AES vs. NEE: AES vs. NextEra Energy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while NEE is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Profile Item	AES	NEE
Name	The AES Corporation	NextEra Energy Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	10.61 billion USD	182.36 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 26, 1991	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES

NEE

GSPC

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
Total Return (1Y)	10.79%	7.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	3.44%	20.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-5.12%	3.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES

NEE

GSPC

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.19%	21.60%
Beta (5Y)	0.93	0.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-63.43%	-44.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)	8.50M	11.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AES and NEE are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.26	0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.33	0.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 14.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while AES (AES) at 8.68% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NEE.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
AES: 8.68%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

NEE

Utilities industry group

14.06%

Max: 17.99%
NEE: 14.06%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
Min: 2.17%

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 40.37% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while AES (AES) at 13.16% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
AES: 13.16%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

NEE

Utilities industry group

40.37%

NEE: 40.37%
Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
Min: -0.20%

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 33.00% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of AES (AES) at 23.89%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AES

Utilities industry group

23.89%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
AES: 23.89%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

NEE

Utilities industry group

33.00%

Max: 53.83%
NEE: 33.00%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
Q1: 15.45%
Min: -4.90%

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
ROE (TTM)	8.68%	14.06%
ROA (TTM)	3.13%	2.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	13.16%	40.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	23.89%	33.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)	21.34%	60.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 10.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while AES (AES) at -0.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

NextEra Energy (NEE) at -2.63% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while AES (AES) at -46.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	-0.37%	10.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	-1.03%	9.36%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-46.61%	-2.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	16.28%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 0.86 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 0.53 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NEE.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
AES: 0.86
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.29

NEE

Utilities industry group

0.53

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
NEE: 0.53
Min: 0.29

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 1.53 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AES (AES) at 2.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

2.43

Max: 2.63
AES: 2.43
Q3: 1.77
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

NEE

Utilities industry group

1.53

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
NEE: 1.53
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	0.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.43	1.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	7.28	8.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.76% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AES the richer one.

AES

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max: 6.66%
AES: 4.73%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.76%

Max: 6.66%
Q3: 3.58%
Median: 2.85%
NEE: 2.76%
Q1: 0.66%
Min: 0.00%

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 43.89% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; AES (AES) at 28.27% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AES

Utilities industry group

28.27%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
Q1: 32.38%
AES: 28.27%
Min: 0.00%

NEE

Utilities industry group

43.89%

Max: 113.04%
Q3: 68.72%
Median: 56.38%
NEE: 43.89%
Q1: 32.38%
Min: 0.00%

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.73%	2.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	28.27%	43.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 15.67 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AES, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AES

Utilities industry group

5.97

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
Q1: 15.17
AES: 5.97
Min: 3.34

NEE

Utilities industry group

15.67

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
Median: 19.64
NEE: 15.67
Q1: 15.17
Min: 3.34

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 0.78 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.33 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
AES: 0.78
Min: 0.00

NEE

Utilities industry group

6.33

Max: 6.35
NEE: 6.33
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.52
Min: 0.00

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AES (AES) at 1.86 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.97 carries an above-peer premium to book — NEE is pricier on assets.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
AES: 1.86
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.97

Max: 3.12
NEE: 2.97
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
Q1: 1.46
Min: 0.34

AES (AES) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AES (AES) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	AES	NEE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	5.97	15.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.78	6.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.86	2.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-30.54%	-11.63%