Compare American Water Works Company Inc (AWK) vs Paychex, Inc. (PAYX) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
American Water Works Company Inc vs Paychex, Inc. — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $131.69 (market cap $25.69B), while Paychex, Inc. trades at $109.06 (market cap $39.39B). The key difference: Paychex, Inc. is the larger of the two by market cap, and Paychex, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.3%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | PAYX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $25.69B | $39.39B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $147.00 | $147.99 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $85.57 |
Enterprise Value | $41.25B | $42.88B |
Dividend Yield | 2.72% | 4.3% |
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.
Paychex (PAYX) trades at $110.75, up 2.98% with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company demonstrates strong fundamentals with consistent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $1.32 beating expectations, and maintains robust profitability with 27.03% net income margin. Recent dividend payment of $1.19 and positive business momentum from AI expansion and small business hiring trends support growth outlook.
Outlook remains positive with steady revenue growth and AI-driven efficiency gains, though valuation multiples appear elevated with P/E of 22.65. Risks include competitive pressures and macroeconomic sensitivity to small business employment trends. Analyst consensus is mixed with 16.67% buy ratings but price target alignment with current levels.
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 Paychex, Inc.
Paychex is a leading provider of payroll, human capital management, and insurance solutions servicing small and midsize clients primarily in the United States. The company, established in 1979, services over 730,000 clients and pays over 1 in 12 U.S. private-sector workers. Alongside its traditional payroll services, Paychex offers HCM solutions such as benefits administration and time and attendance software, as well as human resources outsourcing and insurance agency services.
Read more on PAYX →
