American Water Works Company Inc vs Williams Companies Inc — how do they compare? American Water Works Company Inc trades at $135.3 (market cap $26.92B), while Williams Companies Inc trades at $72.65 (market cap $87.88B). The key difference: Williams Companies Inc is far larger — about 3.3× American Water Works Company Inc's market cap, and Williams Companies Inc pays the higher dividend (2.92%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AWK | WMB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.92B | $87.88B |
Sector | Utilities | Energy |
52-Week High | $146.20 | $79.40 |
52-Week Low | $121.13 | $56.51 |
Enterprise Value | $42.78B | $118.51B |
Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 2.92% |
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.
WMB trades at $70.4, down 1.9% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The company reported mixed Q2 2026 earnings, missing EPS estimates but raising full-year EBITDA guidance to $8.4 billion. Strong profitability is evident with a 25.18% net income margin and 24.02% ROE, though valuation ratios like P/E of 28.05 appear elevated. The recent $5.5 billion acquisition of Momentum Midstream aims to bolster growth in the Haynesville region.
Outlook remains positive with analyst consensus strongly bullish (79% buy ratings) and a $87.14 price target, implying significant upside. Risks include execution of the Momentum integration, volatile energy prices, and high debt levels. Cash flow stability from fee-based contracts supports the dividend, but net cash flow turned negative in 2026 forecasts.
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 →Williams is a midstream energy company that owns and operates the large Transco and Northwest pipeline systems and associated natural gas gathering, processing, and storage assets. In August 2018, the firm acquired the remaining 26% ownership of its limited partner, Williams Partners.
Read more on WMB →