American Water Works Company Inc vs W W Grainger Inc — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $131.69 (market cap $25.69B), while W W Grainger Inc trades at $1,374.19 (market cap $64.73B). The key difference: W W Grainger Inc is far larger — about 2.5× American Water Works Company Inc's market cap, and American Water Works Company Inc pays the higher dividend (2.72%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | GWW | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.69B | $64.73B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $147.00 | $1.39K |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $918.18 |
Enterprise Value | $41.25B | $66.82B |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | 0.68% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
American Water Works (AWK) trades at $131.53, up 0.64% with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamentals. The stock shows consistent revenue growth from $3.8B in 2022 to $5.14B in 2025, maintaining net margins above 21%. Recent earnings show mixed results with a Q3 2025 beat but Q1 2026 miss, while the company continues infrastructure investments and community initiatives.
AWK presents a stable utility investment with moderate upside to the $137 consensus target. Key risks include regulatory approvals for rate increases and high capital expenditures. Analyst sentiment is balanced with 47% buy ratings, though recent earnings misses warrant caution ahead of Q2 2026 results on July 29, 2026.
GWW trades at $1,391.68, up 1.16% today, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong momentum. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $11.65, beating estimates, and raised its full-year guidance. Revenue growth remains steady, with 2026 revenue projected at $18.4B, while profitability metrics like ROE of 48.1% and net margin near 10% highlight operational strength. Positive analyst sentiment and recent dividend declarations reinforce investor confidence amid a favorable market backdrop.
The outlook for GWW is positive, driven by earnings beats and raised guidance, though valuation multiples like a P/E of 36.87 suggest premium pricing. Risks include economic sensitivity and competitive pressures, but institutional buy ratings and technical support near $1,380 provide a cushion for upward momentum if execution continues.
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 →Grainger is a leading broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. It serves millions of customers worldwide through an integrated network of branches and digital platforms.
Read more on GWW →