Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.S. Water Utilities Industry Analysis

UpdatedJul 02, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies18
  • 7D1.8%
  • 3M-3.5%
  • 1Y-1.4%
  • YTD2.6%

The Water Utilities industry is up 3.8% in the last week, with American Water Works Company up 1.7%. Overall in the last year, the industry is flat. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 10.0% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Thu, 02 Jul 2026US$48.5bUS$10.9bUS$2.1b24x23.1x4.5x
Sat, 30 May 2026US$45.5bUS$10.9bUS$2.1b22.7x21.7x4.2x
Mon, 27 Apr 2026US$48.7bUS$10.7bUS$2.2b23.3x22.5x4.6x
Wed, 25 Mar 2026US$48.8bUS$10.7bUS$2.2b22x22.5x4.6x
Fri, 20 Feb 2026US$47.6bUS$10.6bUS$2.2b21.9x21.3x4.5x
Sun, 18 Jan 2026US$48.5bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b22.7x21.7x4.6x
Tue, 16 Dec 2025US$47.1bUS$10.5bUS$2.2b22.1x21x4.5x
Thu, 13 Nov 2025US$50.5bUS$11.2bUS$2.2b22.5x23.5x4.5x
Sat, 11 Oct 2025US$53.7bUS$10.9bUS$2.1b22.7x25.7x4.9x
Mon, 08 Sep 2025US$50.7bUS$10.3bUS$2.2b22.5x23.3x4.9x
Wed, 06 Aug 2025US$49.9bUS$10.3bUS$2.2b21.6x23x4.9x
Fri, 04 Jul 2025US$48.3bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b23.1x22.8x4.8x
Sun, 01 Jun 2025US$49.5bUS$10.0bUS$2.1b24x23.3x4.9x
Tue, 29 Apr 2025US$50.1bUS$9.8bUS$2.1b20.7x23.5x5.1x
Thu, 27 Mar 2025US$47.9bUS$9.7bUS$2.1b21.6x22.4x4.9x
Sat, 22 Feb 2025US$46.3bUS$9.6bUS$2.1b20.5x22x4.8x
Mon, 20 Jan 2025US$44.5bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b20.6x22x4.7x
Wed, 18 Dec 2024US$46.8bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b23.8x23.1x5x
Fri, 15 Nov 2024US$47.8bUS$9.4bUS$2.0b24x23.6x5.1x
Sun, 13 Oct 2024US$49.0bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b22.7x24.9x5.4x
Tue, 10 Sep 2024US$50.5bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b23.9x25.7x5.5x
Thu, 08 Aug 2024US$50.1bUS$9.2bUS$2.0b24x25.4x5.5x
Sat, 06 Jul 2024US$45.1bUS$9.0bUS$2.0b22.1x23x5x
Mon, 03 Jun 2024US$46.3bUS$9.0bUS$2.0b21.7x23.5x5.1x
Wed, 01 May 2024US$44.0bUS$9.1bUS$1.9b21.4x23.4x4.8x
Fri, 29 Mar 2024US$43.9bUS$9.0bUS$1.8b22.9x24.7x4.9x
Sun, 25 Feb 2024US$42.9bUS$9.1bUS$1.7b23x24.6x4.7x
Tue, 23 Jan 2024US$46.4bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b25.9x26.8x5.1x
Thu, 21 Dec 2023US$48.3bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b27.8x27.9x5.3x
Sat, 18 Nov 2023US$47.1bUS$9.0bUS$1.7b27.9x27.2x5.2x
Mon, 16 Oct 2023US$60.8bUS$13.9bUS$2.6b25.5x23.7x4.4x
Wed, 13 Sep 2023US$48.7bUS$8.9bUS$1.7b29.3x28.7x5.5x
Fri, 11 Aug 2023US$50.2bUS$8.9bUS$1.7b30.9x29.7x5.6x
Sun, 09 Jul 2023US$49.9bUS$8.7bUS$1.6b33.4x31.1x5.7x
Price to Earnings Ratio

31.1x


Total Market Cap: US$49.9bTotal Earnings: US$1.6bTotal Revenue: US$8.7bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.S. Water Utilities Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 24.1x202420252026
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 24.1x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 4.9x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Water Utilities industry have grown 9.4% per year over the last three years.
  • Revenues for these companies have grown 7.7% 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 Market1.64%
Utilities-2.01%
Water Utilities1.80%
Water1.80%
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$131.791.7%
+US$419.9m		-6.1%PE23.4x
AWR American States WaterUS$83.344.3%
+US$136.0m		7.7%PE24.5x
CWT California Water Service GroupUS$49.043.7%
+US$104.1m		6.1%PE24.7x
WTRG Essential UtilitiesUS$38.030.7%
+US$70.9m		2.5%PE19.4x
HTO H2O AmericaUS$60.742.7%
+US$65.7m		14.3%PE24.2x

Latest News

AWK
US$131.79
American Water Works Company
7D
1.7%
1Y
-6.1%
PCYO
US$11.00
Pure Cycle
7D
-3.3%
1Y
0.09%
MSEX
US$56.57
Middlesex Water
7D
4.7%
1Y
1.2%
YORW
US$30.92
York Water
7D
1.6%
1Y
-3.7%
WTRG
US$38.03
Essential Utilities
7D
0.7%
1Y
2.5%
Seeking Alpha • Jun 27

Essential Utilities: Snatch Up This Dividend Champion Now

Summary After the upcoming dividend reset in its ongoing merger with American Water Works, Essential Utilities’ dividend growth will accelerate well beyond what it was doing independently. Joining forces with AWK, Essential Utilities will emerge as the most dominant regulated water utility in the United States. The company’s S&P credit rating is set to improve from A- with a positive outlook (considering the merger) to an A grade with a stable outlook. The stock is priced at a 12% discount to my revised fair value estimate. WTRG could realistically deliver 11%+ annual total returns through 2031. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
CWT
US$49.04
California Water Service Group
7D
3.7%
1Y
6.1%
HTO
US$60.74
H2O America
7D
2.7%
1Y
14.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 26

HTO: Steady Assumptions And Future P/E Will Support Balanced Outlook

Analysts kept their price target for H2O America steady at $63.71, citing unchanged assumptions for fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E in their updated models. What’s in the News for H2O America No recent news items for H2O America were identified in the provided primary news sources.
AWR
US$83.34
American States Water
7D
4.3%
1Y
7.7%
Narrative Update • Jun 24

AWR: Fair Outlook Balances Equity Issuance Overhang With Stable Dividend Track Record

Analysts have maintained their price target for American States Water at $76.00, indicating no changes to assumptions about fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, or future P/E expectations. What's in the News American States Water Company reported the successful completion of its US$200 million at the market equity offering program, fully utilizing the maximum aggregate offering capacity under the plan.
ARTN.A
US$33.94
Artesian Resources
7D
2.8%
1Y
0.4%