Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare DTE Energy Company (DTE) vs WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | DTE | 26.9% revenue growth vs WEC's 14.0% |
| Value | DTE | Lower P/E (19.2x vs 20.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | WEC | 15.9% net margin vs DTE's 9.4% |
| Stability / Safety | WEC | Beta 0.09 vs DTE's 0.23, lower leverage |
| Dividends | WEC | 3.0% yield, 23-year raise streak, vs DTE's 2.8% |
| Momentum (1Y) | DTE | +14.2% vs WEC's +13.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | WEC | 3.0% ROA vs DTE's 2.7%, ROIC 4.6% vs 7.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
DTE Energy is a regulated electric and natural gas utility serving approximately 2.3 million electric and 1.3 million gas customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates revenue primarily through regulated rate-based returns on its electric generation and distribution infrastructure (~70% of operating income) and natural gas distribution operations (~30%), with additional income from industrial projects and energy marketing. The company's key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territory, which provides stable, predictable returns on its substantial infrastructure investments.
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.
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
DTE leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). WEC leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
DTE is the larger business by revenue, generating $15.6B annually — 1.6x WEC's $9.8B. WEC is the more profitable business, keeping 15.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to DTE's 9.4%. On growth, DTE holds the edge at +23.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | WECWEC Energy Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $15.6B | $9.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $4.1B | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | $1.6B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.7B | -$1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.6% | +50.5% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.4% | +24.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.4% | +15.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +17.4% | -14.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +23.4% | +11.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.7% | -32.2% |
Valuation Metrics
At 21.0x trailing earnings, DTE trades at a 13% valuation discount to WEC's 24.2x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, DTE's 5.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than WEC's 10.9x.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | WECWEC Energy Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $20.6B | $38.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $22.8B | $41.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.00x | 24.22x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.19x | 20.92x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 4.87x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 5.33x | 10.86x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.30x | 3.88x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.49x | 0.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.56x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
DTE delivers a 11.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 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 DTE's 0.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), DTE scores 8/9 vs WEC's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | WECWEC Energy Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.9% | +3.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.7% | +3.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.2% | +4.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.1% | +5.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.20x | 0.09x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.5B | $3.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $250M | $28M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $3.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.25x | 2.65x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in DTE five years ago would be worth $16,565 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $16,051 for WEC. Over the past 12 months, DTE leads with a +14.2% total return vs WEC's +13.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors DTE at 13.6% vs WEC's 12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | WECWEC Energy Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +13.7% | +10.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +14.2% | +13.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +46.5% | +43.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.6% | +60.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +155.9% | +155.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +13.6% | +12.8% |
Risk & Volatility
WEC is the less volatile stock with a 0.09 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than DTE's 0.23 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. WEC currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs DTE's 95.9% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | WECWEC Energy Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.23x | 0.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $154.63 | $118.19 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $123.69 | $100.61 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.9% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.1 | 65.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 1.9M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates DTE as "Hold" and WEC as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 3.5% upside for WEC (target: $121) vs 1.6% for DTE (target: $151). For income investors, WEC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.99% vs DTE's 2.84%.
| Metric | DTEDTE Energy Company | WECWEC Energy Group,… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $150.63 | $121.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 45 | 34 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.8% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 23 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $4.21 | $3.50 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 100 | 133.95 | +33.9% |
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 100 | 112.44 | +12.4% |
DTE Energy Company (DTE) returned +66% over 5 years vs WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC)'s +61%. A $10,000 investment in DTE 5 years ago would be worth $16,565 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | $10.6B | $15.8B | +48.8% |
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | $7.5B | $9.8B | +31.2% |
DTE Energy Company's revenue grew from $10.6B (2016) to $15.8B (2025) — a 4.5% CAGR. WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.5B (2016) to $9.8B (2025) — a 3.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 8.2% | 9.2% | +13.2% |
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 12.6% | 15.9% | +26.4% |
DTE Energy Company's net margin went from 8% (2016) to 9% (2025). WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 13% (2016) to 16% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 14.7 | 18.3 | +24.5% |
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 17.5 | 21.8 | +24.6% |
DTE Energy Company has traded in a 15x–26x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has traded in a 18x–26x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy Company (DTE) | 4.83 | 7.06 | +46.2% |
| WEC Energy Group, I… (WEC) | 2.96 | 4.83 | +63.2% |
DTE Energy Company's EPS grew from $4.83 (2016) to $7.06 (2025) — a 4% CAGR. WEC Energy Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.96 (2016) to $4.83 (2025) — a 6% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
DTE Energy Company generated $3B FCF in 2025 (+486% vs 2021). WEC Energy Group, Inc. generated $-1B FCF in 2025 (-363% vs 2021).
DTE vs WEC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is DTE or WEC a better buy right now?
DTE Energy Company (DTE) offers the better valuation at 21.0x trailing P/E (19.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate DTE Energy Company (DTE) a "Hold" — based on 45 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 — DTE or WEC?
On trailing P/E, DTE Energy Company (DTE) is the cheapest at 21.0x versus WEC Energy Group, Inc. at 24.2x. On forward P/E, DTE Energy Company is actually cheaper at 19.2x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — DTE or WEC?
Over the past 5 years, DTE Energy Company (DTE) delivered a total return of +65.6%, compared to +60.5% for WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC). A $10,000 investment in DTE five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: WEC returned +155.9% versus DTE'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 — DTE or WEC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.09β versus DTE Energy Company's 0.23β — meaning DTE is approximately 151% 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 20% for DTE Energy Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — DTE or WEC?
WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) is the more profitable company, earning 15.9% net margin versus 9.2% for DTE Energy Company — meaning it keeps 15.9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: WEC leads at 24.2% versus 15.0% for DTE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — DTE leads at 84.9%, 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 DTE or WEC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, DTE Energy Company (DTE) trades at 19.2x forward P/E versus 20.9x for WEC Energy Group, Inc. — 1.7x 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 — DTE or WEC?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 2.8% for DTE Energy Company (DTE).
08Is DTE or WEC 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%, DTE: +155.9%), 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 DTE and WEC?
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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.