American Water Works Company Inc vs Cintas Corporation — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.8 (market cap $26.92B), while Cintas Corporation trades at $205.77 (market cap $81.25B). The key difference: Cintas Corporation is far larger — about 3× 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 | CTAS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $81.25B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $225.10 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $163.55 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $83.67B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 1.02% |
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.
Cintas (CTAS) trades at $203.05, up 0.45% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.29, beating estimates, and revenue growth continues with a 17.75% net income margin. Recent news highlights Bank of America's upgrade to 'Buy' and a quarterly dividend announcement, reflecting confidence in its outlook.
The outlook for CTAS is positive, supported by consistent earnings beats and robust profitability, though high valuation multiples like a P/E of 41.35 pose a risk. Upside exists toward the consensus price target of $225.83, but investors should monitor competitive pressures and economic sensitivity.
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 →In its core uniform and facility services unit (78% of sales), Cintas provides uniform rental programs to businesses across the size spectrum, mostly in North America. The firm is by far the largest provider in the industry. Facilities products generally include the rental and sale of entrance mat, mops, shop towels, hand sanitizers, and restroom supplies. Cintas also runs a first aid and safety services business (11% of sales), a fire protection services business (7% of sales), and a uniform direct sales business (4% of sales).
Read more on CTAS →