American Water Works Company Inc vs Danaher Corporation — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.3 (market cap $26.92B), while Danaher Corporation trades at $207.26 (market cap $147.18B). The key difference: Danaher Corporation is far larger — about 5.5× 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 | DHR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $147.18B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $242.05 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $161.91 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $169.39B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 0.76% |
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.
Danaher (DHR) trades at $204.76, up 2.37% today, near its pivot point of $203 with bullish technical signals. The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q3 2026 expected at $1.92 EPS. Revenue for 2025 was $24.57B with a net income margin of 15.95%, though margins have trended down from 22.9% in 2022. Recent news includes the Masimo acquisition approval and a $172.5 million settlement over pandemic-era disclosures (Reuters, 2026-04-23).
Outlook is positive with strong analyst support (69% buy ratings) and a consensus price target of $202.33, slightly below current price. Risks include margin compression, high valuation (P/E 36.5), and integration challenges from acquisitions. Cash flow improved to $2.54B net in 2025 after a dip in 2023-2024, supporting dividend payments and growth initiatives.
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 1984, Danaher's founders transformed a real estate organization into an industrial-focused manufacturing company. Through a series of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including the Fortive separation in 2016, Danaher now focuses primarily on manufacturing scientific instruments and consumables in three segments: life sciences, diagnostics, and environmental and applied solutions. In late 2019, Danaher separated from its dental business through an initial public offering process, and in early 2020, it acquired GE's Biopharma business, now called Cytiva, which added to its life sciences segment.
Read more on DHR →