American Water Works Company Inc vs McDonald's Corp — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.48 (market cap $26.92B), while McDonald's Corp trades at $272.78 (market cap $193.70B). The key difference: McDonald's Corp is far larger — about 7.2× American Water Works Company Inc's market cap, and McDonald's Corp pays the higher dividend (2.72%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | MCD | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $193.70B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $341.06 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $262.80 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $247.47B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 2.72% |
Volume | — | 2,230,036 |
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.
McDonald's (MCD) trades at $274.48, down 0.64% for the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The company reported consistent earnings beats in recent quarters, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $3.41. Revenue grew to $26.89 billion in 2025, supported by a net income margin of 31.72%. Recent news highlights the launch of the 'McDonald's NEXT' strategy focusing on automation and customer experience improvements.
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $322.45, implying significant upside. Strong fundamentals and analyst buy ratings (59.68%) support growth, though risks include inflationary pressures on franchisee margins and high long-term debt of $38.42 billion. The stock offers a solid dividend yield with recent payouts of $1.86 per share.
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 →McDonald's Corporation franchises and operates fast-food restaurants in the global restaurant industry. The Company's restaurants serves a variety of value-priced menu products in countries around the world.
Read more on MCD →