American Water Works (AWK) vs American States Water (AWR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
American States Water (AWR) has outperformed American Water Works (AWK) over the past year, gaining 13.8% versus a loss of 10.6%. Over five years, AWR leads with a -9.3% price change compared with -25.7% for AWK. American Water Works is the larger company by market cap ($25.31 billion vs $3.23 billion), about 7.8 times the size.
On valuation, American Water Works trades at a lower forward P/E (19.4x vs 21.4x for American States Water). American Water Works offers the higher dividend yield (2.65% vs 2.47%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AWK | AWR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $127.38 | $81.46 |
| Market cap | $25.31B | $3.23B |
| 1-day change | -0.52% | -0.12% |
| YTD return | -2.39% | +12.39% |
| 1-year return | -10.62% | +13.80% |
| 5-year return | -25.69% | -9.31% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 22.08 | 22.32 |
| Forward P/E | 19.40 | 21.44 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.77 | $3.65 |
| Dividend yield | 2.65% | 2.47% |
| Annual dividend | $3.38 | $2.02 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.12B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.06% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.11B | — |
| Operating margin | 36.69% | — |
| Net margin | 21.69% | — |
| 52-week high | $145.64 | $91.72 |
| 52-week low | $120.57 | $69.45 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.54% | -11.19% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.05% | +3.12% |
| Average volume | 2.07M | 251.82K |
| Shares outstanding | 198.73M | 39.64M |
| Employees | 7,000 | 900 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Water Supply | Water Supply |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- American Water Works is about 7.8 times larger than American States Water by market value ($25.31B vs $3.23B).
- AWR has outperformed AWK by 24.4 percentage points over the past year.
About American Water Works
AWK stock →American Water Works Company, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides water and wastewater services in the United States. It offers water and wastewater services on military installations; and undertakes contracts with municipal customers, primarily to operate and manage water and wastewater facilities, as well as offers other related services.
Utilities · Water Supply · 7,000 employees
About American States Water
AWR stock →American States Water Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of water and electric services to residential, commercial, industrial, and other customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Water, Electric, and Contracted Services.
Utilities · Water Supply · 900 employees
AWK vs AWR FAQ
Which is bigger, American Water Works or American States Water?
American Water Works (AWK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $25.31B compared with $3.23B for American States Water (AWR).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AWK or AWR?
AWR returned +13.80% over the past 12 months, compared with -10.62% for AWK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AWK or AWR?
AWK has the lower trailing P/E at 22.1, versus 22.3 for AWR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Water Works or American States Water?
American Water Works has the higher yield at 2.65%, compared with 2.47% for American States Water.
Are American Water Works and American States Water in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Water Supply industry within the Utilities sector.