Direct Answer
SEC EDGAR classifies American Water Works under SIC code 4941 (Water Supply). Among Swoopr's S&P 500 Equal Weight companies, 8 others share that classification; by latest reported revenue, American Water Works ranks 1 of 9. A filing classification is a starting point: a company's real competitors depend on its segments, which its 10-K describes.
How Does American Water Works Compare With Its Peers?
| Company | Revenue (latest FY) | Revenue growth | Operating margin | Net margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Water Works (AWK) | $5.1 billion FY2025 | 10.1% | 36.7% | 21.7% |
| Essential Utilities Inc. (WTRG) | $2.5 billion FY2025 | 18.6% | 75.9% | 44.9% |
| California Water Service Group (CWT) | $964 million FY2025 | 6.4% | 17.7% | 13.3% |
| H2O America (HTO) | $801 million FY2025 | 7.0% | 22.2% | 12.8% |
| Artesian Resources Corporation (ARTNA) | $113 million FY2025 | 4.6% | 24.6% | 20.2% |
| York Water Company (The) (YORW) | $77 million FY2025 | 3.4% | 35.8% | 25.9% |
| Global Water Resources Inc. (GWRS) | $56 million FY2025 | 5.8% | 12.8% | 5.3% |
| Pure Cycle Corporation (PCYO) | $26 million FY2025 | -9.3% | 29.4% | 50.3% |
| CADIZ Inc. (CDZI) | $16 million FY2025 | 69.8% | -156.9% | -209.3% |
Revenue growth compares each company's latest fiscal year with the one before. Fiscal years do not always end on the same date, so treat close comparisons with care.
How Does American Water Works Rank Among All SEC Filers in Its Industry Code?
9 companies with annual reports in Swoopr's SEC dataset share SIC code 4941 (Water Supply), a wider group than the S&P 500 Equal Weight companies above. Ranks run from 1 (highest) and use each company's latest fiscal year, in U.S. dollars.
| Measure | American Water Works | Median of filers | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $5.1 billion | $113 million | 1 of 9 |
| Revenue growth | 10.1% | 6.4% | 3 of 9 |
| Operating margin | 36.7% | 24.6% | 2 of 9 |
| Net margin | 21.7% | 20.2% | 4 of 9 |
A SIC code reflects the filer's main business as the SEC records it, so the group mixes companies of very different size; the median is a better guide than the average, and a rank near the top by revenue says nothing about quality.
Where These Numbers Come From
Every figure on this page is a value American Water Works reported in its own SEC filings, read from the SEC's XBRL data (accession 0001410636-26-000034 for fiscal year 2025). Ratios are computed from those reported values. Figures were retrieved on October 12, 2026; a later amendment or a new annual report can change them, and the filing itself always takes precedence over this summary.
Each fiscal year is labeled by the calendar year in which it ended, so a company that names the same period differently in its own filings (many retailers whose year ends in January) may use another label. A year is left out of the table when the SEC data set holds no value for it. A figure shown as "Not reported" means the company did not file a value under the standard tag Swoopr reads, not that the amount was zero. This page is educational and describes reported history only; it is not a forecast or a recommendation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are American Water Works's competitors?
Companies sharing American Water Works's SEC classification (SIC code 4941 (Water Supply)) include Essential Utilities Inc. (WTRG), California Water Service Group (CWT), H2O America (HTO), Artesian Resources Corporation (ARTNA), York Water Company (The) (YORW). Its 10-K names the competitors it considers most relevant.
How does American Water Works compare with its peers on margins?
American Water Works's fiscal 2025 operating margin was 36.7%, against a peer median of 23.4%.
How are these peers chosen?
By the SEC Standard Industrial Classification code each company files under, within Swoopr's S&P 500 Equal Weight company set, falling back to the two-digit major group when fewer than two companies share the exact code. Classification codes are broad, so read the peer list as a screen, not a verdict.
How does American Water Works rank among all companies in its SEC industry?
Among 9 SEC filers under SIC code 4941, American Water Works ranks 1 by latest revenue, and 2 of 9 by operating margin (36.7% against a median of 24.6%).