American Water Works Company Inc vs Global Payments Inc — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.3 (market cap $26.92B), while Global Payments Inc trades at $86.06 (market cap $22.79B). The key difference: American Water Works Company Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and American Water Works Company Inc pays the higher dividend (2.64%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | GPN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $22.79B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $90.01 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $62.47 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $40.94B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 1.16% |
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.
Global Payments (GPN) trades at $86.12, down 1.79% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats in recent quarters. The stock shows strong profitability margins and positive cash flow, though net income margin and ROE are negative. Recent news highlights Q2 2026 earnings exceeding expectations, driven by Genius platform growth, despite revenue guidance adjustments.
Outlook remains supported by analyst consensus with a $96.67 price target, but risks include margin pressure from rising costs and competitive fintech threats. The stock offers upside potential if execution continues, but investors should monitor debt levels and macroeconomic impacts on payment volumes.
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 →Global Payments is a leading provider of payment processing and software solutions and focuses on serving small and midsize merchants. The company operates in 30 countries and generates about one fourth of its revenue from outside North America, primarily in Europe and Asia. In 2019, Global Payments merged with Total System Services in an all-stock deal that gave Total System Services shareholders 48% of the combined company's shares.
Read more on GPN →