AWK vs BKH Stock Comparison
BKH currently leads AWK in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 56 vs 51. The clearest difference is value.
What is the main difference between AWK and BKH?
BKH leads the current stock comparison as Black Hills Corporation, with the clearest separation coming from value and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
American Water Works Company, Inc. vs Black Hills Corporation
BKH leads
BKH leads by 5 AIQ points, primarily on Value, but the lead has narrowed from 18 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 4 of 6 evidence groups support BKH, its lead is narrowing, and its current signal state is conflicted.
American Water Works Company, Inc.
Black Hills Corporation
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors BKH over AWK, 56 versus 51 as of Oct 31, 2026. BKH's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value. BKH also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor BKH today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. BKH lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 5 points over 30 sessions.
Compare American Water Works Company, Inc. and Black Hills Corporation across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare AWK and BKH against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Value36 vs 56BKH +20
- Momentum82 vs 80Even
- Risk Resilience48 vs 50Even
- Quality41 vs 40Even
4 of 6 evidence groups favor BKH. BKH’s edge is concentrated in value.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-28, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-27.
Largest factor move: Momentum -1, not enough on its own to move the overall score.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 7 active signals are unchanged.
No factor moved materially.
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 7 active signals are unchanged.
BKH's lead was unchanged in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — AWK and BKH both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
BKH (Black Hills Corporation): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value.
AWK (American Water Works Company, Inc.): the counter-case, on fundamentals.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
BKHBKH on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
AWKAWK on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
BKHBKH on the peer-relative Value factor, by 20 points.
Momentum
EvenThe two are level on Momentum.
Lower downside
AWKAWK carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility.
Analyst upside
BKHBKH on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | AWK | BKH | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | -1.5% | +2% | BKH has more room |
| Target dispersion | +24.6% | +10.8% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Hold | Buy | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 3 | 3 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | AWK | BKH |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 8.60% | 4.50% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $2.150 | $2.170 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $3.248 | $2.704 |
| Years increased | 5 | 5 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #131 | #268 |
AWK grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 8.60% a year against BKH's 4.50%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
4 of 6 covered evidence groups favor BKH. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | BKH | 51 vs 56 |
| Fundamentals | AWK | revenue growth 12.3% vs -42%; EPS growth 59.4% vs -71.3%; TTM ROE 10.2% vs 7.7%; gross margin 47.2% vs 42.9%; operating margin 36.9% vs 23.8% |
| Valuation | BKH | Value 36 vs 56 |
| Technicals | BKH | Price vs 50-day 6.7% vs 11.4%; vs 200-day 5.7% vs 10.2% |
| Risk Resilience | Even | Risk Resilience 48 vs 50 |
| Analyst expectations | BKH | Target upside -1.5% vs 2% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of AWK and BKH and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been narrowing. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on BKH.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 29 – Oct 28BKH lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 5 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- BKH +5
- 51 vs 56
- 7 sessions ago
- BKH +5
- 51 vs 56
- 30 sessions ago
- BKH +18
- 37 vs 55
- 90 sessions ago
- BKH +6
- 48 vs 54
The lead changed hands 9 times in this window, most recently on Sep 18 when BKH moved ahead of AWK.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
AWK and BKH carry the same 7 signals, so the signals do not separate them: Golden Cross Active, Keltner Channel Breakout, RSI Overbought, EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish, 52-Week High Proximity, Uptrend Structure Active, MACD Bullish Crossover.
BKH leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +1.52%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.68%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1AWK closes the Value gap — currently 20 points behind, the largest single contributor to BKH's edge.
- 2AWK's RSI Overbought resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it.
- 3BKH's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 6 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4The narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 13 points over 30 sessions, and a further 5-point move would eliminate BKH's advantage entirely.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
AWK leads on balance| Metric | AWK | BKH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | 12.3% | -42% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | 59.4% | -71.3% |
| Gross margin | 47.2% | 42.9% |
| Operating margin | 36.9% | 23.8% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 10.2% | 7.7% |
| Debt to equity | 1.38 | 1.14 |
Performance
BKH leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | AWK | BKH |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 3.7% | 2.9% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | 8% | 15.3% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | 2.2% | 11.9% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Year to date | 7.1% | 16.4% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | -1.3% | 22.1% |
Technicals
BKH has the stronger structure| Metric | AWK | BKH |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 74.9 | 70.8 |
| ADX (14) | 32.1 | 36.3 |
| Price vs 50-day | 6.7% | 11.4% |
| Price vs 200-day | 5.7% | 10.2% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 27.5% | 28.1% |
Risk
Split| Metric | AWK | BKH |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | -0.45 | 0.07 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.1 | 0.84 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.19 | 1.39 |
| Max drawdown | -13.3% | -11.8% |
| Current drawdown | -2.4% | -1.2% |
| Annualized volatility | 22.7% | 24% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.1% | -2.2% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, AWK or BKH?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, BKH is the stronger of the two as of Oct 31, 2026, scoring 56 against AWK's 51. The edge comes from value. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is AWK or BKH the better buy right now?
BKH carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 31, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 4 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor BKH over AWK?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. BKH leads Value by 20 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, AWK or BKH?
Analyst price targets imply -1.5% upside for AWK and +2% for BKH, so the Street currently favors BKH. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, AWK or BKH?
BKH is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. BKH on the peer-relative Value factor, by 20 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, AWK or BKH?
AWK on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, AWK or BKH?
The two are level on Momentum. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, AWK or BKH?
AWK is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. AWK carries the lower 1-month annualized volatility. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is AWK more profitable than BKH?
AWK leads on the comparable margin measures — gross margin 47.2% vs 42.9%; operating margin 36.9% vs 23.8%; ttm roe 10.2% vs 7.7%.
Is BKH's lead over AWK getting stronger or weaker?
BKH lead: Weakening — the AIQ differential moved from 18 to 5 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-29 and 2026-10-28. The lead has changed hands 9 times in that window, most recently on 2026-09-18, when BKH moved ahead of AWK.
What would change the AWK vs BKH verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: AWK closes the Value gap — currently 20 points behind, the largest single contributor to BKH's edge; AWK's RSI Overbought resolves — a bearish momentum rule currently active against it; BKH's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 6 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; the narrowing continues — the lead has already given back 13 points over 30 sessions, and a further 5-point move would eliminate BKH's advantage entirely.
What do the current signals say about AWK and BKH?
AWK: 6 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. BKH: 6 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on AWK is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On BKH it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare AWK and BKH with others
Continue your research
This page answers which of the two. These answer the questions on either side of it.
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.