American Water Works Company Inc vs Extra Space Storage, Inc. — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.27 (market cap $26.92B), while Extra Space Storage, Inc. trades at $146.77 (market cap $30.98B). The key difference: Extra Space Storage, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Extra Space Storage, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | EXR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $30.98B |
Sector | Utilities | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $152.85 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $126.67 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $44.70B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 4.42% |
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.
EXR trades at $149.54, near its 52-week high, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company reported Q2 2026 core FFO of $2.15 per share, exceeding estimates, and raised full-year guidance. Revenue growth remains steady, with a net income margin of 27.79% in 2025, though valuation ratios like P/E of 33.01 suggest a premium pricing.
Outlook is positive with analyst consensus price target of $157.25, but risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures in the self-storage sector. The stock offers a dividend yield supported by solid cash flows, making it attractive for income-focused investors amid cautious market sentiment.
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 →Extra Space Storage is a fully integrated real estate investment trust that owns, operates, and manages almost 2,100 self-storage properties in 41 states, with over 160 million net rentable square feet of storage space. Of these properties, approximately one half is wholly owned, while some facilities are owned through joint ventures and others are owned by third parties and managed by Extra Space Storage in exchange for a management fee.
Read more on EXR →