# American Water Works **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/american-water-works **Vertical:** Energy & Utilities **Subcategory:** Enterprise **Tier:** Leader **Website:** amwater.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Largest US publicly traded water utility; 14 million people served; $4.3B FY2024 revenue; $3.3B/year capex through 2028; lead pipe replacement mandates drive multi-year investment cycle. ## Company Overview American Water Works is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States, founded in 1886 and headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, trading on NYSE (AWK). The company serves approximately 14 million people across 14 regulated state utility subsidiaries, primarily in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, California, and Virginia. For FY2024, American Water generated approximately $4.3 billion in operating revenues under CEO M. Susan Hardwick, who has led the company since 2021 and focused strategy on regulated utility investment—targeting $3.3 billion annually in capital expenditure through 2028—while divesting non-core businesses including the sale of its Military Services Group to AMSAA in 2022 for $810 million. American Water's regulated utility business is a capital compounding story: aging water and wastewater infrastructure across its service territories requires systematic pipe replacement, treatment facility upgrades, and cybersecurity hardening. State regulatory agencies allow the company to earn a rate of return on invested capital, creating a predictable earnings growth mechanism as capital is deployed and included in the rate base. The company's scale—serving both large metropolitan areas and smaller municipalities—gives it the engineering expertise, procurement leverage, and regulatory relationships to pursue acquisitions of small municipal systems seeking a capable steward. Lead service line replacement under EPA mandates creates a multi-year investment cycle, particularly in older Northeast and Midwest cities. In 2025-2026, American Water competes with Essential Utilities (WTRG), SJW Group, Middlesex Water (MSEX), and California Water Service (CWT) among publicly traded water utilities, plus hundreds of municipal systems it acquires or competes against for service territory grants. Water scarcity—driven by drought in the Western U.S. and aging infrastructure across the Midwest—has elevated public attention on water security and investment. American Water's California subsidiary operates under strict conservation mandates and rate case proceedings that can create earnings volatility, while Eastern operations benefit from more predictable precipitation and regulatory frameworks. ESG investors increasingly favor water utilities as essential infrastructure plays with clear environmental purpose. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is American Water Works Company? American Water Works Company, Inc. is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States, providing safe, clean, affordable and reliable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 16 states and on 18 military installations. The company operates approximately 1,700 communities through regulated operations in 14 states. ### When was American Water Works founded? American Water Works was founded on August 20, 1886, when the Kuhn brothers joined with Charles H. Payson and others to form the American Water Works & Guarantee Company under Pennsylvania partnership law. The first operating entity was the Hackensack Water Company in New Jersey. ### Where is American Water Works headquartered and what states does it serve? American Water Works is headquartered in Camden, New Jersey. The company provides regulated water and wastewater services in 14 states and operates water and wastewater systems on 18 military installations across the United States. ### What services does American Water Works provide? American Water provides regulated water and wastewater services including water treatment and delivery, wastewater collection and treatment, infrastructure development and renewal, military base utility operations, emergency response, and water quality management. The company treats and delivers over one billion gallons of water per day through extensive infrastructure. ### Who is the CEO of American Water Works? John C. Griffith serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Water Works Company since May 14, 2025. He succeeded M. Susan Hardwick who retired after serving as CEO since February 2022. Griffith previously served as CFO and brings extensive M&A experience from Bank of America Securities. ### How much revenue does American Water Works generate? American Water reported revenue of $4.684 billion for full year 2024, a 10.63% increase from 2023. The company reported earnings of $5.39 per share for 2024 compared to $4.90 per share in 2023, with 2025 earnings per share guidance narrowed to a range of $5.70 to $5.75. ### What infrastructure does American Water Works operate? American Water operates extensive infrastructure including 80 surface water treatment plants, 520 groundwater treatment plants, 190 wastewater treatment plants, 54,500 miles of pipes, 1,200 groundwater wells, 1,800 water and wastewater pumping stations, 1,100 treated water storage facilities, and 75 dams. ### What is American Water's growth strategy? American Water's growth strategy focuses on infrastructure renewal with a $42 billion ten-year capital plan and strategic acquisitions. In 2024, the company completed 13 acquisitions adding nearly 70,000 customers and achieved its 2% acquisition annual growth target. The company has affirmed long-term earnings per share and dividend growth targets of 7-9%. ### What military services does American Water provide? American Water Military Services Group manages 50-year contracts with the Department of Defense for the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater systems on 18 military installations across the United States, providing mission-critical utility services to U.S. military bases. ### Is American Water Works hiring? Yes, American Water regularly hires for positions across operations, engineering, water quality, customer service, and corporate functions to support its 6,500+ employee workforce serving 14 million people across multiple states. ### What makes American Water Works different from other utilities? American Water distinguishes itself as the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the U.S., the only water utility in the Dow Jones Utility Average, and through its extensive multi-state operations, military services contracts, and commitment to infrastructure investment with a $42 billion ten-year capital plan. ### What are American Water's recent achievements? Recent achievements include completing 13 acquisitions in 2024 adding 70,000 customers, investing $3.3 billion in infrastructure and water quality improvements, delivering 10% earnings growth with an 8.1% dividend boost, successfully transitioning CEO leadership to John Griffith in May 2025, and announcing a merger agreement with Essential Utilities to create a leading regulated U.S. water and wastewater utility. ## Tags b2c, energy, infrastructure, public --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*