--- title: "American Water Works Industry Context" description: "Industry Context for American Water Works (AWK)." canonical: https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/companies/american-water-works/industry-context/ source: "Swoopr Investment: https://www.getswoopr.com" --- **Direct answer:** This research guide covers industry context analysis for American Water Works Industry Context using primary SEC filings as the source of record. Each section identifies what to verify, where to find it, and why it matters to an investment decision. Figures must be confirmed against current filings before use. # American Water Works Industry Context ## How Does American Water Works Company, Inc. Sit in Its SEC Industry Classification? American Water Works Company, Inc. files under SEC standard industrial classification 4941, Water Supply. Among the 9 companies Swoopr covers under SIC 4941, its latest reported revenue of $5.1 billion ranks 1st. The comparison uses each company's own latest fiscal year, which can differ by up to a year across the group. | Measure | American Water Works Company, Inc. (FY2025) | Peer reference | | --- | --- | --- | | Revenue | $5.1 billion | 1st of 9 | | Operating margin | 36.7% | 23.4% (median of 8 peers) | | Revenue growth | +10.1% | +6.1% (median of 8 peers) | Companies of similar size in the same classification: [Essential Utilities, Inc.](https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/companies/essential-utilities-inc/) ($2.5 billion), [CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE GROUP](https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/companies/california-water-service-group/) ($964 million), [H2O AMERICA](https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/companies/h2o-america/) ($801 million), [ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORP](https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/companies/artesian-resources-corporation/) ($113 million), [YORK WATER CO](https://www.getswoopr.com/stocks/companies/york-water-company-the/) ($77 million). A classification code groups companies by how they describe their main business to the SEC, so two companies with the same code can still differ in customers, geography and cost structure. Treat the comparison as a starting point for the questions below. ## Where value can be captured Utility economics span generation or sourcing, transmission, distribution, metering, customer service, and regulated capital recovery. Equipment suppliers, fuel providers, grid operators, regulators, and customers all affect investment needs and returns. For American Water Works, name suppliers, channels, customers and infrastructure dependencies only when a reliable source establishes the relationship. The goal is to show where the company sits, what it depends on, and where bargaining power resides. ## Industry drivers - Rate-Base Growth: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Approved Rates: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Capital Expenditures: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Customer Growth: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Weather: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Power Prices Where Merchant Exposure Exists: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Financing Costs: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. - Regulatory Outcomes: connect this driver to a disclosed KPI and to the financial statement line it influences. ## Macro connections - Interest Rates: document the transmission mechanism rather than assuming correlation. - Regional Population Growth: document the transmission mechanism rather than assuming correlation. - Electricity Demand: document the transmission mechanism rather than assuming correlation. - Natural-Gas Prices: document the transmission mechanism rather than assuming correlation. - Inflation: document the transmission mechanism rather than assuming correlation. - Environmental And Grid Policy: document the transmission mechanism rather than assuming correlation. ## Peer map A starting peer group from the current S&P 500 classification is **AES Corporation, Alliant Energy, Ameren, American Electric Power, Atmos Energy, CMS Energy**. Some may be adjacent rather than direct competitors. The latest American Water Works filing and credible industry sources should refine the map. ## Questions for the supply-chain map - Which inputs are scarce, concentrated, regulated, or difficult to substitute? - Which layer has the highest switching costs? - Where can capacity expand quickly, and where does it take years? - Which participants bear inventory, credit, commodity, or utilization risk? - Is American Water Works's advantage located in intellectual property, physical assets, licenses, distribution, brand, data, or customer integration? - Which dependency could become a bottleneck under stress? ## References The evergreen analysis above is anchored to verified index metadata and a filing-first research workflow. Time-sensitive financial figures are refreshed from the latest primary filings. - [S&P Dow Jones Indices: S&P 500](https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-500/) - [SEC EDGAR company filings for American Water Works](https://www.sec.gov/edgar/browse/?CIK=1410636&owner=exclude&action=getcompany) - [SEC submissions JSON for CIK 1410636](https://data.sec.gov/submissions/CIK0001410636.json) **Source-review rule:** Check any statement about current revenue, margins, management, products, segment mix, guidance, market share or capital allocation against the latest 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, proxy statement, earnings release or official investor-relations material before relying on it. **[Swoopr Editorial Team](https://www.getswoopr.com/authors/swoopr-editorial-team/)** Swoopr's editorial team produces independent investment education content reviewed for accuracy and clarity. We do not provide personalized financial advice. 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