American Water Works Company Inc vs iShares Gold Trust — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $136.06 (market cap $26.92B), while iShares Gold Trust trades at $82.73. The key difference: American Water Works Company Inc pays a 2.64% dividend while iShares Gold Trust pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | IAU | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | — |
Sector | Utilities | Commodities - Metals/Agriculture |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $101.57 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $62.49 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | — |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | — |
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.
IAU (iShares Gold Trust) trades at $81.68, up 2.27% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages but overbought RSI readings. Recent news highlights gold's rebound potential toward $4,500/oz, supported by central bank buying and softer Fed expectations. The trust lacks traditional financial ratios as it tracks physical gold, with institutional interest shown by Deane Retirement Strategies increasing its stake by 36.5% in Q2 2026 (SEC filing, August 10, 2026).
Outlook remains positive amid gold's safe-haven appeal, though risks include dollar strength and rate hikes. The stock offers exposure to gold's momentum but faces volatility from macroeconomic shifts.
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 →IAU is a physically backed ETF that seeks to reflect the performance of the price of gold. It provides a convenient and liquid way for investors to include gold in their portfolios as a potential hedge.
Read more on IAU →