Volatility is a statistical measure of the dispersion of returns for a given security or market index, it shows how the price swings around its mean. The volatility here is measured as the annualized standard deviation between monthly returns from the security over the past year. In most cases, the higher the volatility, the riskier the security.
American Water Works Co (STU:AWC) Volatility Explanation
Volatility is a statistical measure of the dispersion of returns for a given security or market index. It’s often measured as standard deviation or variance of historical returns over a certain period. The volatility here is measured as the annualized standard deviation between monthly returns from the security over the past year.
Volatility reflects the uncertainty or risk of a security’s value. Generally speaking, a higher volatility suggests a higher risk, because it implies a wider fluctuation around average price. This means the price of the security can change dramatically in either direction within a short period. Conversely, a lower volatility means that the security's price is more steady, which suggests a lower risk.
Another measurement of relative volatility is Beta. Beta is a measure of systematic risk of a security or a portfolio in comparison to the market as a whole. Beta is usually compared to 1. A beta of greater than 1 indicates that the security's price will be more volatile than the market.
American Water Works Co Volatility Related Terms
STU:AWC vs WTRG, AWR, CWT: Volatility Comparison
For the Utilities - Regulated Water subindustry, American Water Works Co's Volatility, along with its competitors' market caps and Volatility 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 Volatility vs Utilities - Regulated Industry
For the Utilities - Regulated industry and Utilities sector, American Water Works Co's Volatility distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Water Works Co's Volatility falls into.
American Water Works Co (STU:AWC) Volatility Calculation
The annualized volatility is calculated as following:
σA
=
σM
*
√12
=
√ 1/(n-1) ∑(Ri - R')^2
*
√12
Where: σM is the monthly volatility, n is the number of months in the period, Ri is the security's historical monthly returns and R' is the arithmetic mean of monthly returns.
* 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 (STU:AWC) has a Volatility of 14.70% as of Jun. 25, 2026. Volatility is measured as the annualized standard deviation between monthly returns from the security over the past year. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors.
Is American Water Works Co's Volatility too high?
American Water Works Co's current Volatility is 14.70%. Overall, American Water Works Co has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Water Works Co's Volatility compare to WTRG and AWR?
American Water Works Co's Volatility of 14.70% can be compared against companies in the Utilities - Regulated industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Volatility for an Utilities - Regulated company?
A good Volatility depends on the Utilities - Regulated industry context. However, Volatility 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 Volatility mean?
A high Volatility can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Volatility is measured as the annualized standard deviation between monthly returns from the security over the past year. View historical data on American Water Works Co and its competitors. American Water Works Co's current Volatility is 14.70%. 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 (STU:AWC) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €136.63, compared to a current price of €114.15 — trading 16.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Volatility is 14.70%. American Water Works Co's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Volatility calculated?
Volatility is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Water Works Co (STU:AWC), the current Volatility is 14.70% as of Jun. 25, 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 (STU:AWC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Water Works Co stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €114.15 is trading 16.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of €136.63.
GuruFocus considers American Water Works Co to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for STU:AWC:
Volatility: 14.70%
GF Value™: €136.63 vs. price of €114.15 (16.5% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:AWC 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.
82GF Score
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