Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.
American Water Works CoAWK +0.19%78 Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 2.85 as of Jul. 26, 2026, which is 14% below its 10-year median of 3.33. GuruFocus rates AWK with a GF Scoreâ„¢ of 78/100 and a GF Valueâ„¢ of $155.76 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 441 Utilities - Regulated companies, American Water Works Co ranks worse than 82.77% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
AWK'
s Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 2.59 Med: 3.33 Max: 5.62
Current: 2.85
During the past years, American Water Works Co's highest Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio was 5.62. The lowest was 2.59. And the median was 3.33.
AWK's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is ranked worse than 82.77% of 441
companies
in the Utilities - Regulated industry
Industry Median: 1.53
vs AWK: 2.85
The Shiller PE Ratio was first used by professor Robert Shiller. He uses E10 for his Shiller PE Ratio calculation. E10 is the average of the inflation adjusted earnings per share of a company over the past 10 years. The similar calculation is applied by GuruFocus to calculate the Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio. The Cyclically Adjusted Book per Share is the average of the inflation adjusted book value per share of a company over the past 10 years.
American Water Works Co's adjusted book value per share data for the three months ended in Mar. 2026 was $56.519. Add all the adjusted book value per share for the past 10 years together and divide the count will get our Cyclically Adjusted Book per Share, which is $47.31 for the trailing ten years ended in Mar. 2026.
Shiller PE for Stocks: The True Measure of Stock Valuation
American Water Works Co (NYSE:AWK) Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Explanation
Compared with the regular PB Ratio, which works poorly for cyclical businesses, the Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio smoothed out the fluctuations of book value during business cycles. Therefore it is more accurate in reflecting the valuation of the company.
If a company has consistent business performance, the Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio should give similar results to regular PB Ratio.
American Water Works Co Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Related Terms
American Water Works Co Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
American Water Works Co Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Chart
AWK vs WTRG, AWR, CWT: Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Comparison
For the Utilities - Regulated Water subindustry, American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
American Water Works Co Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio vs Utilities - Regulated Industry
For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio falls into.
American Water Works Co Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio Calculation
Like the Shiller PE Ratio, the Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio takes the Book Value per Share from the past 10 years, adjusts it for inflation, and then calculates the average. This average is then used for the P/B calculation. Because it considers this 10-year average, it's often referred to as the CAPB Ratio.
The Shiller PE Ratio was first used by professor Robert Shiller to measure the valuation of the overall market. The similar calculation is applied by GuruFocus to calculate the Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Please note that we use the CPI data of the country/region where the company is headquartered. If the CPI data for that country/region is not available, then we will use the CPI data of the United States as default.
What does a Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio of 2.85 mean?
American Water Works Co (AWK) has a Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio of 2.85 as of Jul. 26, 2026. Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is the ratio of share price to a company's inflation-adjusted book value per share over a 10-year period. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. This is 14% below median its historical median of 3.33. Over the past decade, American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio has ranged from 2.59 to 5.62. According to the industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #365 out of 441 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, placing it in the top 82.8%.
Is American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio too high?
American Water Works Co's current Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio of 2.85 is 14% below median its 10-year median of 3.33. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 2.59 to a high of 5.62. The Utilities - Regulated industry median Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 1.53. American Water Works Co's value of 2.85 is 86.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #365 out of 441 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, American Water Works Co has a GF Scoreâ„¢ of 78/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Water Works Co's Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio compare to WTRG and AWR?
According to the Utilities - Regulated industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #365 out of 441 companies for Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio. This places American Water Works Co in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 1.53. American Water Works Co's value of 2.85 is 86.3% above this benchmark. Historically, American Water Works Co's own Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio has ranged from 2.59 to 5.62 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 3.33 vs. the industry median of 1.53, American Water Works Co has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio for an Utilities - Regulated company?
The median Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio among Utilities - Regulated companies is 1.53, based on 441 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. American Water Works Co's current Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio of 2.85 is 86.3% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio mean?
A high Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is the ratio of share price to a company's inflation-adjusted book value per share over a 10-year period. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. For the Utilities - Regulated industry, the median Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 1.53 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. American Water Works Co's current Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 2.85, which is 14% below median its own 10-year median of 3.33. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is American Water Works Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Water Works Co (AWK) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $155.76, compared to a current price of $134.66 — trading 13.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 2.85, which is 14% below median its 10-year median of 3.33 and 86.3% above the Utilities - Regulated industry median of 1.53. American Water Works Co's overall GF Score™ is 78/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio calculated?
Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Water Works Co (AWK), the current Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is 2.85 as of Jul. 26, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is American Water Works Co (AWK) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Water Works Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $134.66 is trading 13.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $155.76.
GuruFocus considers American Water Works Co to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for AWK:
Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio: 2.85 (14% below median its 10-year median of 3.33)
GF Value™: $155.76 vs. price of $134.66 (13.5% below fair value)
Industry Position: 86.3% above the Utilities - Regulated median (#365 of 441)
No single metric tells the full story. See the AWK stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
American Water Works is the largest investor-owned US water and wastewater utility, serving nearly 4 million customers in 14 states. It provides water and wastewater services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers and operates predominantly in regulated markets. The company's nonregulated business is water services for military bases, which operates under long-term contracts with regulated-like returns. The proposed Essential Utilities acquisition would add regulated water and wastewater utilities in Ohio, North Carolina, and Texas while increasing its presence in Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia.
78GF Score
Get the complete analysis for AWK
Cyclically Adjusted PB Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
AWK has been successfully added to your 
