VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

American Water Works Company, Inc. vs The Charles Schwab Corporation

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

The Charles Schwab Corporation

SCHW · New York Stock Exchange

Market cap (USD)$182.2B
Gross margin (TTM)84.4%
Operating margin (TTM)39%
Net margin (TTM)30.3%
SectorFinancials
IndustryFinancial - Capital Markets
CountryUS
Data as of2025-12-26
Moat score
74/ 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 The Charles Schwab Corporation's moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View SCHW analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 74 / 100 for The Charles Schwab Corporation).
  • Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); The Charles Schwab Corporation has 2 segments (79.4% in Investor Services).
  • Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Weak.
  • Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; The Charles Schwab Corporation 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%

The Charles Schwab Corporation

Investor Services

Market

U.S. retail brokerage, self-directed investing, and wealth management platforms

Geography

United States

Customer

Retail investors, employers, retirement plan sponsors

Role

Broker-dealer + bank + wealth manager platform

Revenue share

79.4%

Side-by-side metrics

American Water Works Company, Inc.
The Charles Schwab Corporation
Ticker / Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
SCHW - New York Stock Exchange
Market cap (USD)
$25B
$182.2B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
84.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
39%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
30.3%
Sector
Utilities
Financials
Industry
n/a
Financial - Capital Markets
HQ country
US
US
Primary segment
Regulated Businesses
Investor Services
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
n/a
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Weak
Moat score
79 / 100
74 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Supply, Demand, Financial, Network
Last update
2026-01-09
2025-12-26

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

The Charles Schwab Corporation strengths

Suite BundlingBrand TrustFloat PrepaymentData Workflow LockinEcosystem ComplementsService Field Network

Segment mix

American Water Works Company, Inc. segments

Full profile >

Regulated Businesses

Monopoly

91.7%

Military and Contract Water Services (Other)

Duopoly

8.3%

The Charles Schwab Corporation segments

Full profile >

Investor Services

Oligopoly

79.4%

Advisor Services

Oligopoly

20.6%

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.

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.