VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Wide Moat StocksExpansion-Stage Stocks Home My Collections

Stock Comparison

American Water Works Company, Inc. vs KKR & Co. 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

KKR & Co. Inc.

KKR · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$120B
Gross margin (TTM)19.5%
Operating margin (TTM)2.6%
Net margin (TTM)14.1%
SectorFinancials
IndustryAsset Management
CountryUS
Data as of2026-01-06
Moat score
67/ 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 KKR & Co. Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View KKR analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 67 / 100 for KKR & Co. Inc.).
  • Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); KKR & Co. Inc. has 3 segments (52.3% in Asset Management).
  • Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Moderate.
  • Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; KKR & Co. Inc. has 7 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%

KKR & Co. Inc.

Asset Management

Market

Alternative asset management (private equity, private credit, real assets, and related strategies)

Geography

Global

Customer

Institutional and wealth investors (LPs) allocating to private markets

Role

General partner / investment manager

Revenue share

52.3%

Side-by-side metrics

American Water Works Company, Inc.
KKR & Co. Inc.
Ticker / Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
KKR - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$25B
$120B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
19.5%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
2.6%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
14.1%
Sector
Utilities
Financials
Industry
n/a
Asset Management
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Regulated Businesses
Asset Management
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
3.5%-5% (implied)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
79 / 100
67 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Supply, Financial, Legal
Last update
2026-01-09
2026-01-06

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

KKR & Co. Inc. strengths

Brand TrustDeal sourcing and origination relationshipsFloat PrepaymentCapital markets and exit execution capability

Segment mix

American Water Works Company, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Regulated Businesses

Monopoly

91.7%

Military and Contract Water Services (Other)

Duopoly

8.3%

KKR & Co. Inc. segments

Full profile >

Asset Management

Oligopoly

52.3%

Insurance

Competitive

46.5%

Strategic Holdings

Competitive

1.2%

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.