American Water Works Company Inc vs Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $134.44 (market cap $26.92B), while Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA trades at $80.78 (market cap $163.79B). The key difference: Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA is far larger — about 6.1× American Water Works Company Inc's market cap, and American Water Works Company Inc pays the higher dividend (2.64%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | BUD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $163.79B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $86.48 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $57.93 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $228.20B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 1.62% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AWK trades at $135.31, up 0.36% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.61, beating estimates, while Q1 and Q4 2025 missed. Revenue grew to $5.14B in 2025 with a 21.35% net margin. Analyst consensus is mixed with 14 Buy, 14 Hold, and 2 Sell ratings, targeting $139.83. Recent news highlights operational excellence awards and customer base expansion through acquisitions.
Outlook remains stable with consistent dividend payments and guided EPS growth. Risks include rising debt levels and regulatory pressures. The stock offers steady income and moderate growth potential, but investors should monitor execution on earnings targets and capital expenditure efficiency.
BUD trades at $83.76, down 0.25% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $90.17. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $1.21 versus $1.09 expected, while revenue trends show modest growth, and net income margin improved to 11.52% in 2025. Cash flow remains positive, and debt-to-asset ratios have declined steadily since 2021.
The outlook is positive given strong analyst buy ratings (57.78%) and projected earnings growth, but risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity. The stock offers value with a P/E of 18.05 and stable profitability, though investor sentiment is mixed amid recent institutional selling and news of a major shareholder divestment.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Anheuser-Busch InBev is the largest brewer in the world and one of the world's top five consumer product companies, as measured by EBITDA. After the SABMiller acquisition, the company's portfolio now contains five of the top 10 beer brands by sales and 18 brands with retail sales over $1 billion. AB InBev was created by the 2008 merger of Belgium-based InBev and U.S.-based Anheuser-Busch. The firm holds a 62% economic interest in Ambev and in 2016 acquired SABMiller.
Read more on BUD →