American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• American Water Works has a consensus “Hold” rating from 10 analysts: eight holds, one sell and one buy. The average 12-month price target is $138.78, compared with the stock’s cited opening price of $138.49.
• The company exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting EPS of $1.61 versus the $1.53 consensus and revenue of $1.35 billion, up 6.2% year over year. Analysts expect full-year EPS of approximately $6.09.
• American Water Works declared a quarterly dividend of $0.895 per share, equivalent to an annualized $3.58 and a 2.6% yield; institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.58% of the company.

Shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Hold" from the ten ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $138.7778.

Several research analysts have weighed in on AWK shares. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of American Water Works from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Bank of America reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of American Water Works in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Truist Financial set a $139.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of American Water Works from $124.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of American Water Works from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, July 2nd.

American Water Works Price Performance

NYSE:AWK opened at $138.49 on Thursday. American Water Works has a 52 week low of $120.57 and a 52 week high of $147.87. The stock's fifty day moving average is $132.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $131.41. The company has a market capitalization of $27.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

American Water Works (NYSE:AWK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.33 billion. American Water Works had a return on equity of 10.20% and a net margin of 21.35%.The company's revenue was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.48 EPS. American Water Works has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.020-6.120 EPS. Equities analysts expect that American Water Works will post 6.09 EPS for the current year.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.895 per share. This represents a $3.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 11th. American Water Works's dividend payout ratio is 62.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Water Works

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its stake in American Water Works by 71.7% during the 4th quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 194 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Reflection Asset Management acquired a new position in American Water Works in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in American Water Works by 82.6% in the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC now owns 199 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC acquired a new position in American Water Works in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Ascentis Independent Advisors purchased a new stake in American Water Works during the first quarter worth about $27,000. 86.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About American Water Works

American Water Works Company, Inc NYSE: AWK is a publicly traded utility company that provides water and wastewater services in the United States. Its core business is the operation, management and maintenance of regulated water and wastewater systems that deliver potable water, collect and treat wastewater, and provide related customer services to residential, commercial and industrial customers as well as municipalities. The company's operations include water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, meter reading and billing, emergency repairs, and long-term infrastructure planning and capital project execution.

In addition to its regulated utility operations, American Water offers complementary nonregulated services and solutions that support system reliability and customer needs.

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