Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AT&T Inc. (T) 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 T's 2.7% |
| Value | T | Lower P/E (12.3x vs 23.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NEE | 24.9% net margin vs T's 17.4% |
| Stability / Safety | T | Beta 0.12 vs NEE's 0.35, lower leverage |
| Dividends | T | 4.1% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs NEE's 2.4% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NEE | +37.8% vs T's +6.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | T | 5.2% ROA vs NEE's 3.2%, ROIC 7.0% vs 4.1% |
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
AT&T is a major telecommunications company providing wireless, broadband, and enterprise connectivity services across the United States and Latin America. It generates revenue primarily from wireless services (~60% of total), broadband internet, and business solutions including cloud and security services. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive nationwide wireless network infrastructure and fiber footprint, which create significant switching costs for customers and high barriers to entry for competitors.
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
T leads in 2 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). NEE leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 3 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
T is the larger business by revenue, generating $125.6B annually — 4.6x NEE's $27.5B. NEE is the more profitable business, keeping 24.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to T's 17.4%. On growth, NEE holds the edge at +21.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | TAT&T Inc. | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $125.6B | $27.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $45.0B | $15.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $21.9B | $6.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $19.4B | -$28.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +79.8% | +62.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.2% | +30.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.4% | +24.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +15.5% | -103.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +3.6% | +21.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.1% | +25.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 9.2x trailing earnings, T trades at a 68% valuation discount to NEE's 28.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, T's 7.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NEE's 18.8x.
| Metric | TAT&T Inc. | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $196.0B | $195.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $332.8B | $288.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 9.21x | 28.50x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.26x | 23.33x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.65x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 7.39x | 18.78x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.56x | 7.11x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.59x | 2.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 10.08x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
T delivers a 17.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $17 in annual profit, vs $10 for NEE. T carries lower financial leverage with a 1.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NEE's 1.44x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), T scores 7/9 vs NEE's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | TAT&T Inc. | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +17.3% | +10.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.2% | +3.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.0% | +4.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.8% | +4.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.23x | 1.44x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $136.8B | $92.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $18.2B | $2.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $155.0B | $95.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.55x | 1.81x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in T five years ago would be worth $16,283 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,627 for NEE. Over the past 12 months, NEE leads with a +37.8% total return vs T's +6.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors T at 18.3% vs NEE's 12.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | TAT&T Inc. | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.1% | +16.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.2% | +37.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.7% | +41.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +62.8% | +36.3% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +59.8% | +287.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.3% | +12.1% |
Risk & Volatility
T is the less volatile stock with a 0.12 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. NEE currently trades 97.8% from its 52-week high vs T's 94.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | TAT&T Inc. | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.12x | 0.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $29.79 | $95.91 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $22.95 | $61.72 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.0% | +97.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.6 | 56.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 36.9M | 7.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates T as "Hold" and NEE as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 4.0% upside for T (target: $29) vs -0.5% for NEE (target: $93). For income investors, T offers the higher dividend yield at 4.07% vs NEE's 2.39%.
| Metric | TAT&T Inc. | NEENextEra Energy, I… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $29.12 | $93.27 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 61 | 36 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.1% | +2.4% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 30 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.14 | $2.24 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.3% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 100 | 98.95 | -1.1% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 100 | 136.62 | +36.6% |
AT&T Inc. (T) returned +63% over 5 years vs NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)'s +36%. A $10,000 investment in T 5 years ago would be worth $16,283 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Inc. (T) | $163.8B | $125.6B | -23.3% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | $16.1B | $27.5B | +70.3% |
AT&T Inc.'s revenue grew from $163.8B (2016) to $125.6B (2025) — a -2.9% CAGR. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 7.9% | 17.4% | +119.9% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 18.0% | 24.9% | +37.8% |
AT&T Inc.'s net margin went from 8% (2016) to 17% (2025). NextEra Energy, Inc.'s net margin went from 18% (2016) to 25% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 6.2 | 8.2 | +32.3% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 13.8 | 24.4 | +76.8% |
AT&T Inc. has traded in a 6x–16x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~9x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Inc. (T) | 2.1 | 3.04 | +44.8% |
| NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) | 1.56 | 3.29 | +110.9% |
AT&T Inc.'s EPS grew from $2.10 (2016) to $3.04 (2025) — a 4% CAGR. NextEra Energy, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.56 (2016) to $3.29 (2025) — a 9% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AT&T Inc. generated $19B FCF in 2025 (+97% vs 2021). NextEra Energy, Inc. generated $-12B FCF in 2025 (-101% vs 2021).
T vs NEE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is T or NEE a better buy right now?
AT&T Inc. (T) offers the better valuation at 9.2x trailing P/E (12.3x 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 — T or NEE?
On trailing P/E, AT&T Inc. (T) is the cheapest at 9.2x versus NextEra Energy, Inc. at 28.5x. On forward P/E, AT&T Inc. is actually cheaper at 12.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — T or NEE?
Over the past 5 years, AT&T Inc. (T) delivered a total return of +62.8%, compared to +36.3% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE). A $10,000 investment in T five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NEE returned +287.2% versus T's +59.8%. 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 — T or NEE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), AT&T Inc. (T) is the lower-risk stock at 0.12β versus NextEra Energy, Inc.'s 0.35β — meaning NEE is approximately 198% more volatile than T relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, AT&T Inc. (T) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 123% versus 144% for NextEra Energy, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — T or NEE?
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) is the more profitable company, earning 24.9% net margin versus 17.4% for AT&T 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 19.2% for T. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — T leads at 79.8%, 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 T or NEE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AT&T Inc. (T) trades at 12.3x forward P/E versus 23.3x for NextEra Energy, Inc. — 11.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for T: 4.0% to $29.12.
07Which pays a better dividend — T or NEE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. AT&T Inc. (T) offers the highest yield at 4.1%, versus 2.4% for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE).
08Is T or NEE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, AT&T Inc. (T) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.12), 4.1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (T: +59.8%, 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 T and NEE?
These companies operate in different sectors (T (Communication Services) and NEE (Utilities)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced. In terms of investment character: T is a mid-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.
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- Sector: Communication Services
- Market Cap > $100B
- Net Margin > 10%
- Dividend Yield > 1.6%