AWK vs SBS: American Water Works and Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- American Water Works is the larger company, worth $24.6B, close to Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR's $22.9B.
- Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR grew revenue faster over the last year (+41.4% vs +6.2%).
- On earnings, Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR is the cheaper stock (13.0x vs 22.3x).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | AWK | SBS |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $24.6B | $22.9B |
| Share price | $128.88 | $6.74 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $5.1B | $36.1B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | -$1.1B | -$626M |
| Revenue growth, last year | +6.2% | +41.4% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +6.9% | +19.4% |
| Operating margin | 36.9% | — |
| Net margin | 21.4% | 26.5% |
| Return on equity | 9.7% | 31.2% |
| P/E (trailing) | 22.3x | 13.0x |
| Price / free cash flow | — | 2.88x |
| EV / EBITDA | 13.3x | 7.29x |
| FCF growth the price implies | — | — |
| Dividend yield | 2.6% | 0.51% |
| Debt / equity | 2.12x | 1.12x |
| Fundamental grade | D | B |
| Superinvestors holding it | 5 | 1 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 2 | 0 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
American Water Works
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $3.9B | -$323M | 30.4% |
| 2022 | $3.8B | -$1.2B | 33.6% |
| 2023 | $4.2B | -$701M | 35.5% |
| 2024 | $4.7B | -$811M | 36.7% |
| 2025 | $5.1B | -$1.1B | 36.6% |
Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $17.8B | $1.6B | — |
| 2021 | $19.5B | $167M | — |
| 2022 | $22.1B | $343M | — |
| 2023 | $25.6B | $716M | — |
| 2024 | $36.1B | -$626M | — |
Questions
Which is bigger, American Water Works or Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR?
American Water Works (AWK), at $24.6B against $22.9B.
Is AWK or SBS cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR (13.0x) is cheaper than American Water Works (22.3x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, AWK or SBS?
Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo SABESP ADR: revenue grew +41.4% over the last year, against +6.2%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.