MetaCap

American Water Works (AWK) vs York Water (YORW)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.

Summary

York Water (YORW) has outperformed American Water Works (AWK) over the past year, gaining 1.5% versus a loss of 10.6%. Over five years, AWK leads with a -25.7% price change compared with -33.2% for YORW. American Water Works is the larger company by market cap ($25.34 billion vs $502.1 million), about 50.5 times the size.

On valuation, American Water Works trades at a lower forward P/E (19.4x vs 20.2x for York Water). York Water offers the higher dividend yield (2.92% vs 2.65%).

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

AWK-10.62%YORW+1.51%
+15%-1%-16%
Oct 7, 20251 yearOct 7, 2026
AWK-25.43%YORW-32.79%
+13%-13%-39%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

AWK versus YORW key metrics
MetricAWKYORW
Share price$127.49$30.94
Market cap$25.34B$502.11M
1-day change+0.06%+0.36%
YTD return-2.39%-3.17%
1-year return-10.62%+1.51%
5-year return-25.69%-33.18%
P/E ratio (TTM)22.1019.22
Forward P/E19.4220.22
EPS (TTM)$5.77$1.61
Dividend yield2.65%2.92%
Annual dividend$3.38$0.903
Revenue (latest FY)$5.12B—
Revenue growth (YoY)+10.06%—
Net income (latest FY)$1.11B—
Operating margin36.69%—
Net margin21.69%—
52-week high$145.64$34.81
52-week low$120.57$28.26
Distance from 52-week high-12.46%-11.12%
Analyst consensusholdnone
Avg. price target upside+10.95%+0.19%
Average volume2.08M138.15K
Shares outstanding198.73M16.23M
Employees7,000129
SectorUtilitiesUtilities
IndustryWater SupplyWater 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 50.5 times larger than York Water by market value ($25.34B vs $502.11M).
  • YORW has outperformed AWK by 12.1 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 York Water

YORW stock →

The York Water Company impounds, purifies, and distributes drinking water. It owns and operates three wastewater collection systems; twelve wastewater collection and treatment systems; and two reservoirs, including Lake Williams and Lake Redman, which hold approximately 2.5 billion gallons of water.

Utilities · Water Supply · 129 employees

AWK vs YORW FAQ

Which is bigger, American Water Works or York Water?

American Water Works (AWK) is larger, with a market capitalization of $25.34B compared with $502.11M for York Water (YORW).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, AWK or YORW?

YORW returned +1.51% 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 YORW?

YORW has the lower trailing P/E at 19.2, 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 York Water?

York Water has the higher yield at 2.92%, compared with 2.65% for American Water Works.

Are American Water Works and York Water in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Water Supply industry within the Utilities sector.

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