AWK vs. NGG: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on November 22, 2025

Here’s a clear look at AWK and NGG, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

AWK is a standard domestic listing, while NGG trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.

Symbol	AWK	NGG
Company Name	American Water Works Company, Inc.	National Grid plc
Country	United States	United Kingdom
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Water Utilities	Multi-Utilities
Market Capitalization	25.93 billion USD	77.26 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 23, 2008	August 10, 2005
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of AWK and NGG by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

AWK vs. NGG: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	AWK	NGG
5-Day Price Return	2.08%	1.29%
13-Week Price Return	-8.55%	13.27%
26-Week Price Return	-1.66%	12.62%
52-Week Price Return	-0.62%	20.75%
Month-to-Date Return	2.48%	3.33%
Year-to-Date Return	5.73%	24.00%
10-Day Avg. Volume	1.94M	8.74M
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.43M	7.23M
3-Month Volatility	20.88%	11.49%
Beta	0.76	0.35

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

AWK

10.48%

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 13.49%
Q3: 13.11%
Median: 10.21%
Q1: 6.30%
Min: 4.46%

AWK’s Return on Equity of 10.48% is on par with the norm for the Water Utilities industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

NGG

7.66%

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 20.00%
Q3: 13.72%
Median: 9.49%
Q1: 7.74%
Min: -0.57%

NGG’s Return on Equity of 7.66% is in the lower quartile for the Multi-Utilities industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

AWK

21.93%

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 36.09%
Q3: 21.88%
Median: 13.16%
Q1: 8.10%
Min: -3.68%

A Net Profit Margin of 21.93% places AWK in the upper quartile for the Water Utilities industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

NGG

22.58%

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 22.58%
Q3: 14.93%
Median: 9.68%
Q1: 4.19%
Min: -1.14%

A Net Profit Margin of 22.58% places NGG in the upper quartile for the Multi-Utilities industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

AWK

36.96%

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 57.60%
Q3: 38.66%
Median: 31.40%
Q1: 23.53%
Min: 7.04%

AWK’s Operating Profit Margin of 36.96% is around the midpoint for the Water Utilities industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

NGG

40.12%

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 45.31%
Q3: 26.29%
Median: 19.25%
Q1: 7.66%
Min: -0.18%

An Operating Profit Margin of 40.12% places NGG in the upper quartile for the Multi-Utilities industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	AWK	NGG
Return on Equity (TTM)	10.48%	7.66%
Return on Assets (TTM)	3.30%	2.73%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	21.93%	22.58%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	36.96%	40.12%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	--	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AWK

0.42

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 1.94
Q3: 1.44
Median: 1.27
Q1: 1.07
Min: 0.53

AWK’s Current Ratio of 0.42 is notably low, falling beneath the typical range for the Water Utilities industry. This suggests a heightened liquidity risk and could indicate potential challenges in meeting its short-term obligations.

NGG

0.97

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 1.23
Q3: 1.11
Median: 0.93
Q1: 0.87
Min: 0.51

NGG’s Current Ratio of 0.97 aligns with the median group of the Multi-Utilities industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

AWK

1.40

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 5.48
Q3: 4.27
Median: 2.13
Q1: 0.92
Min: 0.51

AWK’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.40 is typical for the Water Utilities industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

NGG

1.23

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 3.16
Q3: 2.03
Median: 1.56
Q1: 1.21
Min: 0.58

NGG’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.23 is typical for the Multi-Utilities industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

AWK

4.17

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 5.04
Q3: 4.78
Median: 3.25
Q1: 2.23
Min: 0.58

AWK’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.17 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Water Utilities industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

NGG

4.29

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 9.98
Q3: 5.96
Median: 3.48
Q1: 2.74
Min: 0.59

NGG’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.29 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Multi-Utilities industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	AWK	NGG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.42	0.97
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.39	0.90
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	1.40	1.23
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	4.17	4.29

Growth

Revenue Growth

AWK vs. NGG: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

AWK vs. NGG: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AWK

2.42%

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 6.03%
Q3: 4.85%
Median: 4.25%
Q1: 2.47%
Min: 0.00%

AWK’s Dividend Yield of 2.42% is in the lower quartile for the Water Utilities industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

NGG

2.78%

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 6.29%
Q3: 4.88%
Median: 3.66%
Q1: 2.95%
Min: 1.67%

NGG’s Dividend Yield of 2.78% is in the lower quartile for the Multi-Utilities industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AWK

55.85%

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 324.59%
Q3: 277.83%
Median: 155.19%
Q1: 55.87%
Min: 28.66%

AWK’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 55.85% is in the lower quartile for the Water Utilities industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

NGG

56.13%

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 110.63%
Q3: 96.69%
Median: 74.83%
Q1: 57.12%
Min: 31.93%

NGG’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 56.13% is in the lower quartile for the Multi-Utilities industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	AWK	NGG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.42%	2.78%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	55.85%	56.13%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

AWK

23.10

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 36.00
Q3: 30.58
Median: 20.13
Q1: 14.89
Min: 8.76

AWK’s P/E Ratio of 23.10 is within the middle range for the Water Utilities industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

NGG

20.20

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 29.37
Q3: 20.20
Median: 17.94
Q1: 10.63
Min: 5.90

NGG’s P/E Ratio of 20.20 is within the middle range for the Multi-Utilities industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

AWK

5.07

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 5.67
Q3: 4.02
Median: 3.21
Q1: 2.13
Min: 1.00

AWK’s P/S Ratio of 5.07 is in the upper echelon for the Water Utilities industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

NGG

4.56

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 5.04
Q3: 3.47
Median: 2.06
Q1: 0.49
Min: 0.28

NGG’s P/S Ratio of 4.56 is in the upper echelon for the Multi-Utilities industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

AWK

2.49

Water Utilities Industry

Max: 4.29
Q3: 3.12
Median: 1.64
Q1: 1.24
Min: 0.61

AWK’s P/B Ratio of 2.49 is within the conventional range for the Water Utilities industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

NGG

1.42

Multi-Utilities Industry

Max: 2.71
Q3: 2.22
Median: 1.53
Q1: 1.27
Min: 0.88

NGG’s P/B Ratio of 1.42 is within the conventional range for the Multi-Utilities industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

AWK vs. NGG: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Water Utilities and Multi-Utilities industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	AWK	NGG
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	23.10	20.20
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	5.07	4.56
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	2.49	1.42
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	3,668.88	784.12