Tearsheet

American Water Works (AWK)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $130.04 | Market Cap: $25.4 Bil
Sector: Utilities | Industry: Water Utilities

American Water Works (AWK)


Market Price (12/4/2025): $130.04
Market Cap: $25.4 Bil
Sector: Utilities
Industry: Water Utilities

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, and Wastewater Management.
 
0 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Water Infrastructure. Themes include Water Treatment & Delivery, and Wastewater Management.

Valuation, Metrics & Events

AWK Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

It's challenging to provide a precise explanation for the -8.2% stock movement for American Water Works (AWK) from August 31, 2025, to December 4, 2025, as this period largely falls in the future. However, based on the most recent available information leading up to and within late 2025, several factors could influence its stock performance.



1. AWK's Recent Financial Performance and Outlook: American Water Works reported strong third-quarter 2025 results on October 29, 2025, with earnings per share of $1.94, compared to $1.80 in the same quarter of 2024. Year-to-date 2025 earnings were $4.47 per share, up from $4.17 in 2024. The company affirmed its 2025 weather-normalized EPS guidance range of $5.70 to $5.75 and initiated a 2026 EPS guidance range of $6.02 to $6.12, reflecting an 8% growth at the midpoint. In its second-quarter 2025 results, reported on July 31, 2025, AWK's EPS rose 4.2% year-over-year to $1.48. Despite strong earnings, a stock decline could suggest that these positive results were already priced in, or that other market factors outweighed the positive earnings reports. The company also announced a 2026-2030 capital plan of $19 to $20 billion and a 2026-2035 capital plan of $46 to $48 billion.

2. Analyst Sentiment and Price Targets: As of December 3, 2025, the consensus analyst rating for AWK was "Hold" with an average price target of $143.00, implying a limited upside from its recent trading prices. Some analysts raised their price targets in August 2025, while others lowered them, indicating mixed views on the stock's immediate future. A "Moderate Sell" consensus rating from some analysts in late 2025, based on a range of price targets, also suggests a bearish outlook, which could contribute to a stock decline.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
AWK Return27%25%-18%-12%-4%8%19%
Peers Return6%23%-7%-15%-7%3%-1%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
AWK Win Rate75%58%42%50%50%50% 
Peers Win Rate57%65%48%43%43%46% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
AWK Max Drawdown-21%-14%-32%-23%-13%-3% 
Peers Max Drawdown-25%-11%-28%-24%-15%-7% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: WTRG, AWR, CWT, AWK, HTO. See AWK Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventAWKS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-38.8%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven63.5%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-31.2%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven45.3%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven116 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-17.6%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven21.3%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven281 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-29.3%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven41.4%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven563 days1480 days

Compare to WTRG, AWR, CWT, AWK, HTO


In The Past

American Water Works's stock fell -38.8% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 12/31/2021. A -38.8% loss requires a 63.5% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

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Asset Allocation

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About American Water Works (AWK)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to AWK. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.7%-0.7%-0.7%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.5%2.5%0.0%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
9.3%9.3%-3.2%
AWK_1312024_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper01312024AWKAmerican Water WorksMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
16.1%2.0%-7.7%
AWK_9302022_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302022AWKAmerican Water WorksDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
13.6%-3.1%-3.3%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
PEG_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025PEGPublic Service EnterpriseMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
-0.7%-0.7%-0.7%
PCG_9262025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09262025PCGPG&EDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.5%2.5%0.0%
AES_9052025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09052025AESAESDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
9.3%9.3%-3.2%
AWK_1312024_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper01312024AWKAmerican Water WorksMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
16.1%2.0%-7.7%
AWK_9302022_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302022AWKAmerican Water WorksDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
13.6%-3.1%-3.3%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for American Water Works

Peers to compare with:

Financials

AWKWTRGAWRCWTHTOMedian
NameAmerican.Essentia.American.Californ.H2O Amer. 
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Growth & Margins

AWKWTRGAWRCWTHTOMedian
NameAmerican.Essentia.American.Californ.H2O Amer. 
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Valuation

AWKWTRGAWRCWTHTOMedian
NameAmerican.Essentia.American.Californ.H2O Amer. 
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Returns

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NameAmerican.Essentia.American.Californ.H2O Amer. 
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Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Regulated Businesses3,9203,5053,3843,2553,094
Other314287546-18-23
Market-Based Businesses   540539
Total4,2343,7923,9303,7773,610


Net Income by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Regulated Businesses971854789715654
Other-27-34474-97-79
Market-Based Businesses   9146
Total9448201,263709621


Assets by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Regulated Businesses27,48025,03823,36522,35720,318
Other2,8182,7492,7101,5181,356
Market-Based Businesses   8911,008
Total30,29827,78726,07524,76622,682


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity7,477,945
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202510.8%
Average Daily Volume1,944,113
Days-to-Cover Short Interest3.85
Basic Shares Quantity195,000,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.8%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251029202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025730202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025430202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024219202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241030202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024731202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024501202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023214202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231101202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023726202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023426202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022215202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221031202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022727202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022427202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021216202210-K 12/31/2021

Insider Activity

Expand for More

 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0Wikle Melissa K.SVP, Chief Accounting Officer6022025Sell143.282,825404,7661,084,916Form