK
Utilities industry group
21.26%
- Max
- 28.78%
- AWK
- 21.26%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
NGG
Utilities industry group
21.15%
- Max
- 28.78%
- NGG
- 21.15%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- 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 National Grid (NGG) at 28.64%, 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%
NGG
Utilities industry group
28.64%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- NGG
- 28.64%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.95% | 10.31% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.50% | 3.33% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 21.15% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 43.18% | 28.64% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 61.86% | 100.00% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: American Water Works (AWK) reports EPS growth of 5.57%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.74% | -3.76% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.67% | -6.53% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.57% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.06% | -30.59% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 0.39 and National Grid (NGG) at 0.62 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
NGG
Utilities industry group
0.62
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- NGG
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 and National Grid (NGG) at 1.32 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
NGG
Utilities industry group
1.32
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- NGG
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.39 | 0.62 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.38 | 1.32 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.49 | 6.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.57% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.26%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- AWK
- 2.26%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
NGG
Utilities industry group
0.57%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- NGG
- 0.57%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while National Grid (NGG) at 71.97% 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%
NGG
Utilities industry group
71.97%
- Max
- 113.04%
- NGG
- 71.97%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.26% | 0.57% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.60% | 71.97% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
National Grid (NGG) at 15.54 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
NGG
Utilities industry group
15.54
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- NGG
- 15.54
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.60 and National Grid (NGG) at 4.46 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
AWK
Utilities industry group
5.60
- Max
- 6.35
- AWK
- 5.60
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
NGG
Utilities industry group
4.46
- Max
- 6.35
- NGG
- 4.46
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: American Water Works (AWK) at 2.51 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and National Grid (NGG) at 9.36 prices even higher, above its industry range.
AWK
Utilities industry group
2.51
- Max
- 3.12
- AWK
- 2.51
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
NGG
Utilities industry group
9.36
- NGG
- 9.36
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AWK | NGG |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 15.54 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.60 | 4.46 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 9.36 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.45% | -5.94% |