AQN vs BEP vs CWEN vs NEE

For growth investors, NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the stronger pick with 11. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN) offers the better valuation at 26. 9x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) a "Buy" — based on 20 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.

On trailing P/E, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) is the cheapest at 26. 9x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28. 4x. On forward P/E, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. is actually cheaper at 17. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Clearway Energy, Inc.

(CWEN) delivered a total return of +72. 5%, compared to -44. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +266. 0% versus AQN's +32. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. 's 0. 85β — meaning BEP is approximately 311% more volatile than NEE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 102% versus 172% for Clearway Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus -3. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (AQN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. grew EPS 92. 4% year-over-year, compared to -61. 3% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BEP leads at 11. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 9% net margin versus -59. 5% for Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. — 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 12. 3% for CWEN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AQN leads at 74. 4%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

(AQN) trades at 17. 4x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 5. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CWEN: 14. 5% to $43. 67.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP) offers the highest yield at 11. 7%, versus 2. 4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 21), 2. 4% yield, +266. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NEE: +266. 0%, BEP: +199. 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.

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: AQN is a small-cap income-oriented stock; BEP is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; CWEN is a small-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.