American Water Works (AWK)vsUniversal Corporation (UVV)
AWK
American Water Works
$125.68
-0.29%
UTILITIES · Cap: $24.87B
UVV
Universal Corporation
$53.90
-0.33%
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · Cap: $1.35B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
American Water Works generates 79% more annual revenue ($5.21B vs $2.91B). AWK leads profitability with a 21.2% profit margin vs 2.9%. AWK appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.30. AWK earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 60/100 (C).
AWK
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C
UVV
Hold45
out of 100
Grade: D+
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-10.7%
Fair Value
$111.75
Current Price
$125.68
$13.93 premium
Margin of Safety
+33.4%
Fair Value
$79.32
Current Price
$53.90
$25.42 discount
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 33.2%
Keeps 21 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Reasonable price relative to book value
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Earnings declined 4.8%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
ROE of 7.0% — below average capital efficiency
2.9% margin — thin
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 21.2% and operating margin at 33.2%.
Bull Case : UVV
The strongest argument for UVV centers on Price/Book, P/E Ratio.
Bear Case : AWK
The primary concerns for AWK are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : UVV
The primary concerns for UVV are Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Thin 2.9% margins leave little buffer for downturns.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AWK profiles as a mature stock while UVV is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
AWK carries more volatility with a beta of 0.73 — expect wider price swings.
AWK is growing revenue faster at 5.7% — sustainability is the question.
UVV generates stronger free cash flow (95M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
AWK scores higher overall (60/100 vs 45/100), backed by strong 21.2% margins. UVV offers better value entry with a 33.4% margin of safety. Both earn "Buy" and "Hold" 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.
Universal Corporation
CONSUMER DEFENSIVE · TOBACCO · USA
Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant ingredients worldwide. The company is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?