American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK)
American Water Works is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States, keeping the taps running for millions of homes.
Is American Water Works Company, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: American Water Works is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States, keeping the taps running for millions of homes.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Long-term climate resilience projects secure the company's dominance for decades.
Severe environmental challenges or water scarcity issues create unmanageable costs.
What does American Water Works Company, Inc. do?
Think of American Water Works as the backbone of local infrastructure, providing essential water and sewage services to millions of customers across the US. They make their money through regulated rates, meaning their income is generally steady and predictable regardless of the wider economy. It comes down to how they shoulder the huge, ongoing costs of upgrading ageing pipes and treatment plants while keeping regulators comfortable with their pricing.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on income and quality, and weakest on growth.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.7% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 6% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 21% of sales into profit
- Provides an essential service that people cannot live without.
- Regulated business model offers a high degree of predictability.
- Lower volatility compared to the broader stock market.
- Regulators may deny requests to raise water prices for customers.
- Ageing infrastructure could lead to expensive, unforeseen repair bills.
- Rising interest rates make the company's debt more expensive to service.
What do American Water Works Company, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does American Water Works Company, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does American Water Works Company, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - American Water Works Company, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 2.7% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does American Water Works Company, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
American Water Works Company, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-28 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-29 | $1.55 | $1.61 | Beat +4% |
| 2026-04-29 | $1.09 | $1.01 | Missed -7% |
| 2026-02-18 | $1.27 | $1.24 | Missed -2% |
| 2025-10-29 | $1.88 | $1.94 | Beat +3% |
| 2025-07-30 | $1.53 | $1.48 | Missed -3% |
| 2025-04-30 | $1.07 | $1.05 | Missed -2% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, American Water Works Company, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 2 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Eversource EnergyWhat are the scenarios for American Water Works Company, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of American Water Works Company, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Provides an essential service that people cannot live without.
- Regulated business model offers a high degree of predictability.
- Lower volatility compared to the broader stock market.
- Growth is often limited by strict government regulation.
- Requires constant, heavy spending on physical infrastructure.
- Recent earnings growth has been slightly negative.
- Regulators may deny requests to raise water prices for customers.
- Ageing infrastructure could lead to expensive, unforeseen repair bills.
- Rising interest rates make the company's debt more expensive to service.
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major change in how water utilities are regulated in the US.
- A significant, sustained drop in the company's ability to pay its dividend.
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.