AQN vs NWE vs BEP vs AVA 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). Avista Corporation (AVA) offers the better valuation at 17. 2x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), 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, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the cheapest at 17.

2x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28. 4x. On forward P/E, Avista Corporation is actually cheaper at 16. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NextEra Energy, Inc. wins at 1. 33x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 47x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, NextEra Energy, Inc.

(NEE) delivered a total return of +38. 2%, 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), Avista Corporation (AVA) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

00β versus Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. 's 0. 85β — meaning BEP is approximately -28490% more volatile than AVA 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 144% for NextEra 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 13. 4% for BEP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWE leads at 82. 3%, 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.

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. 33x versus Avista Corporation's 3. 47x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Avista Corporation (AVA) trades at 16. 0x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 7. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AQN: 8. 1% to $6. 79.

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, Avista Corporation (AVA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0.

00), 4. 8% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AVA: +40. 1%, 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; NWE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; BEP is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; AVA is a small-cap deep-value 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.