American Water Works (AWK)vsUNITIL Corporation (UTL)
AWK
American Water Works
$128.42
-2.69%
UTILITIES · Cap: $25.77B
UTL
UNITIL Corporation
$52.46
+0.65%
UTILITIES · Cap: $953.08M
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
American Water Works generates 859% more annual revenue ($5.14B vs $536.00M). AWK leads profitability with a 21.6% profit margin vs 9.4%. AWK appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.39. AWK earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 62/100 (C+).
AWK
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
UTL
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-12.2%
Fair Value
$110.27
Current Price
$128.42
$18.15 premium
Margin of Safety
+12.6%
Fair Value
$58.31
Current Price
$52.46
$5.85 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 32.2%
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 21.7%
Revenue surging 26.7% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
0.0% earnings growth
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AWK
The strongest argument for AWK centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 21.6% and operating margin at 32.2%.
Bull Case : UTL
The strongest argument for UTL centers on P/E Ratio, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Revenue growth of 26.7% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : AWK
The primary concerns for AWK are PEG Ratio, EPS Growth, Piotroski F-Score.
Bear Case : UTL
The primary concerns for UTL are Market Cap, Debt/Equity, Piotroski F-Score. Debt-to-equity of 1.54 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AWK profiles as a mature stock while UTL is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
AWK carries more volatility with a beta of 0.73 — expect wider price swings.
UTL is growing revenue faster at 26.7% — sustainability is the question.
UTL generates stronger free cash flow (-36M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
AWK scores higher overall (62/100 vs 60/100), backed by strong 21.6% margins. Both earn "Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
American Water Works
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA
American Water is an American public utility company operating in the United States and Canada.
UNITIL Corporation
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Unitil Corporation, a utility holding company, is engaged in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. The company is headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire.
Visit Website →Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?