American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) Subsidiart to Acquire Water System In Hopewell Borough For $6.4 Million.

Group 1: Company Overview - American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) is the largest investor-owned water and wastewater company in the US, serving approximately 4 million customers across 14 states [5] Group 2: Recent Acquisition - New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, has agreed to purchase the Hopewell Borough water system for $6.4 million, with the sale approved by 58% of Hopewell voters in a November 2025 referendum [3] - The Hopewell system serves over 880 customer connections, and American Water has been supplying a significant amount of Hopewell's water through a bulk water agreement for many years, ensuring a smooth transition [3] - The company plans to invest in the Hopewell system to repair outdated infrastructure, eliminate lead service lines, improve reliability, and maintain reasonable prices [3] Group 3: Analyst Ratings and Market Outlook - Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella maintained an Underweight rating on AWK shares and reduced the price target from $134 to $122 as part of the utilities sector projection for 2026 [4] - Barclays has a strong outlook for the utilities industry, describing 2026 as a year of execution and defense due to increased spending commitments and positive adjustments to earnings expected to follow [4]