AWK vs DUK: how the two businesses compare

American Water Works (AWK) and Duke Energy (DUK) do not both have comparable annual revenue in the SEC XBRL snapshot, so this comparison rests on business descriptions, classifications, and filings. The SEC places them in related industries (Water Supply; Electric & Other Services Combined), and both map to the Rates & central banks research theme.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Utilities
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
December 31
Same calendar
Reviewed
Feb 26, 2026

AWK vs DUK: quick comparison

Company factAWKDUK
CompanyAmerican Water Works Company, Inc.Duke Energy Corporation
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Headquarters—Charlotte, North Carolina
Founded—1904
SEC industryWater SupplyElectric & Other Services Combined
Fiscal year-endDecember 31December 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-02-1810-K · 2026-02-26

Where AWK and DUK overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Related SEC industries: both sit in SIC major group 49.
  • Shared research theme: Rates & central banks.
  • Same fiscal calendar: both fiscal years end December 31.

Differences

  • Different four-digit SIC codes: AWK is 4941 (Water Supply); DUK is 4931 (Electric & Other Services Combined).

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK)

American Water Works is the largest US regulated water and wastewater utility.

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)

Duke Energy is one of the largest regulated electric utilities in the United States, serving customers across the Southeast and Midwest. Its rate-regulated model produces predictable earnings and a substantial dividend.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves AWK

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for AWK. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-18.

What moves DUK

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for DUK. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-02-26.

The investment question

You now know how AWK and DUK are classified, when their fiscal years end, and where their exposures overlap. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to rates & central banks, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. Both fiscal years end December 31, so annual reports line up, but check segment definitions before comparing growth or margins.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 10 matched transaction rows for AWK and 13 matched transaction rows for DUK. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

AWK vs DUK FAQs

Are AWK and DUK direct competitors?

Not necessarily. American Water Works files as Water Supply and Duke Energy as Electric & Other Services Combined. The pair is compared because both map to the Rates & central banks research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Which is better, AWK or DUK?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this AWK vs DUK comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers American Water Works Company, Inc. and Duke Energy Corporation tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-10. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-10. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

AWK vs DUK compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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