VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

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

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

RKT · London Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$41.5B
Gross margin (TTM)60.6%
Operating margin (TTM)19.2%
Net margin (TTM)9.3%
SectorConsumer
IndustryHousehold & Personal Products
CountryGB
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
63/ 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 Reckitt Benckiser Group plc's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View RKT analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 63 / 100 for Reckitt Benckiser Group plc).
  • Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); Reckitt Benckiser Group plc has 3 segments (70.8% in Core Reckitt).
  • 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; Reckitt Benckiser Group plc has 5 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%

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc

Core Reckitt

Market

Branded consumer health and hygiene (self-care OTC, intimate wellness, germ protection, household care)

Geography

Global

Customer

Consumers via mass retail, e-commerce and pharmacy channels

Role

Branded consumer goods manufacturer / brand owner

Revenue share

70.8%

Side-by-side metrics

American Water Works Company, Inc.
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc
Ticker / Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
RKT - London Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$25B
$41.5B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
60.6%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
19.2%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
9.3%
Sector
Utilities
Consumer
Industry
n/a
Household & Personal Products
HQ country
US
GB
Primary segment
Regulated Businesses
Core Reckitt
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
79 / 100
63 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Demand, Legal, Supply
Last update
2026-01-09
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit Cost

American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths

Concession LicensePhysical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayCompliance AdvantageLong Term ContractsGovernment Contracting RelationshipsOperational Excellence

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc strengths

Brand TrustRegulated Standards PipeScope EconomiesDesign In Qualification

Segment mix

American Water Works Company, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Regulated Businesses

Monopoly

91.7%

Military and Contract Water Services (Other)

Duopoly

8.3%

Reckitt Benckiser Group plc segments

Full profile >

Core Reckitt

Oligopoly

70.8%

Essential Home

Competitive

14.3%

Mead Johnson Nutrition

Oligopoly

14.9%

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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Looking for expansion-stage stocks?

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.