Is American Water Works (AWK) Stock Outpacing Its Utilities Peers This Year?

Company Performance - American Water Works (AWK) has outperformed the Utilities sector with a year-to-date return of approximately 14.5%, compared to the sector average of 2.4% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AWK's full-year earnings has increased by 0.3% over the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [3] - AWK belongs to the Utility - Water Supply industry, which has seen an average gain of about 11.9% this year, further highlighting AWK's strong performance within its specific industry [5] Industry Comparison - The Utilities sector, which includes 104 individual stocks, currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 7 out of 16 sector groups [2] - Another stock in the Utilities sector, Southwest Gas (SWX), has returned 3.9% year-to-date and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4][5] - The Utility - Gas Distribution industry, which includes Southwest Gas, has experienced a decline of -9.4% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the performance of the Utility - Water Supply industry [6]