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 $131.69 (market cap $25.69B), while Merck & Co., Inc. trades at $123.55 (market cap $298.31B). The key difference: Merck & Co., Inc. is far larger — about 11.6× American Water Works Company Inc's market cap, and Merck & Co., Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.82%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | MRK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.69B | $298.31B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $147.00 | $129.52 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $77.60 |
Enterprise Value | $41.25B | $341.72B |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | 2.82% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
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.
Merck (MRK) trades at $124.03, up 0.4% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support. The company reported solid earnings beats in recent quarters, including Q1 2026's better-than-expected loss, and maintains robust profitability with a net income margin of 13.59%. Recent news highlights Merck's acquisition of Terns Pharmaceuticals to bolster its oncology pipeline, reflecting strategic growth efforts amid competitive pressures.
The outlook for MRK is positive, driven by earnings momentum and strategic acquisitions, but risks include patent expirations and rising debt. With a consensus price target of $137.30 offering ~11% upside, the stock presents a compelling opportunity for growth-oriented investors, though macroeconomic and regulatory headwinds warrant caution.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
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Latest headlines on both assets
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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 →
