United Utilities holds the cleaner structural position, with growth as the main driver and profitability adding further support. American Water Works Company does not offset that deficit through any equally strong structural edge elsewhere. On the market side, United Utilities is in better shape — its trend is intact while American Water Works Company's trend has broken down. That puts structure and market broadly in agreement — United Utilities's lead looks more confirmed than conflicted.
The comparison is based on similar long-term financial trajectories, not sector labels. Peer scores are normalised within each company's primary universe (AWK: S&P 500, UU.L: STOXX 600).
The clearest separation starts in growth, but profitability adds another real layer to the result. United Utilities Group PLC leads by 22 points on the overall comparison score.
Both operate in: Utilities - Regulated Water
This comparison is based on industry proximity, not on functional trajectory similarity. AWK and UU.L share the same industry classification.
For a similarity-based comparison, see how AWK and United Utilities each position within their functional peer groups in AssetNext.
Scores reflect position relative to comparable companies with similar long-term financial trajectories.
Score differences across key dimensions.
Left means cheaper relative valuation. Higher means stronger structure.
Neither company combines the stronger profile with the cheaper valuation.
Valuation position uses peer-relative PE percentile (idx_pct_pe) where available.
Earnings growth is one contributing factor within the growth lead.
Return on equity adds support too, with a 17.6-point advantage.
Growth is the clearest driver, and profitability also supports United Utilities Group PLC's broader structural position.
Break down the AWK vs UU.L comparison across all dimensions with the full interactive tool.
Explore how AWK and UU.L each compare against other companies in their peer groups.
Rule-based, descriptive analysis only. Derived from peer percentile dimensions. Not investment advice. Peer groups are determined algorithmically based on structural similarity — not by sector classification alone.
AssetNext scores reflect each company's structural position within its functional peer group — not a ranking against all stocks simultaneously. Peers are identified by similarity across eight financial dimensions, including revenue growth trajectory, margin structure, capital intensity, and earnings stability. A score of 75 means the company ranks in the top quartile within its own peer group, not the entire market.
Four dimension scores drive the overall peer score: Growth (revenue trajectory and expansion dynamics), Quality (margin structure and capital efficiency), Valuation (peer-relative pricing on standard multiples), and Stability (earnings consistency and financial predictability). Each dimension is scored 0–100 relative to the peer group, then combined into an overall peer score using equal weighting.
Because scores are peer-relative, the same company can have slightly different scores in different index universes. On comparison pages, both companies are shown within their shared peer universe wherever possible — so the scores are directly comparable. The peer basis is stated on each score card.
Scores are recalculated periodically as underlying financial data is updated. All analysis is descriptive and rule-based — AssetNext describes structural realities and never issues buy, sell or hold recommendations.