American Water Works Company Inc vs Nucor Corporation — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $134.96 (market cap $26.92B), while Nucor Corporation trades at $272.86 (market cap $62.54B). The key difference: Nucor Corporation is far larger — about 2.3× 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 | NUE | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $62.54B |
Sector | Utilities | Basic Materials |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $274.74 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $131.78 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $66.95B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 0.82% |
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.
Nucor (NUE) trades at $272.63, up 0.23% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong resistance near $280. Recent Q2 2026 earnings beat expectations with EPS of $4.84 versus $4.46, driven by record steel shipments and higher prices. Revenue trends show recovery from 2024 lows, with 2026 projections at $36.1B. The stock is near its consensus price target of $279.63, with analyst sentiment leaning bullish (59% buy ratings).
Outlook: Nucor benefits from resilient steel demand and operational efficiency, but faces risks from tariff policies and cyclical industry pressures. The current P/E of 21.76 is reasonable given earnings growth, though net margins have compressed from 2022 peaks. Investors should monitor Q3 2026 results against the $5.72 EPS estimate for continued momentum.
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 →Nucor Corp manufactures steel and steel products. The company also produces direct reduced iron for use in its steel mills. The operations include international trading and sales companies that buy and sell steel and steel products manufactured by the company and others. The operating business segments are: steel mills, steel products and raw materials, the steel mills segment derives maximum revenue.
Read more on NUE →