VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

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

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

JKHY · Nasdaq

Market cap (USD)$13.8B
Gross margin (TTM)43.5%
Operating margin (TTM)24.9%
Net margin (TTM)19.9%
SectorTechnology
IndustryInformation Technology Services
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-25
Moat score
59/ 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 Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View JKHY analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 59 / 100 for Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.).
  • Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. has 3 segments (36.8% in Payments).
  • Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Competitive. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. has 7 across 3.

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%

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.

Payments

Market

Payment processing and transaction services for financial institutions (card, ACH, bill pay, faster payments, settlement support)

Geography

United States

Customer

Banks, credit unions, and their accountholders; businesses via FI clients

Role

Processor and settlement/risk services provider

Revenue share

36.8%

Side-by-side metrics

American Water Works Company, Inc.
Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
JKHY - Nasdaq
Market cap (USD)
$25B
$13.8B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
43.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
24.9%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
19.9%
Sector
Utilities
Technology
Industry
n/a
Information Technology Services
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Regulated Businesses
Payments
Market structure
Monopoly
Competitive
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
79 / 100
59 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-09
2025-12-25

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Compliance AdvantageScale Economies Unit CostLong Term Contracts

American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths

Concession LicensePhysical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayGovernment Contracting RelationshipsOperational Excellence

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. strengths

Switching Costs GeneralSuite BundlingData Workflow LockinBrand Trust

Segment mix

American Water Works Company, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Regulated Businesses

Monopoly

91.7%

Military and Contract Water Services (Other)

Duopoly

8.3%

Jack Henry & Associates, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Core

Oligopoly

31.1%

Payments

Competitive

36.8%

Complementary

Competitive

28.4%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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

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

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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.