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HE vs NEE
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Regulated Electric
HE vs NEE — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Diversified Utilities | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $1.96B | $194.60B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $2.77B | $27.93B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $17M | $8.18B |
| Gross Margin | 8.3% | 47.8% |
| Operating Margin | 8.3% | 29.5% |
| Forward P/E | 14.4x | 23.1x |
| Total Debt | $3.33B | $95.62B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.24B | $2.81B |
HE vs NEE — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian Electric I… (HE) | 100 | 39.1 | -60.9% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 146.1 | +46.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HE vs NEE
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
HE is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (14.4x vs 23.1x)
- +48.3% vs NEE's +42.0%
NEE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 30 yrs, beta 0.21, yield 2.4%
- Rev growth 11.0%, EPS growth -2.4%, 3Y rev CAGR 9.4%
- 266.0% 10Y total return vs HE's -25.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 11.0% revenue growth vs HE's -2.1% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (14.4x vs 23.1x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 29.3% margin vs HE's 0.6% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.21 vs HE's 0.56, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 2.4% yield, 30-year raise streak, vs HE's 1.3% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +48.3% vs NEE's +42.0% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.9% ROA vs HE's 0.2%, ROIC 4.1% vs -28.6% |
HE vs NEE — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
HE vs NEE — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NEE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NEE is the larger business by revenue, generating $27.9B annually — 10.1x HE's $2.8B. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 29.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HE's 0.6%. On growth, NEE holds the edge at +7.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.8B | $27.9B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $523M | $15.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $17M | $8.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $448M | -$3.8B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +47.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.3% | +29.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.6% | +29.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.2% | -13.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -15.7% | +7.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +119.8% | +160.0% |
Valuation Metrics
HE leads this category, winning 4 of 4 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $194.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.0B | $287.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -1.37x | 28.36x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 14.40x | 23.07x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.64x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 18.73x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.61x | 7.08x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.29x | 2.93x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.36x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
NEE leads this category, winning 7 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 HE. NEE carries lower financial leverage with a 1.44x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to HE's 2.20x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NEE scores 5/9 vs HE's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +1.1% | +12.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.2% | +3.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -28.6% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -14.2% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.20x | 1.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $92.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.2B | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.3B | $95.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -14.02x | 1.99x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NEE leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NEE five years ago would be worth $13,819 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,185 for HE. Over the past 12 months, HE leads with a +48.3% total return vs NEE's +42.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NEE at 9.4% vs HE's -25.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +22.0% | +16.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +48.3% | +42.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -58.1% | +31.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -58.2% | +38.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -25.0% | +266.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -25.2% | +9.4% |
Risk & Volatility
NEE leads this category, winning 2 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 HE's 0.56 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NEE currently trades 94.5% from its 52-week high vs HE's 88.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.56x | 0.21x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $17.38 | $98.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.14 | $63.88 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +88.7% | +94.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.6 | 54.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.9M | 8.7M |
Analyst Outlook
NEE leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HE as "Hold" and NEE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 5.2% upside for NEE (target: $98) vs -17.3% for HE (target: $13). For income investors, NEE offers the higher dividend yield at 2.40% vs HE's 1.33%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $12.75 | $98.13 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.3% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.20 | $2.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
NEE leads in 5 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HE leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
HE vs NEE: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HE 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 -2. 1% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE). NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) offers the better valuation at 28. 4x trailing P/E (23. 1x 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 — HE or NEE?
On forward P/E, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
is actually cheaper at 14. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HE or NEE?
Over the past 5 years, NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) delivered a total return of +38. 2%, compared to -58. 2% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +266. 0% versus HE's -25. 0%. 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 — HE or NEE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 21β versus Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. 's 0. 56β — meaning HE is approximately 171% more volatile than NEE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 144% versus 2% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — HE or NEE?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) is pulling ahead at 11. 0% versus -2. 1% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: NextEra Energy, Inc. grew EPS -2. 4% year-over-year, compared to -720. 4% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NEE leads at 9. 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 — HE or NEE?
NextEra Energy, Inc.
(NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 9% net margin versus -44. 2% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, 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 -53. 0% for HE. 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 HE or NEE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.
(HE) trades at 14. 4x forward P/E versus 23. 1x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 8. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NEE: 5. 2% to $98. 13.
08Which pays a better dividend — HE or NEE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) offers the highest yield at 2. 4%, versus 1. 3% for Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE).
09Is HE 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%, HE: -25. 0%), 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 HE 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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