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Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. American Water Works Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was -2.40%.
The historical rank and industry rank for American Water Works Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
AWK'
s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -913.9 Med: -0.6 Max: 88.6
Current: -2.4
During the past 13 years, American Water Works Co's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 88.60%. The lowest was -913.90%. And the median was -0.60%.
AWK's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked worse than 60% of 230
companies
in the Utilities - Regulated industry
Industry Median: -1.45
vs AWK: -2.40
American Water Works Co (NYSE:AWK) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation
A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.
Be Aware
Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.
American Water Works Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms
AWK vs WTRG, AWR, CWT: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison
For the Utilities - Regulated Water subindustry, American Water Works Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback 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 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Utilities - Regulated Industry
For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, American Water Works Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Water Works Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.
American Water Works Co 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation
This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.
What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of -2.40 mean?
American Water Works Co (AWK) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of -2.40 as of Jun. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for American Water Works Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #138 out of 230 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, placing it in the top 60%.
Is American Water Works Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
American Water Works Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -2.40. Based on the distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #138 out of 230 companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, American Water Works Co has a GF Score™ of 74/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Water Works Co's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to WTRG and AWR?
According to the Utilities - Regulated industry distribution chart, American Water Works Co ranks #138 out of 230 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. 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 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for an Utilities - Regulated company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Utilities - Regulated industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio 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 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for American Water Works Co and its competitors. American Water Works Co's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -2.40. 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 $153.96, compared to a current price of $135.39 — trading 12.1% below its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -2.40. American Water Works Co's overall GF Score™ is 74/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Water Works Co (AWK), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -2.40 as of Jun. 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 $135.39 is trading 12.1% below its estimated GF Value™ of $153.96.
GuruFocus considers American Water Works Co to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for AWK:
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: -2.40
GF Value™: $153.96 vs. price of $135.39 (12.1% below fair value)
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.
74GF Score
Get the complete analysis for AWK
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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