VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Emerson Electric Co.

Compare moat strength, market structure, and segment coverage to understand how each company defends its edge.

American Water Works Company, Inc.

AWK · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$25B
Gross margin (TTM)
Operating margin (TTM)
Net margin (TTM)
SectorUtilities
Industry
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-09
Moat score
79/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into American Water Works Company, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View AWK analysis

Emerson Electric Co.

EMR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$81B
Gross margin (TTM)52.8%
Operating margin (TTM)17.7%
Net margin (TTM)12.7%
SectorIndustrials
IndustryIndustrial - Machinery
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-02
Moat score
70/ 100

Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.

Full stock profile

Dive deeper into Emerson Electric Co.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View EMR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 70 / 100 for Emerson Electric Co.).
  • Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); Emerson Electric Co. has 6 segments (24.2% in Final Control).
  • Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
  • Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Emerson Electric Co. has 10 across 4.

Primary market context

American Water Works Company, Inc.

Regulated Businesses

Market

Regulated water and wastewater utility service in certificated/franchised territories

Geography

United States (14-state footprint)

Customer

Residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, fire service, and sale-for-resale customers

Role

Regulated utility owner/operator (water & wastewater)

Revenue share

91.7%

Emerson Electric Co.

Final Control

Market

Industrial control valves, isolation/shutoff valves, pressure relief & safety valves, actuators and regulators

Geography

Global

Customer

Process & hybrid manufacturers

Role

Automation components supplier

Revenue share

24.2%

Side-by-side metrics

American Water Works Company, Inc.
Emerson Electric Co.
Ticker / Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
EMR - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$25B
$81B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
52.8%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
17.7%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
12.7%
Sector
Utilities
Industrials
Industry
n/a
Industrial - Machinery
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Regulated Businesses
Final Control
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Strong
Moat score
79 / 100
70 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply, Legal, Network
Last update
2026-01-09
2026-01-02

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance Advantage

American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths

Concession LicensePhysical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayScale Economies Unit CostLong Term ContractsGovernment Contracting RelationshipsOperational Excellence

Emerson Electric Co. strengths

Installed Base ConsumablesService Field NetworkBrand TrustDesign In QualificationDistribution ControlData Workflow LockinSuite BundlingEcosystem ComplementsInteroperability Hub

Segment mix

American Water Works Company, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Regulated Businesses

Monopoly

91.7%

Military and Contract Water Services (Other)

Duopoly

8.3%

Emerson Electric Co. segments

Full profile >

Final Control

Oligopoly

24.2%

Measurement & Analytical

Oligopoly

22.9%

Discrete Automation

Competitive

13.9%

Safety & Productivity

Competitive

7.5%

Control Systems & Software

Oligopoly

23.2%

Test & Measurement

Competitive

8.2%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

Browse the full ranking of wide moat stocks, updated with moat scores and segment context.

View the moat stocks list

Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.

View expansion-stage stocks

Curation & Accuracy

This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).

Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.