Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare DTE Energy Company (DTE) vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) vs Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DTE | 26.9% revenue growth vs DUK's 6.2% |
| Value | DTE | Lower P/E (19.2x vs 23.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NEE | 24.9% net margin vs DTE's 9.4% |
| Stability / Safety | DTE | Beta 0.23 vs NEE's 0.35, lower leverage |
| Dividends | DTE | 2.8% yield, 3-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NEE | +37.8% vs DTE's +14.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NEE | 3.2% ROA vs DUK's 2.6%, ROIC 4.1% vs 4.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
DTE Energy is a regulated electric and natural gas utility serving approximately 2.3 million electric and 1.3 million gas customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates revenue primarily through regulated rate-based returns on its electric generation and distribution infrastructure (~70% of operating income) and natural gas distribution operations (~30%), with additional income from industrial projects and energy marketing. The company's key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territory, which provides stable, predictable returns on its substantial infrastructure investments.
NextEra Energy is a major electric utility and clean energy developer that operates regulated utilities in Florida while also building renewable projects across North America. It makes money primarily through regulated utility operations — about 60% of earnings — and its competitive energy generation business that develops wind, solar, and battery storage projects. The company's key advantage is its massive scale in renewable energy development and its first-mover position in clean energy infrastructure, giving it unmatched project execution capabilities and cost advantages.
Duke Energy is a regulated electric and gas utility serving customers across six states in the Southeast and Midwest. It makes money primarily through regulated rate-based returns on its electric utility infrastructure (~70% of revenue) and gas distribution operations (~20%), with additional income from commercial renewable energy projects. Its key advantage is its monopoly status as a regulated utility in its service territories, which provides stable, predictable returns through government-approved rate structures.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 3 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
DTE leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NEE leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DUK is the larger business by revenue, generating $31.8B annually — 2.0x DTE's $15.6B. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 24.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DTE's 9.4%. On growth, DTE holds the edge at +23.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | NEENextEra Energy, I… | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.6B | $27.5B | $31.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.1B | $15.3B | $15.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | $6.8B | $5.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.7B | -$28.3B | $9.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.6% | +62.8% | +59.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +30.1% | +27.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.4% | +24.9% | +15.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.4% | -103.0% | +28.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.4% | +21.9% | +6.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.7% | +25.9% | +15.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 20.7x trailing earnings, DUK trades at a 27% valuation discount to NEE's 28.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), DUK offers better value at 0.70x vs NEE's 1.65x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | NEENextEra Energy, I… | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.6B | $195.3B | $101.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $22.8B | $288.1B | $192.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.00x | 28.50x | 20.74x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.19x | 23.33x | 19.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.65x | 0.70x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.33x | 18.78x | 12.91x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.30x | 7.11x | 3.16x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.49x | 2.95x | 1.92x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.56x | — | 8.25x |
Profitability & Efficiency
DTE delivers a 11.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $9 for DUK. DTE carries lower financial leverage with a 0.20x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to DUK's 1.71x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DTE scores 8/9 vs DUK's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | NEENextEra Energy, I… | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.9% | +10.3% | +9.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +3.2% | +2.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.2% | +4.1% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.1% | +4.7% | +5.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.20x | 1.44x | 1.71x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.5B | $92.8B | $90.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $250M | $2.8B | $245M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $95.6B | $90.9B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.25x | 1.81x | 2.36x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in DUK five years ago would be worth $17,377 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,627 for NEE. Over the past 12 months, NEE leads with a +37.8% total return vs DTE's +14.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DUK at 15.0% vs NEE's 12.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | NEENextEra Energy, I… | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.7% | +16.6% | +12.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.2% | +37.8% | +15.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +46.5% | +41.0% | +52.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.6% | +36.3% | +73.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +155.9% | +287.2% | +128.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.6% | +12.1% | +15.0% |
Risk & Volatility
DUK is the less volatile stock with a -0.05 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NEE's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. DUK currently trades 99.5% from its 52-week high vs DTE's 95.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | NEENextEra Energy, I… | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.23x | 0.35x | -0.05x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $154.63 | $95.91 | $131.57 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $123.69 | $61.72 | $111.22 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.9% | +97.8% | +99.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.1 | 56.6 | 70.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 7.5M | 3.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: DTE as "Hold", NEE as "Buy", DUK as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 2.0% upside for DUK (target: $133) vs -0.5% for NEE (target: $93). For income investors, DTE offers the higher dividend yield at 2.84% vs NEE's 2.39%.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | NEENextEra Energy, I… | DUKDuke Energy Corpo… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $150.63 | $93.27 | $133.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 45 | 36 | 31 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +2.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 30 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.21 | $2.24 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 100 | 133.95 | +33.9% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 128.68 | +28.7% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 100 | 123.61 | +23.6% |
Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) returned +74% over 5 years vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)'s +36%. A $10,000 investment in DUK 5 years ago would be worth $17,377 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | $10.6B | $15.8B | +48.8% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | $16.1B | $27.5B | +70.3% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | $22.7B | $32.2B | +41.7% |
DTE Energy Company's revenue grew from $10.6B (2016) to $15.8B (2025) — a 4.5% CAGR. NextEra Energy, Inc.'s revenue grew from $16.1B (2016) to $27.5B (2025) — a 6.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 8.2% | 9.2% | +13.2% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 18.0% | 24.9% | +37.8% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 11.7% | 15.4% | +31.5% |
DTE Energy Company's net margin went from 8% (2016) to 9% (2025). NextEra Energy, Inc.'s net margin went from 18% (2016) to 25% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 14.7 | 18.3 | +24.5% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 13.8 | 24.4 | +76.8% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 19.3 | 18.6 | -3.6% |
DTE Energy Company has traded in a 15x–26x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x. NextEra Energy, Inc. has traded in a 13x–52x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 4.83 | 7.06 | +46.2% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 1.56 | 3.29 | +110.9% |
| Duke Energy Corpora… (DUK) | 3.11 | 6.31 | +102.9% |
DTE Energy Company's EPS grew from $4.83 (2016) to $7.06 (2025) — a 4% CAGR. NextEra Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.56 (2016) to $3.29 (2025) — a 9% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
DTE Energy Company generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+486% vs 2021). NextEra Energy, Inc. generated $-12B FCF in 2025 (-101% vs 2021).
DTE vs NEE vs DUK: Key Questions Answered
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DTE or NEE or DUK a better buy right now?
Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) offers the better valuation at 20.7x trailing P/E (19.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) a "Buy" — based on 36 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — DTE or NEE or DUK?
On trailing P/E, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the cheapest at 20.7x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28.5x. On forward P/E, DTE Energy Company is actually cheaper at 19.2x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Duke Energy Corporation wins at 0.66x versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 1.35x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DTE or NEE or DUK?
Over the past 5 years, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) delivered a total return of +73.8%, compared to +36.3% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). A $10,000 investment in DUK five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +287.2% versus DUK's +128.1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — DTE or NEE or DUK?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the lower-risk stock at -0.05β versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 0.35β — meaning NEE is approximately -734% more volatile than DUK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, DTE Energy Company (DTE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 171% for Duke Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — DTE or NEE or DUK?
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24.9% net margin versus 9.2% for DTE Energy Company — meaning it keeps 24.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NEE leads at 30.1% versus 15.0% for DTE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DTE leads at 84.9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is DTE or NEE or DUK more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.66x versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 1.35x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, DTE Energy Company (DTE) trades at 19.2x forward P/E versus 23.3x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 4.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for DUK: 2.0% to $133.45.
07Which pays a better dividend — DTE or NEE or DUK?
In this comparison, DTE (2.8% yield), NEE (2.4% yield) pay a dividend. DUK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is DTE or NEE or DUK better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, DTE Energy Company (DTE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.23), 2.8% yield, +155.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (DTE: +155.9%, DUK: +128.1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between DTE and NEE and DUK?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. DTE, NEE pay a dividend while DUK does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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