Seek Returns

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG)

This page compares American Water Works (AWK) with Essential Utilities (WTRG) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

American Water Works (AWK) and Essential Utilities (WTRG) are both classified in the Water Utilities sub-industry within the broader Water Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

SymbolAWKWTRG
Company NameAmerican Water Works Company, Inc.Essential Utilities, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryWater UtilitiesWater Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryWater UtilitiesWater Utilities
Market Capitalization24.19 billion USD10.49 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 23, 2008March 17, 1980
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

AWK
WTRG
Loading price history…
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
5-Day Price Return-2.87%-2.59%
13-Week Price Return-6.71%-6.21%
26-Week Price Return-5.71%-6.50%
52-Week Price Return-14.92%-7.05%
Month-to-Date Return-4.72%-4.35%
Year-to-Date Return-6.24%-4.74%
10-Day Avg. Volume1.90M1.51M
3-Month Avg. Volume1.86M2.39M
3-Month Volatility21.44%22.19%
Beta0.630.67

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 10.14% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 8.16% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.

AWK

Utilities industry group

10.14%

Max
16.88%
Q3
11.84%
Median
9.42%
Q1
7.90%
Min
2.48%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

8.16%

Max
16.88%
Q3
11.84%
Median
9.42%
Q1
7.90%
Min
2.48%
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 21.17% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 21.82% rank in the top quartile for Net Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into net income more strongly than typical competitors.

AWK

Utilities industry group

21.17%

Max
31.27%
Q3
18.62%
Median
12.78%
Q1
9.35%
Min
-0.93%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

21.82%

Max
31.27%
Q3
18.62%
Median
12.78%
Q1
9.35%
Min
-0.93%
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 36.48% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 34.97% rank in the top quartile for Operating Profit Margin (TTM) among industry peers, indicating both companies convert revenue into operating income more strongly than typical competitors.

AWK

Utilities industry group

36.48%

Max
44.19%
Q3
28.40%
Median
22.82%
Q1
17.50%
Min
3.06%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

34.97%

Max
44.19%
Q3
28.40%
Median
22.82%
Q1
17.50%
Min
3.06%
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
Return on Equity (TTM)10.14%8.16%
Return on Assets (TTM)3.16%2.90%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)21.17%21.82%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)36.48%34.97%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)--49.30%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 0.95 keeps Current Ratio (MRQ) within its industry mid-range, while American Water Works (AWK) at 0.37 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AWK.

AWK

Utilities industry group

0.37

Max
1.77
Q3
1.15
Median
0.86
Q1
0.65
Min
0.33

WTRG

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.77
Q3
1.15
Median
0.86
Q1
0.65
Min
0.33
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 1.42 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.22 post Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on leverage.

AWK

Utilities industry group

1.42

Max
3.17
Q3
1.93
Median
1.45
Q1
1.02
Min
0.00

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max
3.17
Q3
1.93
Median
1.45
Q1
1.02
Min
0.00
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

American Water Works (AWK) at 3.71 ranks in the top quartile for Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM), ahead of Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.06, which sits around the industry mid-range.

AWK

Utilities industry group

3.71

Max
5.80
Q3
3.67
Median
2.74
Q1
2.25
Min
0.39

WTRG

Utilities industry group

3.06

Max
5.80
Q3
3.67
Median
2.74
Q1
2.25
Min
0.39
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.370.95
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.340.79
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)1.421.22
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)3.713.06

Growth

Revenue Growth

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)5.69%9.97%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)8.10%13.07%
3-Year Revenue CAGR10.67%2.65%
5-Year Revenue CAGR6.36%11.09%

EPS Growth

American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)-4.39%-23.15%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)2.89%-11.60%
3-Year EPS CAGR8.14%7.46%
5-Year EPS CAGR7.90%14.45%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.69% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 3.62% report Dividend Yield (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on cash yield relative to share price.

AWK

Utilities industry group

2.69%

Max
5.04%
Q3
3.67%
Median
2.83%
Q1
2.30%
Min
0.36%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

3.62%

Max
5.04%
Q3
3.67%
Median
2.83%
Q1
2.30%
Min
0.36%
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 58.62% and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 68.47% maintain Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) around their industries’ median — balanced dividend policy on both sides, returning cash while leaving part of reported earnings available for reinvestment or balance-sheet flexibility.

AWK

Utilities industry group

58.62%

Max
124.38%
Q3
68.47%
Median
57.52%
Q1
29.88%
Min
0.00%

WTRG

Utilities industry group

68.47%

Max
124.38%
Q3
68.47%
Median
57.52%
Q1
29.88%
Min
0.00%
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.69%3.62%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.62%68.47%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 21.79 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 18.90 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

AWK

Utilities industry group

21.79

Max
30.49
Q3
23.61
Median
21.08
Q1
16.53
Min
7.17

WTRG

Utilities industry group

18.90

Max
30.49
Q3
23.61
Median
21.08
Q1
16.53
Min
7.17
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 4.12 carries typical industry Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while American Water Works (AWK) at 4.61 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — AWK carries a higher trailing revenue multiple relative to peers.

AWK

Utilities industry group

4.61

Max
7.05
Q3
4.40
Median
3.03
Q1
1.83
Min
0.25

WTRG

Utilities industry group

4.12

Max
7.05
Q3
4.40
Median
3.03
Q1
1.83
Min
0.25
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.41 and Essential Utilities (WTRG) at 1.66 post Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on book-value multiple.

AWK

Utilities industry group

2.41

Max
3.86
Q3
2.47
Median
1.97
Q1
1.53
Min
0.26

WTRG

Utilities industry group

1.66

Max
3.86
Q3
2.47
Median
1.97
Q1
1.53
Min
0.26
American Water Works (AWK) vs. Essential Utilities (WTRG): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolAWKWTRG
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)21.7918.90
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)4.614.12
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)2.411.66
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)3,430.80363.23