In the current market session, American Water Works Inc. (NYSE:AWK) stock price is at $144.88, after a 0.03% decrease. However, over the past month, the company's stock increased by 0.98%, and in the past year, by 23.83%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is not performing up to par in the current session.

Comparing American Water Works P/E Against Its Peers

The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued.

Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of 25.46 in the Water Utilities industry, American Water Works Inc. has a higher P/E ratio of 29.58. Shareholders might be inclined to think that American Water Works Inc. might perform better than its industry group. It's also possible that the stock is overvalued.

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.