AWK vs. XEL: American Water Works vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison
How do American Water Works (AWK) and Xcel Energy (XEL) 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 Xcel Energy (XEL) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AWK is classified in Water Utilities while XEL is classified in Electric Utilities.
| Profile Item | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Water Works Company, Inc. | Xcel Energy Inc. |
| 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 | 51.14 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 23, 2008 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 17.61% | 2.65% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.05% | 14.93% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -0.39% | 8.26% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 22.53% | 19.49% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.54 | 0.33 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -37.10% | -34.41% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.03M | 5.83M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.59 | -0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.95 | -0.12 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.95% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% 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%
XEL
Utilities industry group
11.44%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- XEL
- 11.44%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both American Water Works (AWK) at 21.26% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 17.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
AWK
Utilities industry group
21.26%
- Max
- 28.78%
- AWK
- 21.26%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
XEL
Utilities industry group
17.95%
- Max
- 28.78%
- XEL
- 17.95%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
American Water Works (AWK) at 43.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50%, 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%
XEL
Utilities industry group
28.50%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- XEL
- 28.50%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 9.95% | 11.44% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.50% | 2.37% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.26% | 17.95% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 43.18% | 28.50% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 61.86% | 47.27% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 9.74% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 9.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 5.57% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at -0.58% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.74% | 9.14% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.67% | -1.42% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 5.57% | -0.58% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 8.06% | 2.56% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 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
XEL
Utilities industry group
0.69
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- XEL
- 0.69
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 1.38 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.
AWK
Utilities industry group
1.38
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AWK
- 1.38
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
XEL
Utilities industry group
1.68
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- XEL
- 1.68
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.39 | 0.69 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.38 | 1.68 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.49 | 6.35 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 2.26% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% 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%
XEL
Utilities industry group
2.92%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- XEL
- 2.92%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Water Works (AWK) at 59.60% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 54.72% 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%
XEL
Utilities industry group
54.72%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- XEL
- 54.72%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.26% | 2.92% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 59.60% | 54.72% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 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
XEL
Utilities industry group
18.57
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- XEL
- 18.57
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 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
XEL
Utilities industry group
3.44
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- XEL
- 3.44
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 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
XEL
Utilities industry group
1.98
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- XEL
- 1.98
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AWK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.00 | 18.57 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 5.60 | 3.44 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.51 | 1.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -5.45% | -16.32% |