VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
★ WIDE MOAT STOCKS COMPARISON ★
NO ADVICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Stock Comparison
American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Waste Management, 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
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 analysisWaste Management, Inc.
WM · New York Stock Exchange
Weighted average of segment moat scores, combining moat strength, durability, confidence, market structure, pricing power, and market share.
Full stock profile
Dive deeper into Waste Management, Inc.'s moat claims, evidence, and risks.
View WM analysisComparison highlights
- Moat score: both at 79 / 100.
- Segment focus: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 2 segments (91.7% in Regulated Businesses); Waste Management, Inc. has 4 segments (82.2% in Collection and Disposal).
- Primary market structure: Monopoly vs Oligopoly. Pricing power: Moderate vs Strong.
- Moat breadth: American Water Works Company, Inc. has 8 moat types across 3 domains; Waste Management, Inc. has 7 across 3.
Primary market context
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Regulated Businesses
Regulated water and wastewater utility service in certificated/franchised territories
United States (14-state footprint)
Residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, fire service, and sale-for-resale customers
Regulated utility owner/operator (water & wastewater)
91.7%
Waste Management, Inc.
Collection and Disposal
Municipal, commercial, and industrial solid waste collection, transfer, and landfill disposal
North America (primarily US and Canada)
Municipalities and end-customers (residential, commercial, industrial) via direct and contract channels
Integrated hauler + transfer + landfill owner/operator
82.2%
Side-by-side metrics
Moat coverage
Shared moat types
American Water Works Company, Inc. strengths
Waste Management, Inc. strengths
Segment mix
American Water Works Company, Inc. segments
Full profile >Regulated Businesses
Monopoly
Military and Contract Water Services (Other)
Duopoly
Waste Management, Inc. segments
Full profile >Collection and Disposal
Oligopoly
Recycling Processing and Sales
Competitive
WM Renewable Energy
Competitive
WM Healthcare Solutions
Oligopoly
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View the moat stocks listLooking for expansion-stage stocks?
Proven models entering the expansion stage with unit economics that work.
View expansion-stage stocksCuration & 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.