Renewable Utilities
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BEP vs CWEN vs NEE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Renewable Utilities
Regulated Electric
BEP vs CWEN vs NEE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Renewable Utilities | Renewable Utilities | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $10.57B | $7.84B | $194.60B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.43B | $1.43B | $27.93B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $212M | $169M | $8.18B |
| Gross Margin | 44.8% | 50.3% | 47.8% |
| Operating Margin | 13.3% | 12.0% | 29.5% |
| Forward P/E | — | 26.9x | 23.1x |
| Total Debt | $35.73B | $10.20B | $95.62B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $2.31B | $818M | $2.81B |
BEP vs CWEN vs NEE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookfield Renewabl… (BEP) | 100 | 132.6 | +32.6% |
| Clearway Energy, In… (CWEN) | 100 | 174.1 | +74.1% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 146.1 | +46.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BEP vs CWEN vs NEE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BEP is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 10.9%, EPS growth 92.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.4%
- 11.7% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4%
- +60.8% vs CWEN's +39.6%
CWEN is the clearest fit if your priority is valuation efficiency and defensive.
- PEG 0.59 vs NEE's 1.33
- Beta 0.54, yield 7.9%, current ratio 1.13x
- Better valuation composite
NEE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 30 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 2.4%
- 266.0% 10Y total return vs CWEN's 237.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.21, current ratio 0.60x
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.0% revenue growth vs CWEN's 4.2% | |
| Value | Better valuation composite | |
| Quality / Margins | 29.3% margin vs BEP's 3.3% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.21 vs BEP's 0.85 | |
| Dividends | 11.7% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +60.8% vs CWEN's +39.6% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.9% ROA vs BEP's 0.2%, ROIC 4.1% vs 0.9% |
BEP vs CWEN vs NEE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
BEP vs CWEN vs NEE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 3 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CWEN leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NEE is the larger business by revenue, generating $27.9B annually — 19.5x CWEN's $1.4B. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 29.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BEP's 3.3%. On growth, CWEN holds the edge at +21.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.4B | $1.4B | $27.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $3.3B | $1.0B | $15.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $212M | $169M | $8.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$8.3B | $268M | -$3.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +44.8% | +50.3% | +47.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +13.3% | +12.0% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.3% | +11.8% | +29.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -128.7% | +18.8% | -13.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +21.1% | +7.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +25.3% | -35.3% | +160.0% |
Valuation Metrics
BEP leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 26.9x trailing earnings, CWEN trades at a 5% valuation discount to NEE's 28.4x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CWEN offers better value at 0.59x vs NEE's 1.64x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $10.6B | $7.8B | $194.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $44.0B | $17.2B | $287.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -512.46x | 26.86x | 28.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | — | 23.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.59x | 1.64x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.18x | 16.23x | 18.73x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.62x | 5.48x | 7.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.28x | 0.77x | 2.93x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 21.24x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
NEE leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NEE delivers a 12.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 in annual profit, vs $1 for BEP. BEP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.02x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CWEN's 1.72x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BEP scores 5/9 vs CWEN's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.6% | +3.0% | +12.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.2% | +1.1% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.9% | +0.9% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +1.1% | +1.2% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.02x | 1.72x | 1.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $33.4B | $9.4B | $92.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $2.3B | $818M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $35.7B | $10.2B | $95.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.04x | 0.55x | 1.99x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CWEN leads this category, winning 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CWEN five years ago would be worth $17,246 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,256 for BEP. Over the past 12 months, BEP leads with a +60.8% total return vs CWEN's +39.6%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CWEN at 12.8% vs BEP's 7.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +25.1% | +13.7% | +16.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +60.8% | +39.6% | +42.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +23.4% | +43.5% | +31.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +12.6% | +72.5% | +38.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +199.1% | +237.4% | +266.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.3% | +12.8% | +9.4% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BEP and NEE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NEE is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BEP's 0.85 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BEP currently trades 96.0% from its 52-week high vs CWEN's 91.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.85x | 0.54x | 0.21x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $35.97 | $41.54 | $98.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.27 | $27.67 | $63.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.0% | +91.8% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 57.2 | 45.9 | 54.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 875K | 828K | 8.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — BEP and NEE each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: BEP as "Buy", CWEN as "Buy", NEE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 14.5% upside for CWEN (target: $44) vs 1.8% for BEP (target: $35). For income investors, BEP offers the higher dividend yield at 11.70% vs NEE's 2.40%.
| Metric | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $35.17 | $43.67 | $98.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 20 | 16 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +11.7% | +7.9% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 2 | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.04 | $3.01 | $2.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
CWEN leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). BEP leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
BEP vs CWEN vs NEE: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BEP or CWEN or NEE a better buy right now?
For growth investors, NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) is the stronger pick with 11. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 2% for Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN). 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.
02Which has the better valuation — BEP or CWEN or NEE?
On trailing P/E, Clearway Energy, Inc.
(CWEN) is the cheapest at 26. 9x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BEP or CWEN or NEE?
Over the past 5 years, Clearway Energy, Inc.
(CWEN) delivered a total return of +72. 5%, compared to +12. 6% for Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. (BEP). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +266. 0% versus BEP's +199. 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 — BEP or CWEN or NEE?
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.
05Which is growing faster — BEP or CWEN or NEE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus 4. 2% for Clearway Energy, Inc. (CWEN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. grew EPS 92. 4% year-over-year, compared to -2. 4% for NextEra Energy, Inc.. 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.
06Which has better profit margins — BEP or CWEN or NEE?
NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 9% net margin versus -0. 3% for Brookfield Renewable Partners L. P. — 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 — 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.
07Is BEP or CWEN or NEE more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CWEN: 14.
5% to $43. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — BEP or CWEN or NEE?
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).
09Is BEP or CWEN or NEE better for a retirement portfolio?
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.
10What are the main differences between BEP and CWEN 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: 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.
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