American Water Works (AWK) vs H2O America (HTO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
H2O America (HTO) has outperformed American Water Works (AWK) over the past year, gaining 21.8% versus a loss of 10.6%. Over five years, HTO leads with a -14.6% price change compared with -25.7% for AWK. American Water Works is the larger company by market cap ($25.31 billion vs $2.43 billion), about 10.4 times the size.
On valuation, American Water Works trades at a lower forward P/E (19.4x vs 21.3x for H2O America). H2O America offers the higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 2.65%).
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 | HTO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $127.38 | $57.98 |
| Market cap | $25.31B | $2.43B |
| 1-day change | -0.52% | -0.34% |
| YTD return | -2.39% | +18.35% |
| 1-year return | -10.62% | +21.76% |
| 5-year return | -25.69% | -14.63% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 22.08 | 20.49 |
| Forward P/E | 19.40 | 21.30 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.77 | $2.83 |
| Dividend yield | 2.65% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $3.38 | $1.72 |
| 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 | $67.09 |
| 52-week low | $120.57 | $43.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -12.54% | -13.58% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +11.05% | +15.56% |
| Average volume | 2.07M | 447.05K |
| Shares outstanding | 198.73M | 41.86M |
| Employees | 7,000 | 837 |
| 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 10.4 times larger than H2O America by market value ($25.31B vs $2.43B).
- HTO has outperformed AWK by 32.4 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 H2O America
HTO stock →H2O America, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in the United States. The company engages in production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services; and supplies groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from Valley Water District.
Utilities · Water Supply · 837 employees
AWK vs HTO FAQ
Which is bigger, American Water Works or H2O America?
American Water Works (AWK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $25.31B compared with $2.43B for H2O America (HTO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AWK or HTO?
HTO returned +21.76% 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 HTO?
HTO has the lower trailing P/E at 20.5, versus 22.1 for AWK. 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 H2O America?
H2O America has the higher yield at 2.97%, compared with 2.65% for American Water Works.
Are American Water Works and H2O America in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Water Supply industry within the Utilities sector.