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U.S. Water Utilities Industry Analysis

UpdatedApr 26, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies17
  • 7D1.3%
  • 3M1.5%
  • 1Y-4.6%
  • YTD3.2%

The Water Utilities industry has gained 1.3% in the last week and American Water Works Company up 0.6%. However, the industry is down 4.6% over the past year. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 9.3% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 26 Apr 2026US$48.7bUS$10.7bUS$2.2b23.3x22.5x4.6x
Tue, 24 Mar 2026US$48.6bUS$10.7bUS$2.2b22.1x22.4x4.5x
Thu, 19 Feb 2026US$48.3bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b21.9x21.6x4.6x
Sat, 17 Jan 2026US$48.6bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b22.7x21.7x4.6x
Mon, 15 Dec 2025US$47.1bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b22.1x21x4.5x
Wed, 12 Nov 2025US$50.1bUS$11.2bUS$2.2b22.7x23.3x4.5x
Fri, 10 Oct 2025US$53.9bUS$10.9bUS$2.1b22.6x25.8x4.9x
Sun, 07 Sep 2025US$50.1bUS$10.3bUS$2.2b22.5x23x4.9x
Tue, 05 Aug 2025US$49.5bUS$10.3bUS$2.2b22.1x22.8x4.8x
Thu, 03 Jul 2025US$49.1bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b23.3x23.2x4.9x
Sat, 31 May 2025US$49.1bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b24x23.2x4.9x
Mon, 28 Apr 2025US$50.1bUS$9.8bUS$2.1b21x23.5x5.1x
Wed, 26 Mar 2025US$48.1bUS$9.7bUS$2.1b21.5x22.5x4.9x
Fri, 21 Feb 2025US$45.0bUS$9.6bUS$2.1b20.7x21.4x4.7x
Sun, 19 Jan 2025US$44.5bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b20.6x22x4.7x
Tue, 17 Dec 2024US$47.0bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b23.6x23.2x5x
Thu, 14 Nov 2024US$48.0bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b24.2x23.7x5.1x
Sat, 12 Oct 2024US$48.1bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b22.7x24.5x5.3x
Mon, 09 Sep 2024US$50.0bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b23.8x25.4x5.5x
Wed, 07 Aug 2024US$50.2bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b24.1x25.4x5.5x
Fri, 05 Jul 2024US$45.1bUS$9.0bUS$2.0b21.9x23x5x
Sun, 02 Jun 2024US$46.3bUS$9.0bUS$2.0b21.7x23.5x5.1x
Tue, 30 Apr 2024US$43.4bUS$9.1bUS$1.9b21.4x23.1x4.8x
Thu, 28 Mar 2024US$43.9bUS$8.9bUS$1.8b22.7x24.8x4.9x
Sat, 24 Feb 2024US$42.9bUS$9.1bUS$1.7b23x24.6x4.7x
Mon, 22 Jan 2024US$45.7bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b25.5x26.4x5x
Wed, 20 Dec 2023US$48.3bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b28.1x27.9x5.3x
Fri, 17 Nov 2023US$47.1bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b27.9x27.2x5.2x
Sun, 15 Oct 2023US$60.8bUS$13.9bUS$2.6b25.5x23.7x4.4x
Tue, 12 Sep 2023US$48.7bUS$8.9bUS$1.7b29.3x28.7x5.5x
Thu, 10 Aug 2023US$50.6bUS$8.9bUS$1.7b30.9x29.9x5.7x
Sat, 08 Jul 2023US$49.9bUS$8.7bUS$1.6b33.4x31.1x5.7x
Mon, 05 Jun 2023US$52.5bUS$8.7bUS$1.6b34.3x32.8x6x
Wed, 03 May 2023US$52.1bUS$8.6bUS$1.6b34x32.7x6x
Price to Earnings Ratio

32.7x


Total Market Cap: US$52.1bTotal Earnings: US$1.6bTotal Revenue: US$8.6bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Water Utilities Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 24.8x202420252026
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 24.8x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 5.0x.
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 7.5% 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 Market0.39%
Utilities0.10%
Water Utilities1.30%
Water1.30%
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$132.420.6%
+US$158.2m		-8.0%PE23.3x
WTRG Essential UtilitiesUS$39.521.3%
+US$147.3m		-1.5%PE18.2x
AWR American States WaterUS$79.414.6%
+US$145.1m		0.9%PE23.9x
CWT California Water Service GroupUS$46.383.2%
+US$85.0m		-6.8%PE21.6x
HTO H2O AmericaUS$59.722.9%
+US$69.9m		11.1%PE24.4x

Latest News

MSEX
US$53.50
Middlesex Water
7D
4.3%
1Y
-12.9%
AWR
US$79.41
American States Water
7D
4.6%
1Y
0.9%

AWR: Fair Outlook Will Balance Higher Margins With Slightly Lower Future P/E

Analysts have raised their price target on American States Water from $72 to $76, citing slightly higher assumptions for long-term profit margins and a modestly lower expected future P/E multiple as the main factors behind the adjustment. What's in the News American States Water has scheduled a board meeting for February 10, 2026, with the operating budget for 2026 on the agenda (Key Developments).
WTRG
US$39.52
Essential Utilities
7D
1.3%
1Y
-1.5%

WTRG: Updated Fair Value And P/E Assumptions Will Guide Balanced Outlook

Analysts have nudged their price target on Essential Utilities higher from $40.60 to $41.20, reflecting updated assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E that slightly adjust their overall outlook. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Adjusted slightly from $40.60 to $41.20, indicating a modest upward revision in the estimated share value.
HTO
US$59.72
H2O America
7D
2.9%
1Y
11.1%
AWK
US$132.42
American Water Works Company
7D
0.6%
1Y
-8.0%

AWK: Governance Changes And Steady Execution Will Support A Neutral Yet Guarded Outlook

Narrative Update Analysts have lifted the blended price target for American Water Works Company by about $1 to roughly $139, citing updated views on long term revenue growth, profit margin resilience, and a modestly higher future P/E outlook informed by recent research from Wells Fargo, Truist, and Barclays. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a cautiously constructive stance on American Water Works Company, with price target changes and a neutral initiation reflecting a balance between confidence in the business model and awareness of execution and valuation risks.
GWRS
US$7.45
Global Water Resources
7D
-3.5%
1Y
-28.0%
CDZI
US$4.72
Cadiz
7D
-2.5%
1Y
65.0%
YORW
US$29.55
York Water
7D
-1.8%
1Y
-15.0%
CWT
US$46.38
California Water Service Group
7D
3.2%
1Y
-6.8%

CWT: Proposed Rate Increases And Higher Dividend Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have kept their $52.00 price target for California Water Service Group unchanged. This reflects consistent assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E in their valuation work.
CWCO
US$33.72
Consolidated Water
7D
3.6%
1Y
42.8%
PCYO
US$11.50
Pure Cycle
7D
0.3%
1Y
14.3%
ARTN.A
US$32.07
Artesian Resources
7D
-1.2%
1Y
-6.6%