American Water Works Company Inc vs Lam Research Corporation — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $136.06 (market cap $26.92B), while Lam Research Corporation trades at $313.99 (market cap $383.39B). The key difference: Lam Research Corporation is far larger — about 14.2× 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 | LRCX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $383.39B |
Sector | Utilities | Technology |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $433.33 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $97.03 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $381.55B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 0.34% |
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.
Lam Research (LRCX) trades at $311.35, up 1.82% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The stock shows robust fundamentals, including a 29.06% net income margin and 65.07% ROE for 2025, alongside positive cash flow trends. Recent news highlights AI-driven demand for semiconductor equipment, with upgrades to Strong Buy by Zacks Investment Research on August 10, 2026.
Outlook is positive due to AI chip supercycle momentum and analyst consensus price target of $397.18, offering ~28% upside. Risks include high valuation multiples (P/E of 54.05) and semiconductor market volatility. Institutional activity is mixed, with some trimming positions amid overall bullish 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 →Lam Research manufactures equipment used to fabricate semiconductors. The firm is focused on the etching, deposition, and clean markets, which are key steps in the semiconductor manufacturing process, especially for 3D NAND flash storage, advanced DRAM, and leading-edge logic/foundry chipmakers. Lam's flagship Kiyo, Vector, and Sabre products are sold in all major geographies to key customers such as Samsung Electronics, Micron, Intel, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.
Read more on LRCX →