American Water Works Co (MEX:AWK) Beneish M-Score: -1.78 (As of Jul. 16, 2026)

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MEX:AWK American Water Works Co Inc MEX:AWK
79 GF Score
Price MXN2,290.00
GF Value MXN2,761.26
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 3 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is American Water Works Co Beneish M-Score?

American Water Works Co MEX:AWK -1.04% 79 Beneish M-Score is -1.78 as of Jul. 16, 2026. GuruFocus rates MEX:AWK with a GF Score™ of 79/100 and a GF Value™ of MXN2,761.26 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 487 Utilities - Regulated companies, American Water Works Co ranks worse than 91.79% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -1.78 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

MEX:AWK' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -2.91   Med: -2.63   Max: -1.78
Current: -1.78

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of American Water Works Co was -1.78. The lowest was -2.91. And the median was -2.63.


American Water Works Co Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score 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 Beneish M-Score Chart

American Water Works Co Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.62 -2.25 -2.63 -2.64 -1.78

American Water Works Co Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.78 0.00

MEX:AWK vs WTRG, AWR, CWT: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Utilities - Regulated Water subindustry, American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score 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 Beneish M-Score vs Utilities - Regulated Industry

For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score falls into.


MEX:AWK
79GF Score
American Water Works Co Inc MEX:AWK
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

American Water Works Co Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of American Water Works Co for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.9672+0.528 * 0.9936+0.404 * 0.6878+0.892 * 0.9474+0.115 * 0.9619
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1+4.679 * -0.028667-0.327 * 1.0354
=-1.92

* 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.

This Year (Dec25) TTM:Last Year (Dec24) TTM:
Total Receivables was MXN29,385 Mil.
Revenue was MXN92,549 Mil.
Gross Profit was MXN56,196 Mil.
Total Current Assets was MXN39,450 Mil.
Total Assets was MXN638,158 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was MXN552,073 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was MXN16,097 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was MXN0 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was MXN85,473 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was MXN231,391 Mil.
Net Income was MXN20,004 Mil.
Gross Profit was MXN1,224 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was MXN37,074 Mil.
Total Receivables was MXN15,767 Mil.
Revenue was MXN97,688 Mil.
Gross Profit was MXN58,938 Mil.
Total Current Assets was MXN25,340 Mil.
Total Assets was MXN684,693 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was MXN586,608 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was MXN16,434 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was MXN0 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was MXN65,695 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was MXN262,657 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(29385.302 / 92549.298) / (15766.909 / 97688.099)
=0.31751 / 0.161401
=1.9672

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(58938.208 / 97688.099) / (56195.79 / 92549.298)
=0.60333 / 0.607198
=0.9936

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (39450.489 + 552072.768) / 638158.02) / (1 - (25339.675 + 586608.273) / 684692.631)
=0.073077 / 0.106244
=0.6878

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=92549.298 / 97688.099
=0.9474

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(16434.292 / (16434.292 + 586608.273)) / (16097.096 / (16097.096 + 552072.768))
=0.027252 / 0.028331
=0.9619

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(0 / 92549.298) / (0 / 97688.099)
=0 / 0
=1

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((231391.251 + 85473.058) / 638158.02) / ((262656.686 + 65695.455) / 684692.631)
=0.49653 / 0.479561
=1.0354

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(20004.333 - 1224.388 - 37073.736) / 638158.02
=-0.028667

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

American Water Works Co has a M-score of -1.92 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -1.78 mean?
American Water Works Co (MEX:AWK) has a Beneish M-Score of -1.78 as of Jul. 16, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #447 out of 487 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, placing it in the top 91.8%.
Is American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score too high?
American Water Works Co's current Beneish M-Score is -1.78. Based on the distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #447 out of 487 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 79/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Water Works Co's Beneish M-Score compare to WTRG and AWR?
According to the Utilities - Regulated industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #447 out of 487 companies for Beneish M-Score. This places American Water Works Co in the lower half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for an Utilities - Regulated company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Utilities - Regulated industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. American Water Works Co's current Beneish M-Score is -1.78. 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 (MEX:AWK) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is MXN2,761.26, compared to a current price of MXN2,290.00 — trading 17.1% below its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -1.78. American Water Works Co's overall GF Score™ is 79/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Water Works Co (MEX:AWK), the current Beneish M-Score is -1.78 as of Jul. 16, 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 (MEX:AWK) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Water Works Co stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of MXN2,290.00 is trading 17.1% below its estimated GF Value™ of MXN2,761.26. GuruFocus considers American Water Works Co to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for MEX:AWK:

  • Beneish M-Score: -1.78
  • GF Value™: MXN2,761.26 vs. price of MXN2,290.00 (17.1% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 79/100 with 3 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the MEX:AWK stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


American Water Works Co Business Description

Address 1 Water Street, Camden, NJ, USA, 08102-1658
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.
79GF Score

Get the complete analysis for MEX:AWK

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

MXN2,290.00
Price
MXN2,761.26
GF Value