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 Co (NYSE:AWK) Forward PE Ratio Explanation
The Forward PE Ratio of a company is often used to compare current earnings to estimated future earnings, as well as gaining a clearer picture of what earnings will look like without charges and other accounting adjustments. If earnings are expected to grow in the future, the Forward PE Ratio will be lower than the current PE Ratio. This measure is also used to compare one company to another with a forward-looking focus.
Trailing PE Ratio relies on what is already done. It uses the current share price and divides by the total EPS (Basic) over the past 12 months. PE Ratio can be affected by Non Operating Income such as the sale of part of businesses. This may increase for the current year or quarter dramatically. But it cannot be repeated over and over. Therefore PE Ratio without NRI is a more accurate indication of valuation than PE Ratio .
American Water Works Co Forward PE Ratio Related Terms
American Water Works Co Forward PE Ratio Historical Data
* 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 Forward PE Ratio Chart
American Water Works Co Annual Data
Trend
2015-12
2016-12
2017-12
2018-12
2019-12
2020-12
2021-12
2022-12
2023-12
2024-12
2025-12
Forward PE Ratio
21.46
23.81
27.70
25.25
31.45
35.97
42.37
32.15
25.64
21.95
21.42
American Water Works Co Quarterly Data
2015-12
2016-03
2016-06
2016-09
2016-12
2017-03
2017-06
2017-09
2017-12
2018-03
2018-06
2018-09
2018-12
2019-03
2019-06
2019-09
2019-12
2020-03
2020-06
2020-09
2020-12
2021-03
2021-06
2021-09
2021-12
2022-03
2022-06
2022-09
2022-12
2023-03
2023-06
2023-09
2023-12
2024-03
2024-06
2024-09
2024-12
2025-03
2025-06
2025-09
2025-12
2026-03
Forward PE Ratio
21.46
22.94
28.17
24.63
23.81
25.51
25.71
24.75
27.70
25.13
26.18
24.94
25.25
28.99
31.85
31.85
31.45
31.35
32.26
34.13
35.97
34.48
36.50
38.61
42.37
35.84
33.33
26.95
32.15
30.67
29.94
24.10
25.64
23.53
24.63
25.58
21.95
25.62
24.12
22.33
21.42
22.45
AWK vs WTRG, AWR, CWT: Forward PE Ratio Comparison
For the Utilities - Regulated Water subindustry, American Water Works Co's Forward PE Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and Forward PE 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 Forward PE Ratio vs Utilities - Regulated Industry
For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, American Water Works Co's Forward PE Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Water Works Co's Forward PE Ratio falls into.
American Water Works Co Forward PE Ratio Calculation
It's a measure of the price-to-earnings ratio (PE Ratio) using forecasted earnings for the calculation. While the earnings used are just an estimate and are not as reliable as current earnings data, there is still benefit in estimated P/E analysis. The forecasted earnings used in the formula can either be for the next 12 months or for the next full-year fiscal period.
American Water Works Co (AWK) has a Forward PE Ratio of 21.63 as of Jul. 14, 2026. Forward P/E ratio is the share price dividend by the expected per-share earnings in the next 12 months. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #230 out of 275 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, placing it in the top 83.6%.
Is American Water Works Co's Forward PE Ratio too high?
American Water Works Co's current Forward PE Ratio is 21.63. The Utilities - Regulated industry median Forward PE Ratio is 14.63. American Water Works Co's value of 21.63 is 47.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #230 out of 275 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, American Water Works Co has a GF Score™ 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 Forward PE Ratio compare to WTRG and AWR?
According to the Utilities - Regulated industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #230 out of 275 companies for Forward PE Ratio. This places American Water Works Co in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Forward PE Ratio is 14.63. American Water Works Co's value of 21.63 is 47.8% above this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Forward PE Ratio for an Utilities - Regulated company?
The median Forward PE Ratio among Utilities - Regulated companies is 14.63, based on 275 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Forward PE Ratio significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Forward PE Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. American Water Works Co's current Forward PE Ratio of 21.63 is 47.8% 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 Forward PE Ratio mean?
A high Forward PE Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Forward P/E ratio is the share price dividend by the expected per-share earnings in the next 12 months. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. For the Utilities - Regulated industry, the median Forward PE Ratio is 14.63 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. American Water Works Co's current Forward PE Ratio is 21.63. 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 $155.67, compared to a current price of $131.57 — trading 15.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Forward PE Ratio is 21.63 and 47.8% above the Utilities - Regulated industry median of 14.63. 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 Forward PE Ratio calculated?
Forward PE Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Water Works Co (AWK), the current Forward PE Ratio is 21.63 as of Jul. 14, 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 $131.57 is trading 15.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $155.67.
GuruFocus considers American Water Works Co to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for AWK:
Forward PE Ratio: 21.63
GF Value™: $155.67 vs. price of $131.57 (15.5% below fair value)
Industry Position: 47.8% above the Utilities - Regulated median (#230 of 275)
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
Forward PE 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 
