American Water Works (AWK)vsWest Pharmaceutical Services Inc (WST)
AWK
American Water Works
$125.68
-0.29%
UTILITIES · Cap: $24.87B
WST
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
$312.55
+0.83%
HEALTHCARE · Cap: $21.24B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
American Water Works generates 62% more annual revenue ($5.21B vs $3.22B). AWK leads profitability with a 21.2% profit margin vs 16.9%. AWK appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.30. WST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
AWK
Buy60
out of 100
Grade: C
WST
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
Intrinsic Value Comparison
Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula
Margin of Safety
-10.7%
Fair Value
$111.75
Current Price
$125.68
$13.93 premium
Margin of Safety
-32.8%
Fair Value
$185.39
Current Price
$312.55
$127.16 premium
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Strong operational efficiency at 33.2%
Keeps 21 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 56.1% YoY
Safe zone — low bankruptcy risk
Strong operational efficiency at 21.7%
Revenue surging 21.0% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Earnings declined 4.8%
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AWK
The strongest argument for AWK centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, Price/Book. Profitability is solid with margins at 21.2% and operating margin at 33.2%.
Bull Case : WST
The strongest argument for WST centers on EPS Growth, Altman Z-Score, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.9% and operating margin at 21.7%. Revenue growth of 21.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : AWK
The primary concerns for AWK are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : WST
The primary concerns for WST are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 40.1x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AWK profiles as a mature stock while WST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
WST carries more volatility with a beta of 1.15 — expect wider price swings.
WST is growing revenue faster at 21.0% — sustainability is the question.
WST generates stronger free cash flow (47M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
WST scores higher overall (67/100 vs 60/100), backed by strong 16.9% margins and 21.0% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
American Water Works
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED WATER · USA
American Water is an American public utility company operating in the United States and Canada.
West Pharmaceutical Services Inc
HEALTHCARE · MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & SUPPLIES · USA
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. is a designer and manufacturer of injectable pharmaceutical packaging and delivery systems. The company is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.
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