Price movement over the last 24 hours
Alcon AG vs American Water Works Company Inc — how do they compare? Alcon AG trades at $66.91 (market cap $32.69B), while American Water Works Company Inc trades at $133.97 (market cap $26.33B). The key difference: Alcon AG is the larger of the two by market cap, and American Water Works Company Inc pays the higher dividend (2.66%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| ALC | AWK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $32.69B | $26.33B |
Sector | Health | Utilities |
52-Week High | $92.22 | $147.00 |
52-Week Low | $62.02 | $121.13 |
Enterprise Value | $36.28B | $41.89B |
Dividend Yield | 0.54% | 2.66% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
ALC trades at $66.87, down 4.01% on the day, amid a mixed technical and fundamental backdrop. The stock exhibits a bullish technical signal overall, with moving averages supporting a positive trend, while oscillators remain neutral. Fundamentally, revenue growth is steady, reaching $10.40 billion in 2025, though net income margin compressed to 7.7%. Recent news highlights product innovation, including a collaboration with RxSight for adjustable PCIOLs, signaling ongoing R&D investment. Analyst sentiment is predominantly positive, with a consensus price target of $86.00 implying significant upside.
The outlook for ALC is cautiously optimistic, driven by new product launches and strategic partnerships that may fuel growth. However, risks include competitive pressures, macroeconomic headwinds, and margin compression. With a P/E of 40.92, the valuation appears rich relative to historical norms, requiring strong earnings delivery to justify current levels. Investors should weigh robust analyst buy ratings against execution risks and market volatility.
AWK trades at $134.82, down 1.49% today, near the consensus price target of $134.50. The stock shows a bullish technical trend with strong moving averages, while recent earnings have been mixed with two misses in the last three quarters. Revenue grew to $5.14B in 2025, with a net income margin of 21.17%, and the company continues strategic acquisitions and infrastructure investments, as seen in recent news (PRNewsWire, June 30, 2026).
Outlook remains stable with analyst consensus leaning buy (46.66% buy ratings), but risks include high debt levels and regulatory pressures. The stock offers steady growth potential through capital investments, though margin pressures and interest expenses could limit upside. Investors should weigh the defensive utility sector appeal against valuation multiples like a P/E of 23.6.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Alcon, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is the global eyecare leader with a diverse portfolio in ophthalmology including contact lenses, eye drops, surgical equipment, and related surgical products. Novartis purchased Alcon from Nestle in 2010 and, following nine years as a Novartis subsidiary, the company was spun off as a public company in April 2019. The company reports five distinct segments: implantables (16% of revenue), consumables (31%), equipment (9%), contact lenses (27%), and ocular health (17%). The company is geographically diversified, with only about 40% of revenue from the U.S. market, and the firm has a strong presence in the European Union and Japan.
Read more on ALC →American Water Works is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility, serving approximately 3.5 million customers in 16 states. It provides water and wastewater services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and operates predominantly in regulated markets. The company's only nonregulated business is water services for military bases, which operates under long-term contracts.
Read more on AWK →