American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK)

In the past six months, Wells Fargo upgraded AWK's outlook, while UBS downgraded it, and Barclays initiated coverage with an Underweight recommendation. AWK's share price has outperformed the S&P500 Index by +14.76% over the past six months. The company increased its first-quarter dividend to US$0.83 in May 2025, and its first-quarter 2025 earnings were in line with analyst expectations. American Water completed 13 acquisitions during fiscal year 2024 and entered an agreement to acquire water and wastewater systems in eight states from Nexus Regulated Utilities for approximately $315 million in May 2025.

Demand for American Water Works' products and services, especially water, is seasonal, with increased demand during hotter summer months for outdoor use and potential reductions during rainy seasons. Some utilities use seasonal rates to encourage conservation during peak demand. This seasonality influences forecasting and operational strategies.

American Water Works Co., Inc. is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States. It operates in the Utilities sector, specifically the Utilities - Regulated Water industry, providing water and wastewater management services to various customers. The company also serves the U.S. government on military installations. It has an extensive infrastructure, including numerous water and wastewater treatment plants and thousands of miles of pipe.

American Water Works serves approximately 14 to 15 million people across 46 states, with regulated operations in 14 to 16 states and 18 military installations in the U.S. Key states include Pennsylvania, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. The company also has a presence in some parts of Canada.

American Water Works focuses on public health, environmental stewardship, infrastructure modernization, sustainable water management, and technological integration. The company publishes sustainability reports, demonstrating its commitment to ESG principles. A cyberattack in October 2024, primarily affecting billing systems, is a notable event that could impact the company's reputation, highlighting cybersecurity risks for critical infrastructure companies.

Approximately 71.10% to 90.14% of American Water Works' stock is held by institutional investors, including Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and State Street Corp. Individual investors and insiders hold a smaller percentage, with insiders holding around 0.11% to 0.66% and retail/individual investors holding approximately 10.71% to 31.92%.