Compare American Water Works Company Inc (AWK) vs Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
American Water Works Company Inc vs Merck & Co., Inc. — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.74 (market cap $26.92B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $130.59 (market cap $323.00B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 12× 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 | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $323.00B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $131.84 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $369.77B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 2.6% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
MRK trades at $130.73, up 1.68% today, with a bullish technical signal and strong institutional buying. The stock shows consistent earnings beats, with Q3 2026 EPS expected at $2.27, and maintains solid profitability with a 72.97% gross margin. Recent acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals for approximately $6.7 billion aims to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth initiatives amid competitive pressures.
Outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $139.90, offering ~7% upside, supported by 67.57% analyst buy ratings. Risks include rising debt-to-asset ratio to 36.06% in 2025 and patent expirations, but strong cash flow and dividend payments provide stability. The stock presents a growth opportunity with manageable headwinds for long-term investors.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
Top news
Latest headlines on both assets
About American Water Works Company Inc
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 →About Merck & Co., Inc.
Merck makes pharmaceutical products to treat several conditions in a number of therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer, and infections. Within cancer, the firm's immuno-oncology platform is growing as a major contributor to overall sales. The company also has a substantial vaccine business, with treatments to prevent hepatitis B and pediatric diseases as well as HPV and shingles. Additionally, Merck sells animal health-related drugs. From a geographical perspective, just under half of the firm's sales are generated in the United States.
Read more on MRK →
