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U.S. Water Utilities Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 15, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies17
  • 7D1.4%
  • 3M5.0%
  • 1Y-1.0%
  • YTD7.0%

Over the last 7 days, the Water Utilities industry has risen 1.4%, driven by gains in American Water Works Company and Essential Utilities of 1.6% and 3.2%, respectively. The industry has been flat over the past 12 months despite the gain this week. Earnings are forecast to grow by 9.0% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.S. Water Utilities Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 15 Mar 2026US$50.4bUS$10.7bUS$2.2b22.7x23.2x4.7x
Tue, 10 Feb 2026US$45.4bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b20.9x20.3x4.3x
Thu, 08 Jan 2026US$46.6bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b21.5x20.8x4.4x
Sat, 06 Dec 2025US$46.4bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b21.9x20.7x4.4x
Mon, 03 Nov 2025US$49.4bUS$11.1bUS$2.1b22.1x23.3x4.5x
Wed, 01 Oct 2025US$52.1bUS$10.9bUS$2.1b22.3x24.8x4.8x
Fri, 29 Aug 2025US$51.1bUS$10.3bUS$2.2b22.4x23.5x5x
Sun, 27 Jul 2025US$47.9bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b21.7x22.6x4.8x
Tue, 24 Jun 2025US$49.7bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b23.9x23.4x5x
Thu, 22 May 2025US$49.9bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b24.2x23.6x5x
Sat, 19 Apr 2025US$51.3bUS$9.8bUS$2.1b21.5x24x5.3x
Mon, 17 Mar 2025US$49.9bUS$9.8bUS$2.1b19.4x23.3x5.1x
Wed, 12 Feb 2025US$43.7bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b20.8x21.6x4.6x
Fri, 10 Jan 2025US$43.4bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b21.1x21.4x4.6x
Sun, 08 Dec 2024US$47.6bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b23.5x23.5x5.1x
Tue, 05 Nov 2024US$48.0bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b22.2x23.7x5.1x
Thu, 03 Oct 2024US$50.5bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b23.4x25.7x5.5x
Sat, 31 Aug 2024US$49.7bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b24.4x25.2x5.4x
Mon, 29 Jul 2024US$50.3bUS$9.1bUS$2.0b24.2x25.6x5.6x
Wed, 26 Jun 2024US$46.4bUS$9.0bUS$2.0b21.6x23.6x5.1x
Fri, 24 May 2024US$47.6bUS$9.0bUS$2.0b22.8x24.2x5.3x
Sun, 21 Apr 2024US$42.6bUS$8.9bUS$1.8b21.5x23.9x4.8x
Tue, 19 Mar 2024US$42.6bUS$8.9bUS$1.8b21.9x24x4.8x
Thu, 15 Feb 2024US$43.2bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b23.4x25x4.8x
Sat, 13 Jan 2024US$47.8bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b26.6x27.6x5.3x
Mon, 11 Dec 2023US$47.7bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b28.4x27.5x5.3x
Wed, 08 Nov 2023US$46.2bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b26.4x26.8x5.1x
Fri, 06 Oct 2023US$61.6bUS$13.9bUS$2.6b25.9x24x4.4x
Sun, 03 Sep 2023US$48.7bUS$8.9bUS$1.7b29.1x28.7x5.5x
Tue, 01 Aug 2023US$52.6bUS$8.9bUS$1.7b32.1x31.6x5.9x
Thu, 29 Jun 2023US$50.3bUS$8.7bUS$1.6b35.7x31.4x5.8x
Sat, 27 May 2023US$51.8bUS$8.7bUS$1.6b33.7x32.3x5.9x
Mon, 24 Apr 2023US$53.9bUS$8.5bUS$1.6b33.8x33.6x6.3x
Wed, 22 Mar 2023US$50.3bUS$8.5bUS$1.6b31.3x31.3x5.9x
Price to Earnings Ratio

31.3x


Total Market Cap: US$50.3bTotal Earnings: US$1.6bTotal Revenue: US$8.5bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Water Utilities Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 25.2x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are relatively neutral on the American Water Utilities industry at the moment, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates to remain steady.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PE ratio of 25.2x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 5.1x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Water Utilities industry have grown 11% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 7.8% per year.
  • This means that more sales are being generated by these companies overall, and subsequently their profits are increasing too.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.S. Utilities industry?

US Market-1.62%
Utilities0.31%
Water Utilities1.43%
Water1.43%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
AWK American Water Works CompanyUS$139.691.6%
+US$429.5m		-3.2%PE24.5x
WTRG Essential UtilitiesUS$41.653.2%
+US$368.1m		5.4%PE19.1x
HTO H2O AmericaUS$58.931.2%
+US$30.3m		8.9%PE24x
AWR American States WaterUS$75.610.4%
+US$12.5m		-4.6%PE22.7x
PCYO Pure CycleUS$10.270.6%
+US$1.6m		-3.7%PE18x

Latest News

ARTN.A
US$32.72
Artesian Resources
7D
-3.0%
1Y
2.3%
AWK
US$139.69
American Water Works Company
7D
1.6%
1Y
-3.2%
CWCO
US$34.73
Consolidated Water
7D
-1.6%
1Y
19.0%

CWCO: Stable Assumptions And Maintained Future P/E Will Support Upside

Analysts have maintained their consolidated fair value estimate for Consolidated Water at $43, reflecting updated assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E that together indicate no change in their overall price target view. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Remains unchanged at $43.00, indicating no adjustment to the consolidated fair value estimate.
WTRG
US$41.65
Essential Utilities
7D
3.2%
1Y
5.4%

WTRG: Pending Merger And 2026 Vote Will Frame Balanced Risk Outlook

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Essential Utilities to about $40.60 from roughly $41.40, citing updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples, while monitoring how the potential merger outcome could influence the bear case on the stock. Analyst Commentary Recent research on American Water highlights how the proposed merger with Essential Utilities could reshape the risk and reward conversation for Essential shareholders, even though the approval process is expected to be lengthy.
YORW
US$31.47
York Water
7D
-3.8%
1Y
-9.2%
GWRS
US$7.36
Global Water Resources
7D
-9.7%
1Y
-34.8%

GWRS: Fair Value View Will Rely On Slightly Stronger Margins And Revenue

Analysts have maintained their price target on Global Water Resources at $9.60, reflecting updated assumptions around slightly higher revenue growth and profit margins, along with a modestly lower future P/E multiple. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Maintained at $9.60 per share, indicating no change in the central valuation estimate.
AWR
US$75.61
American States Water
7D
0.4%
1Y
-4.6%
HTO
US$58.93
H2O America
7D
1.2%
1Y
8.9%
CWT
US$45.20
California Water Service Group
7D
-0.9%
1Y
-4.8%

CWT: Long Dividend Streak And 2026 Payout Commitment Will Support Upside

Analysts have maintained their $52.00 price target for California Water Service Group, citing updated assumptions that include neutral fair value and discount rate inputs, along with revised expectations for revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E ratios. What's in the News Declared its 324th consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.3350 per common share, payable on February 20, 2026, to stockholders of record as of February 9, 2026 (Key Developments).
MSEX
US$52.40
Middlesex Water
7D
-3.2%
1Y
-15.8%
CDZI
US$5.13
Cadiz
7D
-3.6%
1Y
43.7%
PCYO
US$10.27
Pure Cycle
7D
0.6%
1Y
-3.7%