Water is the basis of life and one of the most important raw materials for humans. Due to global population growth, industrialization and the associated increase in water consumption, there is concern that water could become a scarce commodity and that the water supply for broad sections of the population could be jeopardized in the future. Companies are taking up this challenge and working on innovative solutions to secure the water supply. In particular, the topic of water treatment plays an important role. In this article, we present a small selection of shares of companies involved in water treatment.
American Water Works
- Company: American Water Works
- Symbol (TWS): AWK
- ISIN: US0304201033
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: US Dollar (USD)
- Market capitalization: USD 26.88 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 3.82 billion
American Water Works is the largest water utility in the USA and has a quasi-monopoly in many regions of the USA. Founded in 1886, the company has grown over time through acquisitions and has been tradable on the stock exchange since 2008. American Water Works operates primarily as a utility, providing drinking water and wastewater services. This includes operating approximately 80 surface water treatment plants, 480 groundwater treatment plants and 160 wastewater treatment plants.
Xylem
- Company: Xylem Inc
- Symbol (TWS): XYL
- ISIN: US98419M1009
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: US Dollar (USD)
- Market capitalization: USD 17.04 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 5.22 billion
While American Water Works is a "traditional" utility, Xylem offers innovative water technologies that the company calls "smart water." Founded in 2011, Xylem offers a wide range of products for water transport and treatment, as well as water quality analysis. The company sees future opportunities in emerging markets as clean water becomes more accessible through technological innovation. Xylem's stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a member of the S&P 500 Index. Since 2011, dividends have increased by an average of more than 10 % annually and the current dividend yield is 1.25 %, with a payout ratio of approximately 50 %.
Veolia Environment
- Company: Veolia Environnement VE SA
- Symbol (TWS): VIE
- ISIN: FR0000124141
- Stock Exchange: Paris Stock Exchange
- Country: France
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Market capitalization: EUR 14.87 billion / USD 14.89 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 35.06 billion
Veolia - formerly Veolia Environnement - is a French company based in the capital, Paris, which is active in the water/wastewater, waste management and energy sectors. Veolia operates mainly in France, the UK and the USA and provides services to both industry and public municipalities through public-private partnerships. The company supplies drinking water to more than 100 million people worldwide and serves around 40,000 industrial customers. On its website, Veolia addresses the issue of water scarcity, which, according to the company, will affect two thirds of the world's population by 2025. The company offers so-called Hydrotech disk filters for municipal wastewater treatment and for the reuse of drinking water.
Evoqua Water
- Company: Evoqua Water Technologies
- Symbol (TWS): AQUA
- ISIN: US30057T1051
- Stock Exchange: New York Stock Exchange
- Country: USA
- Currency: US Dollar (USD)
- Market capitalization: USD 4.39 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 1.66 billion
Evoqua Water Technologies is a Pennsylvania-based company that provides water and wastewater treatment systems and technologies. It also provides services to industrial, commercial and municipal water treatment facilities in the United States and other countries. Evoqua emerged from Siemens' Water Technologies division and was sold by the parent company in 2013 under the name Siemens Water Technologies, before being renamed Evoqua Water and going public.
Acciona
- Company: Acciona
- Symbol (TWS): ANA
- ISIN: ES0125220311
- Stock Exchange: Madrid Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Madrid)
- Country: Spain
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Market capitalization: EUR 11.06 billion / USD 11.08 billion
- Sales (TTM) in USD: 10.43 billion
Acciona is a conglomerate headquartered in Madrid, Spain. The company focuses, among other things, on the development and management of infrastructure and renewable energy. Acciona is a world leader in the construction of desalination plants, using the so-called reverse osmosis technology. The company also builds water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants for drinking water supply and wastewater disposal.