Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusHold29 ratings
Bullish1344.8%
Neutral1448.3%
Bearish26.9%
1 unmapped firm rating excluded from the percentages.
American Water Works Company, Inc. · AWK · FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026
AWK outlines merger path and heavier capital investment
American Water’s Q3 discussion points to a growth plan built on the Essential Utilities merger, regulatory rate-base expansion, acquisitions and rising infrastructure investment. The outlook remains constructive, but execution depends on approvals, integration and funding.
Reported After market closeNYSEUtilities
$27.78B market cap
100quality score
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$2.00
Consensus $2.04
EPS surprise
-2.0%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$1.51B
Consensus $1.58B
Revenue surprise
-4.5%
Reported versus consensus
Market reaction
event-close to next-session close
Stock move
+1.1%
Event window
SPY move
-0.4%
Same window
Abnormal move
+1.5%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
0.5×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
0.0%
Up to 20 sessions
AWKSPY benchmark
Ask FN2 about AWK FY2026 Q3
Transcript, numbers and history already loaded
Why did AWK rise 1.1% after missing EPS estimates in FY2026 Q3?What changed in AWK's guidance and outlook in FY2026 Q3?Give me the bull and bear case for AWK after FY2026 Q3 earnings.
Free account. Your question opens in FN2 with this report's transcript and numbers attached.
Transcript intelligence
What changed
Management highlighted stronger merger progress, a planned $4.1 billion 2027 capital program and an $825 million California desalination project. The company also cited additional acquisitions and continued rate-case progress while maintaining its FY 2026 EPS guidance.
Guidance delta
Maintained. Management said stand-alone 2027 EPS guidance is $6.53-$6.63 per share and positioned the company to reach the top half of its FY 2026 EPS guidance range of $6.07-$6.12.
Key takeaways
- The Essential Utilities merger is expected to close by Q1 2027, with multiple state approvals secured and the HSR waiting period completed.
- Capital investment is increasing, including $2.8 billion year to date in 2026, $4.1 billion planned for 2027 and more than $20 billion through 2030.
- Rate cases, acquisitions and new projects in PFAS remediation and desalination are central to the growth plan.
Management priorities
- Advance the Essential Utilities merger and prepare for integration.
- Execute the expanded capital plan, including PFAS remediation, pipe replacement and desalination.
- Pursue acquisitions, rate cases and long-term infrastructure funding while maintaining customer affordability.
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Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$141.25Current
$124Low
$144.43Average
$181High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Oct 29, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays | Underweight | Underweight | Maintain | Oct 19, 2026 |
| UBS | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Oct 16, 2026 |
| Truist Securities | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Aug 4, 2026 |
| Mizuho | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Jul 31, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Jul 8, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | May 21, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Jefferies | Hold | Underperform | Upgrade | Nov 5, 2025 |
| Argus Research | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 14, 2025 |
| Evercore ISI Group | In Line | In Line | Maintain | May 2, 2025 |
| Seaport Global | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Apr 11, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Sep 19, 2024 |
| CFRA | Hold | Hold | Maintain | Feb 16, 2023 |
| Janney Montgomery Scott | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Nov 1, 2022 |
| HSBC | Buy | Hold | Upgrade | Feb 23, 2022 |
| Goldman Sachs | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Nov 4, 2021 |
| Atlantic Equities | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Jan 7, 2021 |
| Janney Capital | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Oct 13, 2020 |
| Baird | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 6, 2020 |
| Bank of America | Underperform | Neutral | Downgrade | Jul 15, 2019 |
| Guggenheim | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Jan 2, 2018 |
| Argus | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jun 24, 2016 |
| Boenning & Scattergood | Neutral | Outperform | Downgrade | Jun 6, 2016 |
| Ladenburg Thalmann | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Oct 15, 2015 |
| Brean Capital | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Nov 7, 2014 |
| Maxim Group | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Oct 20, 2014 |
| Macquarie | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Oct 20, 2014 |
| Credit Suisse | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Aug 8, 2014 |
| Citigroup | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Jul 23, 2014 |
| Hilliard Lyons | Buy | Maintain | Jul 11, 2014 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $141.25. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $127 | $134.94 | -10.1% | Oct 19, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $153 | $133.04 | +8.3% | Oct 16, 2026 |
| UBS | Gregg Orrill | $162 | $140.33 | +14.7% | Sep 10, 2026 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $139 | $131.3 | -1.6% | Aug 4, 2026 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $130 | $131.57 | -8.0% | Jul 15, 2026 |
| UBS | Gregg Orrill | $150 | $131.79 | +6.2% | Jul 2, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $140 | $122.35 | -0.9% | May 29, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $137 | $125.56 | -3.0% | May 7, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $131 | $133.25 | -7.3% | Apr 21, 2026 |
| Barclays | Nicholas Campanella | $124 | $131.61 | -12.2% | Apr 20, 2026 |
| UBS | Gregg Orrill | $149 | $133.04 | +5.5% | Dec 17, 2025 |
| Barclays | Nicholas Campanella | $122 | $132.72 | -13.6% | Dec 17, 2025 |
| Mizuho Securities | Anthony Crowdell | $145 | $137.99 | +2.7% | Oct 28, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Shahriar Pourreza | $142 | $137.99 | +0.5% | Oct 27, 2025 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $134 | $145.43 | -5.1% | Oct 21, 2025 |
| UBS | Gregg Orrill | $155 | $142.28 | +9.7% | Nov 19, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Anthony Crowdell | $140 | $140.37 | -0.9% | Oct 15, 2024 |
| Jefferies | Julien Dumoulin-Smith | $124 | $138.89 | -12.2% | Oct 7, 2024 |
| Bank of America Securities | Ross Fowler | $140 | $149.08 | -0.9% | Sep 20, 2024 |
| Wells Fargo | Jonathan Reeder | $138 | $143.67 | -2.3% | Jul 31, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Anthony Crowdell | $131 | $118.21 | -7.3% | Mar 21, 2024 |
| Mizuho Securities | Anthony Crowdell | $134 | $116.88 | -5.1% | Oct 3, 2023 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $159 | $156.84 | +12.6% | Aug 2, 2022 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $152 | $145.68 | +7.6% | Jul 18, 2022 |
| Barclays | Analyst unavailable | $157 | $148.57 | +11.2% | Jul 18, 2022 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $151 | $159.46 | +6.9% | Apr 28, 2022 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $156 | $163.97 | +10.4% | Apr 19, 2022 |
| Janney Montgomery | Michael Gaugler | $181 | $174.56 | +28.1% | Aug 4, 2021 |
| Guggenheim | Shahriar Pourreza | $160 | $173.41 | +13.3% | Aug 3, 2021 |
| Wolfe Research | Steve Fleishman | $156 | $150.81 | +10.4% | May 5, 2021 |
Track every rating change on AWK the moment it posts. Free to start.
Start freeCompany context
Snapshot as of publicationAmerican Water Works Company, Inc. operates across the United States, delivering essential water and wastewater solutions via its various subsidiary companies. Its operations extend to around 1,700 communities situated across 14 states, catering to an active customer base of roughly 3.4 million. The firm caters to a broad spectrum of clients. These include individual households, commercial enterprises (such as food and beverage suppliers, property developers, and energy companies), and both public and private fire service customers. Industrial clients, like large-scale manufacturers, mining, and production facilities, also utilize its services. Furthermore, American Water Works supports public authorities, encompassing government facilities, schools, and universities, alongside other utility providers and community water and wastewater infrastructure.…
Historical context
All AWK earningsUtilities peers this season
Latest reports in the same sector| Company | Quarter | EPS surprise | Market move | Headline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NI NiSource Inc | FY2026 Q3 · Calendar Q4 2026 | +17.9% | +0.6% | NiSource Q3: Data-Center Contracts Expand Growth Plan |
Latest beats and misses
Who reports nextBeat on EPS
- GENFY2027 Q2 · October 28, 2026+2.9% EPS+11.2% move
- KLACFY2027 Q1 · October 28, 2026+2.5% EPS+7.3% move
- SANFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 20260.0% EPS-6.3% move
- FFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026+19.5% EPS+1.4% move
- EQIXFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026+20.0% EPS+5.4% move
- EBAYFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026+7.1% EPS+0.2% move
Missed on EPS
- CPFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026-3.2% EPS-1.9% move
- LIIFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026-7.1% EPS-10.6% move
- EXRFY2026 Q3 · October 27, 2026-1.7% EPS+0.1% move
- NOWFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026-2.0% EPS-3.0% move
- CMGFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026-7.1% EPS+2.7% move
- GOOGFY2026 Q3 · October 28, 2026-11.3% EPS+1.6% move
Get the AWK recap when the next report posts
One email per quarter with the scorecard, the market reaction and what changed on the call. No account needed.
Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-10-29T16:06:05.025755+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-10-29T01:23:20.584741+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-10-29T16:30:51.759536+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-10-29T16:30:51.756822+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated · As of 2026-10-29. For educational purposes only; not investment advice.