VOL. XCIV, NO. 247

★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★

NO ADVICE

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Stock Comparison

American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Universal Music Group N.V.

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

Universal Music Group N.V.

UMG · Euronext Amsterdam

Market cap (USD)$40.7B
Gross margin (TTM)40.4%
Operating margin (TTM)10.4%
Net margin (TTM)17.5%
SectorCommunication Services
IndustryEntertainment
CountryNL
Data as of2025-12-28
Moat score
77/ 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 Universal Music Group N.V.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.

View UMG analysis

Comparison highlights

  • Moat score gap: American Water Works Company, Inc. leads (79 / 100 vs 77 / 100 for Universal Music Group N.V.).
  • Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); Universal Music Group N.V. has 3 segments (75.2% in Recorded Music).
  • 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; Universal Music Group N.V. 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%

Universal Music Group N.V.

Recorded Music

Market

Recorded music rights (labels) and monetization (streaming, physical, licensing/sync)

Geography

Global

Customer

Digital service providers (audio/video/social), physical retailers, and licensing counterparties

Role

Label / master rights holder; artist development, marketing and distribution

Revenue share

75.2%

Side-by-side metrics

American Water Works Company, Inc.
Universal Music Group N.V.
Ticker / Exchange
AWK - New York Stock Exchange
UMG - Euronext Amsterdam
Market cap (USD)
$25B
$40.7B
Gross margin (TTM)
n/a
40.4%
Operating margin (TTM)
n/a
10.4%
Net margin (TTM)
n/a
17.5%
Sector
Utilities
Communication Services
Industry
n/a
Entertainment
HQ country
US
NL
Primary segment
Regulated Businesses
Recorded Music
Market structure
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Market share
n/a
31%-33% (estimated)
HHI estimate
n/a
n/a
Pricing power
Moderate
Moderate
Moat score
79 / 100
77 / 100
Moat domains
Legal, Supply, Demand
Legal, Supply, Demand
Last update
2026-01-09
2025-12-28

Moat coverage

Shared moat types

Scale Economies Unit CostLong Term Contracts

American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths

Concession LicensePhysical Network DensityPermits Rights Of WayCompliance AdvantageGovernment Contracting RelationshipsOperational Excellence

Universal Music Group N.V. strengths

Content Rights CurrencyBrand TrustService 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%

Universal Music Group N.V. segments

Full profile >

Recorded Music

Oligopoly

75.2%

Music Publishing

Oligopoly

17.9%

Merchandising and Other

Competitive

7.1%

Want the full wide moat stocks list?

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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.