Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NEE | 11.0% revenue growth vs LNT's -1.1% |
| Value | LNT | Lower P/E (21.2x vs 23.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NEE | 24.9% net margin vs LNT's 19.1% |
| Stability / Safety | LNT | Beta 0.21 vs NEE's 0.35 |
| Dividends | LNT | 2.6% yield, 21-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NEE | +37.8% vs LNT's +15.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LNT | 3.3% ROA vs NEE's 3.2%, ROIC 4.0% vs 4.1% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Alliant Energy is a regulated utility holding company that provides electricity and natural gas services to retail and wholesale customers in the Midwest. It generates revenue primarily from regulated utility operations — electric service (~70% of revenue) and natural gas service (~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 mechanisms and a predictable return on invested capital.
NextEra Energy is a major electric utility and clean energy developer that operates regulated utilities in Florida while also building renewable projects across North America. It makes money primarily through regulated utility operations — about 60% of earnings — and its competitive energy generation business that develops wind, solar, and battery storage projects. The company's key advantage is its massive scale in renewable energy development and its first-mover position in clean energy infrastructure, giving it unmatched project execution capabilities and cost advantages.
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
LNT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NEE leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
NEE is the larger business by revenue, generating $27.5B annually — 6.4x LNT's $4.3B. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 24.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LNT's 19.1%. On growth, NEE holds the edge at +21.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $4.3B | $27.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.9B | $15.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $818M | $6.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $339M | -$28.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.1% | +62.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +24.6% | +30.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +19.1% | +24.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.9% | -103.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.9% | +21.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -5.2% | +25.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 26.9x trailing earnings, LNT trades at a 6% valuation discount to NEE's 28.5x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), NEE offers better value at 1.65x vs LNT's 9.23x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $18.6B | $195.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $28.9B | $288.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.89x | 28.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.16x | 23.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.23x | 1.65x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.44x | 18.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.67x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.65x | 2.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
LNT delivers a 11.2% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $10 for NEE. NEE carries lower financial leverage with a 1.44x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LNT's 1.49x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), NEE scores 5/9 vs LNT's 4/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.2% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.0% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.6% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.49x | 1.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $10.3B | $92.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $81M | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $10.4B | $95.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.97x | 1.81x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in LNT five years ago would be worth $17,318 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,627 for NEE. Over the past 12 months, NEE leads with a +37.8% total return vs LNT's +15.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors LNT at 15.1% vs NEE's 12.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.1% | +16.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.3% | +37.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +52.5% | +41.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.2% | +36.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +160.1% | +287.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +15.1% | +12.1% |
Risk & Volatility
LNT is the less volatile stock with a 0.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NEE's 0.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.21x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $72.38 | $95.91 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $57.09 | $61.72 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.9% | +97.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 66.8 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.0M | 7.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LNT as "Buy" and NEE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 3.1% upside for LNT (target: $75) vs -0.5% for NEE (target: $93). For income investors, LNT offers the higher dividend yield at 2.65% vs NEE's 2.39%.
| Metric | LNTAlliant Energy Co… | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $74.57 | $93.27 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 23 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 21 | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.92 | $2.24 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 100 | 117.61 | +17.6% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 128.68 | +28.7% |
Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) returned +73% over 5 years vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)'s +36%. A $10,000 investment in LNT 5 years ago would be worth $17,318 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | $3.3B | $4.0B | +19.9% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | $16.1B | $27.5B | +70.3% |
NextEra Energy, Inc.'s revenue grew from $16.1B (2016) to $27.5B (2025) — a 6.1% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 11.5% | 17.3% | +50.8% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 18.0% | 24.9% | +37.8% |
NextEra Energy, Inc.'s net margin went from 18% (2016) to 25% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 21.4 | 22 | +2.8% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 13.8 | 24.4 | +76.8% |
Alliant Energy Corporation has traded in a 19x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. NextEra Energy, Inc. has traded in a 13x–52x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~29x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliant Energy Corp… (LNT) | 1.64 | 2.69 | +64.0% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 1.56 | 3.29 | +110.9% |
NextEra Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.56 (2016) to $3.29 (2025) — a 9% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Alliant Energy Corporation generated $-1B FCF in 2024 (-84% vs 2021). NextEra Energy, Inc. generated $-12B FCF in 2025 (-101% vs 2021).
LNT vs NEE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LNT or NEE a better buy right now?
Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) offers the better valuation at 26.9x trailing P/E (21.2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) a "Buy" — based on 23 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 — LNT or NEE?
On trailing P/E, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the cheapest at 26.9x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28.5x. On forward P/E, Alliant Energy Corporation is actually cheaper at 21.2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: NextEra Energy, Inc. wins at 1.35x versus Alliant Energy Corporation's 7.26x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LNT or NEE?
Over the past 5 years, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) delivered a total return of +73.2%, compared to +36.3% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). A $10,000 investment in LNT five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +287.2% versus LNT's +160.1%. 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 — LNT or NEE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the lower-risk stock at 0.21β versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 0.35β — meaning NEE is approximately 65% more volatile than LNT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 144% versus 149% for Alliant Energy Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — LNT or NEE?
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24.9% net margin versus 17.3% for Alliant Energy Corporation — 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 22.3% for LNT. 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.
06Is LNT or NEE more undervalued right now?
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 1.35x versus Alliant Energy Corporation's 7.26x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) trades at 21.2x forward P/E versus 23.3x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 2.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for LNT: 3.1% to $74.57.
07Which pays a better dividend — LNT or NEE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) offers the highest yield at 2.6%, versus 2.4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).
08Is LNT or NEE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.21), 2.6% yield, +160.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (LNT: +160.1%, NEE: +287.2%), 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 LNT 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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