American Water Works Company Inc vs Waste Management, Inc. — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.3 (market cap $26.92B), while Waste Management, Inc. trades at $226.84 (market cap $90.58B). The key difference: Waste Management, Inc. is far larger — about 3.4× 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 | WM | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $90.58B |
Sector | Utilities | Industrials |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $246.51 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $196.77 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $113.37B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 1.56% |
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.
WM trades at $227.68, down 0.58% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages and oversold RSI levels. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $2.02, beating estimates, with revenue growth to $25.2 billion in 2025. Valuation ratios are elevated, with a P/E of 59.96 and P/S of 16.1, reflecting premium pricing. Recent news highlights margin gains and institutional activity, including Bank of America reducing holdings by 6.1% in Q1 2026 (Defense World, 2026-08-01).
The outlook remains positive with a consensus price target of $263.43, implying 15.7% upside, driven by pricing discipline and technology investments. Risks include high debt levels, with a debt-to-asset ratio of 53.62% in 2024, and softer volume trends. Earnings momentum from recent beats supports growth, but margin pressures and economic sensitivity could limit gains.
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 →Waste Management ranks as the largest integrated provider of traditional solid waste services in the United States, operating approximately 260 active landfills and about 340 transfer stations. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial end markets and is also a leading recycler in North America.
Read more on WM →