Seek Returns

AWK vs. PCG: American Water Works vs. PG&E Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG)
Profile ItemAWKPCG
NameAmerican Water Works Company, Inc.PG&E Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryWater UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryWater UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization29.92 billion USD28.57 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 23, 2008June 1, 1972
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AWK
PCG
GSPC
Loading price history…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG), 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

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG). 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 PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
Total Return (1Y)17.61%-19.03%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)9.05%-6.50%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-0.39%2.05%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AWK
PCG
GSPC
Loading price history…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG), 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

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG). 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 PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.53%34.84%
Beta (5Y)0.540.17
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.10%-43.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.03M39.33M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
AWK and PCG 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 PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.59-0.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.95-0.81

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and PG&E (PCG) at 8.89% 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%

PCG

Utilities industry group

8.89%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PCG
8.89%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): 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 PG&E (PCG) at 11.57%, 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%

PCG

Utilities industry group

11.57%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PCG
11.57%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): 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 PG&E (PCG) at 23.64%, 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%

PCG

Utilities industry group

23.64%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
PCG
23.64%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
ROE (TTM)9.95%8.89%
ROA (TTM)3.50%2.59%
Net Margin (TTM)21.26%11.57%
Operating Margin (TTM)43.18%23.64%
Gross Margin (TTM)61.86%40.57%

Growth

Revenue Growth

American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while PG&E (PCG) at 2.11% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% and PG&E (PCG) at 2.61% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.74%2.11%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.67%4.77%
EPS Growth (YoY)5.57%2.61%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)8.06%12.00%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

PG&E (PCG) at 1.03 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

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.03

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
PCG
1.03
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while PG&E (PCG) at 1.88 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AWK

Utilities industry group

1.38

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
AWK
1.38
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.88

Max
2.63
PCG
1.88
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): 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 PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.391.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.381.88
Net Debt / EBITDA5.496.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% and PG&E (PCG) at 1.51% 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%

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
PCG
1.51%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; PG&E (PCG) at 14.81% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AWK

Utilities industry group

59.60%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
AWK
59.60%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

PCG

Utilities industry group

14.81%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
PCG
14.81%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.26%1.51%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)59.60%14.81%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 9.61 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 26.00 sits in the richer quartile — a clear split in what investors pay for each dollar of trailing earnings.

AWK

Utilities industry group

26.00

Max
31.22
AWK
26.00
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

PCG

Utilities industry group

9.61

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
PCG
9.61
Min
3.34
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 1.11 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 5.60 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

AWK

Utilities industry group

5.60

Max
6.35
AWK
5.60
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.11

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
PCG
1.11
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PG&E (PCG) at 0.87 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while American Water Works (AWK) at 2.51 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.

AWK

Utilities industry group

2.51

Max
3.12
AWK
2.51
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

PCG

Utilities industry group

0.87

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
PCG
0.87
Min
0.34
Loading chart…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. PG&E (PCG): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and PG&E (PCG)
MetricAWKPCG
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.009.61
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.601.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.510.87
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-5.45%-22.73%