AWK vs. VST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at AWK and VST, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
Symbol | AWK | VST |
---|---|---|
Company Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | Vistra Corp. |
Country | United States | United States |
GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
GICS Industry | Water Utilities | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
Market Capitalization | 28.24 billion USD | 65.93 billion USD |
Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | October 5, 2016 |
Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of AWK and VST 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.
Historical Performance at a Glance
Symbol | AWK | VST |
---|---|---|
5-Day Price Return | -0.77% | 2.27% |
13-Week Price Return | 1.12% | 18.76% |
26-Week Price Return | 9.10% | 29.35% |
52-Week Price Return | 2.62% | 129.26% |
Month-to-Date Return | 3.22% | -6.68% |
Year-to-Date Return | 16.27% | 41.15% |
10-Day Avg. Volume | 1.12M | 3.38M |
3-Month Avg. Volume | 1.32M | 5.27M |
3-Month Volatility | 19.35% | 39.03% |
Beta | 0.72 | 1.35 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
AWK
10.34%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 14.76%
- Q3
- 13.44%
- Median
- 10.08%
- Q1
- 6.84%
- Min
- 5.11%
AWK’s Return on Equity of 10.34% is on par with the norm for the Water Utilities industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
VST
46.24%
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 30.49%
- Q3
- 14.63%
- Median
- 7.41%
- Q1
- 3.67%
- Min
- -8.17%
VST’s Return on Equity of 46.24% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
AWK
21.91%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 33.53%
- Q3
- 23.04%
- Median
- 13.50%
- Q1
- 8.95%
- Min
- -3.68%
AWK’s Net Profit Margin of 21.91% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Water Utilities industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
VST
14.92%
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 32.12%
- Q3
- 16.71%
- Median
- 10.67%
- Q1
- 5.10%
- Min
- -6.37%
VST’s Net Profit Margin of 14.92% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
AWK
36.48%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 54.67%
- Q3
- 39.13%
- Median
- 31.40%
- Q1
- 24.32%
- Min
- 7.04%
AWK’s Operating Profit Margin of 36.48% is around the midpoint for the Water Utilities industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
VST
22.38%
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 42.59%
- Q3
- 29.96%
- Median
- 18.17%
- Q1
- 12.79%
- Min
- 4.70%
VST’s Operating Profit Margin of 22.38% is around the midpoint for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
Symbol | AWK | VST |
---|---|---|
Return on Equity (TTM) | 10.34% | 46.24% |
Return on Assets (TTM) | 3.29% | 6.28% |
Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.91% | 14.92% |
Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 36.48% | 22.38% |
Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | 8.71% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AWK
0.35
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 1.94
- Q3
- 1.40
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.38
AWK’s Current Ratio of 0.35 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.
VST
0.90
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 1.74
- Q3
- 1.21
- Median
- 0.86
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.25
VST’s Current Ratio of 0.90 aligns with the median group of the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
AWK
1.40
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.48
- Q3
- 3.71
- Median
- 1.82
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.58
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.
VST
4.00
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 3.93
- Q3
- 2.66
- Median
- 1.75
- Q1
- 1.05
- Min
- 0.22
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 4.00, VST operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
AWK
4.17
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.04
- Q3
- 4.65
- 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.
VST
5.47
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 10.03
- Q3
- 7.41
- Median
- 2.59
- Q1
- 1.32
- Min
- -1.62
VST’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 5.47 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
Symbol | AWK | VST |
---|---|---|
Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.35 | 0.90 |
Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.32 | 0.73 |
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.40 | 4.00 |
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 4.17 | 5.47 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
AWK
2.06%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.64%
- Q3
- 5.51%
- Median
- 4.50%
- Q1
- 2.37%
- Min
- 0.00%
AWK’s Dividend Yield of 2.06% 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.
VST
0.77%
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 8.02%
- Q3
- 5.65%
- Median
- 4.08%
- Q1
- 2.47%
- Min
- 0.00%
VST’s Dividend Yield of 0.77% is in the lower quartile for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
AWK
56.23%
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 324.59%
- Q3
- 254.46%
- Median
- 142.60%
- Q1
- 57.04%
- Min
- 12.69%
AWK’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 56.23% 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.
VST
14.95%
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 125.56%
- Q3
- 90.24%
- Median
- 50.41%
- Q1
- 17.76%
- Min
- 0.00%
VST’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 14.95% is in the lower quartile for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry. This suggests a conservative dividend policy, with a strategic focus on reinvesting profits for future growth.
Dividend at a Glance
Symbol | AWK | VST |
---|---|---|
Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.06% | 0.77% |
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 56.23% | 14.95% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
AWK
27.30
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 34.48
- Q3
- 27.82
- Median
- 18.45
- Q1
- 14.12
- Min
- 7.14
AWK’s P/E Ratio of 27.30 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.
VST
27.39
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 51.94
- Q3
- 27.00
- Median
- 10.10
- Q1
- 7.02
- Min
- 4.18
A P/E Ratio of 27.39 places VST in the upper quartile for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
AWK
5.98
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 5.86
- Q3
- 3.76
- Median
- 2.73
- Q1
- 2.16
- Min
- 1.04
With a P/S Ratio of 5.98, AWK trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Water Utilities industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
VST
4.09
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 6.94
- Q3
- 3.56
- Median
- 2.46
- Q1
- 0.86
- Min
- 0.39
VST’s P/S Ratio of 4.09 is in the upper echelon for the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 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.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
AWK
2.54
Water Utilities Industry
- Max
- 4.29
- Q3
- 3.24
- Median
- 1.73
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- 0.65
AWK’s P/B Ratio of 2.54 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.
VST
13.64
Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers Industry
- Max
- 3.49
- Q3
- 1.92
- Median
- 1.33
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- 0.35
At 13.64, VST’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
Symbol | AWK | VST |
---|---|---|
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 27.30 | 27.39 |
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 5.98 | 4.09 |
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 2.54 | 13.64 |
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 4,224.17 | 42.40 |