Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) 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 | WEC | 14.0% revenue growth vs NEE's 11.0% |
| Value | WEC | Lower P/E (20.9x vs 23.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NEE | 24.9% net margin vs WEC's 15.9% |
| Stability / Safety | WEC | Beta 0.09 vs NEE's 0.35, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WEC | 3.0% yield, 23-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NEE | +37.8% vs WEC's +13.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NEE | 3.2% ROA vs WEC's 3.0%, 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
WEC Energy Group is a regulated electric and natural gas utility serving customers across multiple Midwestern states. It generates revenue primarily through regulated utility operations — electricity generation and distribution (~70%) and natural gas distribution (~30%) — with rates approved by state commissions. Its key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territories, providing stable cash flows through cost recovery and a reasonable return on invested capital.
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
WEC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NEE leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NEE is the larger business by revenue, generating $27.5B annually — 2.8x WEC's $9.8B. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 24.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to WEC's 15.9%. On growth, NEE holds the edge at +21.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | WECWEC Energy Group,… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $9.8B | $27.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.9B | $15.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.6B | $6.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.4B | -$28.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +50.5% | +62.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.2% | +30.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.9% | +24.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -14.8% | -103.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.1% | +21.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -32.2% | +25.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 24.2x trailing earnings, WEC trades at a 15% valuation discount to NEE's 28.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NEE offers better value at 1.65x vs WEC's 4.87x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | WECWEC Energy Group,… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.1B | $195.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $41.9B | $288.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.22x | 28.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.92x | 23.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.87x | 1.65x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.86x | 18.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.88x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.94x | 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 $4 for WEC. WEC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.09x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NEE's 1.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), WEC scores 6/9 vs NEE's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | WECWEC Energy Group,… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.8% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.6% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.4% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.09x | 1.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.8B | $92.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $28M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.8B | $95.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.65x | 1.81x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in WEC five years ago would be worth $16,051 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,627 for NEE. Over the past 12 months, NEE leads with a +37.8% total return vs WEC's +13.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors WEC at 12.8% vs NEE's 12.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | WECWEC Energy Group,… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +10.7% | +16.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +13.0% | +37.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +43.4% | +41.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +60.5% | +36.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +155.9% | +287.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +12.8% | +12.1% |
Risk & Volatility
WEC is the less volatile stock with a 0.09 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 | WECWEC Energy Group,… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.09x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $118.19 | $95.91 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $100.61 | $61.72 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +97.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.4 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 7.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates WEC as "Hold" and NEE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.5% upside for WEC (target: $121) vs -0.5% for NEE (target: $93). For income investors, WEC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.99% vs NEE's 2.39%.
| Metric | WECWEC Energy Group,… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $121.00 | $93.27 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 34 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 23 | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $3.50 | $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 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 100 | 118.96 | +19.0% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 136.62 | +36.6% |
WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) returned +61% over 5 years vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)'s +36%. A $10,000 investment in WEC 5 years ago would be worth $16,051 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | $7.5B | $9.8B | +31.2% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | $16.1B | $27.5B | +70.3% |
WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.5B (2016) to $9.8B (2025) — a 3.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 12.6% | 15.9% | +26.4% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 18.0% | 24.9% | +37.8% |
WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to 16% (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 17.5 | 21.8 | +24.6% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 13.8 | 24.4 | +76.8% |
WEC Energy Group, Inc. has traded in a 18x–26x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 2.96 | 4.83 | +63.2% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 1.56 | 3.29 | +110.9% |
WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.96 (2016) to $4.83 (2025) — a 6% CAGR. NextEra Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.56 (2016) to $3.29 (2025) — a 9% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
WEC Energy Group, Inc. generated $-1B FCF in 2025 (-363% vs 2021). NextEra Energy, Inc. generated $-12B FCF in 2025 (-101% vs 2021).
WEC vs NEE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is WEC or NEE a better buy right now?
WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) offers the better valuation at 24.2x trailing P/E (20.9x 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 — WEC or NEE?
On trailing P/E, WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) is the cheapest at 24.2x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28.5x. On forward P/E, WEC Energy Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 20.9x. 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 WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s 4.21x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — WEC or NEE?
Over the past 5 years, WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) delivered a total return of +60.5%, compared to +36.3% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). A $10,000 investment in WEC five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +287.2% versus WEC's +155.9%. 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 — WEC or NEE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.09β versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 0.35β — meaning NEE is approximately 284% more volatile than WEC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 9% versus 144% for NextEra Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — WEC or NEE?
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24.9% net margin versus 15.9% for WEC Energy Group, Inc. — 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 24.2% for WEC. 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 WEC 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 WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s 4.21x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) trades at 20.9x forward P/E versus 23.3x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 2.4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WEC: 3.5% to $121.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — WEC or NEE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 2.4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).
08Is WEC or NEE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.09), 3.0% yield, +155.9% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WEC: +155.9%, 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 WEC 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. 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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