Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Exelon Corporation (EXC) vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) 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 | NEE | 11.0% revenue growth vs EXC's 5.3% |
| Value | EXC | Lower P/E (17.4x vs 23.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NEE | 24.9% net margin vs EXC's 11.6% |
| Stability / Safety | NEE | Lower D/E ratio (143.8% vs 172.5%) |
| Dividends | EXC | 3.2% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NEE | +37.8% vs EXC's +14.6% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NEE | 3.2% ROA vs EXC's 2.5%, ROIC 4.1% vs 5.1% |
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
Exelon is a major regulated electric utility that operates one of the largest clean energy generation fleets in the U.S., primarily from nuclear power. It makes money through regulated electricity distribution and transmission services—which provide stable cash flows—and wholesale power generation from its nuclear, renewable, and fossil fuel plants. Its key advantage is its massive scale as the largest nuclear operator in the U.S., giving it cost advantages and regulatory expertise in clean energy markets.
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.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
NEE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). EXC leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NEE and EXC operate at a comparable scale, with $27.5B and $24.3B in trailing revenue. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 24.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to EXC's 11.6%. On growth, NEE holds the edge at +21.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | EXCExelon Corporation | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $24.3B | $27.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $8.7B | $15.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.8B | $6.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.6B | -$28.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.5% | +62.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +20.8% | +30.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.6% | +24.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -6.6% | -103.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.0% | +21.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +22.9% | +25.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.1x trailing earnings, EXC trades at a 36% valuation discount to NEE's 28.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NEE offers better value at 1.65x vs EXC's 2.87x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | EXCExelon Corporation | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $50.0B | $195.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $99.7B | $288.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.12x | 28.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.40x | 23.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.87x | 1.65x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 11.34x | 18.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.06x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.74x | 2.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
NEE delivers a 10.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $10 for EXC. NEE carries lower financial leverage with a 1.44x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to EXC's 1.73x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NEE scores 5/9 vs EXC's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | EXCExelon Corporation | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +10.0% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.5% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.1% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.73x | 1.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $49.7B | $92.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $49.7B | $95.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 1.81x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in EXC five years ago would be worth $20,147 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,627 for NEE. Over the past 12 months, NEE leads with a +37.8% total return vs EXC's +14.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NEE at 12.1% vs EXC's 9.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | EXCExelon Corporation | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.6% | +16.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.6% | +37.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +32.9% | +41.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +101.5% | +36.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +172.6% | +287.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +9.9% | +12.1% |
Risk & Volatility
EXC is the less volatile stock with a -0.04 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.
| Metric | EXCExelon Corporation | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | -0.04x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $49.88 | $95.91 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.71 | $61.72 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.2% | +97.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 69.9 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 6.6M | 7.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates EXC as "Hold" and NEE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 2.2% upside for EXC (target: $51) vs -0.5% for NEE (target: $93). For income investors, EXC offers the higher dividend yield at 3.23% vs NEE's 2.39%.
| Metric | EXCExelon Corporation | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $50.55 | $93.27 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 35 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.2% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.60 | $2.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exelon Corporation (EXC) | 100 | 135.57 | +35.6% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 128.68 | +28.7% |
Exelon Corporation (EXC) returned +101% over 5 years vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)'s +36%. A $10,000 investment in EXC 5 years ago would be worth $20,147 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exelon Corporation (EXC) | $31.4B | $24.3B | -22.6% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | $16.1B | $27.5B | +70.3% |
Exelon Corporation's revenue grew from $31.4B (2016) to $24.3B (2025) — a -2.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exelon Corporation (EXC) | 3.6% | 11.4% | +215.6% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 18.0% | 24.9% | +37.8% |
Exelon Corporation's net margin went from 4% (2016) to 11% (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exelon Corporation (EXC) | 7.1 | 16 | +125.4% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 13.8 | 24.4 | +76.8% |
Exelon Corporation has traded in a 7x–24x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exelon Corporation (EXC) | 1.22 | 2.73 | +123.8% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 1.56 | 3.29 | +110.9% |
Exelon Corporation's EPS grew from $1.22 (2016) to $2.73 (2025) — a 9% CAGR. NextEra Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.56 (2016) to $3.29 (2025) — a 9% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Exelon Corporation generated $-2B FCF in 2025 (+54% vs 2021). NextEra Energy, Inc. generated $-12B FCF in 2025 (-101% vs 2021).
EXC vs NEE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is EXC or NEE a better buy right now?
Exelon Corporation (EXC) offers the better valuation at 18.1x trailing P/E (17.4x 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 — EXC or NEE?
On trailing P/E, Exelon Corporation (EXC) is the cheapest at 18.1x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28.5x. On forward P/E, Exelon Corporation is actually cheaper at 17.4x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NextEra Energy, Inc. wins at 1.35x versus Exelon Corporation's 2.75x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — EXC or NEE?
Over the past 5 years, Exelon Corporation (EXC) delivered a total return of +101.5%, compared to +36.3% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). A $10,000 investment in EXC five years ago would be worth approximately $20K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +287.2% versus EXC's +172.6%. 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 — EXC or NEE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Exelon Corporation (EXC) is the lower-risk stock at -0.04β versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 0.35β — meaning NEE is approximately -945% more volatile than EXC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 144% versus 173% for Exelon Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — EXC or NEE?
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24.9% net margin versus 11.4% for Exelon Corporation — 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 21.2% for EXC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NEE leads at 62.8%, 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 EXC or NEE 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, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.35x versus Exelon Corporation's 2.75x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Exelon Corporation (EXC) trades at 17.4x forward P/E versus 23.3x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 5.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for EXC: 2.2% to $50.55.
07Which pays a better dividend — EXC or NEE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Exelon Corporation (EXC) offers the highest yield at 3.2%, versus 2.4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).
08Is EXC or NEE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Exelon Corporation (EXC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.04), 3.2% yield, +172.6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (EXC: +172.6%, NEE: +287.2%), 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 EXC and NEE?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: EXC is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; NEE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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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