AWK vs. PNW: American Water Works vs. Pinnacle West Capital Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Company profile comparison for American Water Works (AWK) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Profile Item	AWK	PNW
Name	American Water Works Company, Inc.	Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
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	12.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 23, 2008	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AWK

PNW

GSPC

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW), 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Water Works (AWK) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW). 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
Total Return (1Y)	17.61%	24.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	9.05%	18.78%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-0.39%	15.87%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AWK

PNW

GSPC

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW), 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW). 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	22.53%	17.21%
Beta (5Y)	0.54	0.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-37.10%	-24.02%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.03M	1.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AWK and PNW 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.59	1.16
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.95	1.77

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 9.09% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

9.09%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
PNW: 9.09%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 11.59%, 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

11.59%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
PNW: 11.59%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 31.70% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

31.70%

Max: 53.83%
PNW: 31.70%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
ROE (TTM)	9.95%	9.09%
ROA (TTM)	3.50%	2.36%
Net Margin (TTM)	21.26%	11.59%
Operating Margin (TTM)	43.18%	31.70%
Gross Margin (TTM)	61.86%	43.84%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 4.20% 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. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at -3.63% 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. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.74%	4.20%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	10.67%	7.28%
EPS Growth (YoY)	5.57%	-3.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.06%	5.83%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 0.71 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

0.71

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
PNW: 0.71
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.26 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.26

Max: 2.63
PNW: 2.26
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): 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 Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.39	0.71
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.38	2.26
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.49	7.67

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 3.51% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

3.51%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
PNW: 3.51%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 68.42% 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%

PNW

Utilities industry group

68.42%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
PNW: 68.42%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.26%	3.51%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	59.60%	68.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 19.59 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

19.59

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
PNW: 19.59
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 2.21 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

2.21

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
PNW: 2.21
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) at 1.69 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

PNW

Utilities industry group

1.69

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
PNW: 1.69
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Pinnacle West Capital (PNW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Water Works (AWK) and Pinnacle West Capital (PNW)
Metric	AWK	PNW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.00	19.59
P/S Ratio (TTM)	5.60	2.21
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.51	1.69
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-5.45%	-7.90%