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ATO vs. NEE: Atmos Energy vs. NextEra Energy Stock Comparison

How do Atmos Energy (ATO) 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

Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while NEE is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Profile ItemATONEE
NameAtmos Energy CorporationNextEra Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryGas UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryGas UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization29.27 billion USD182.36 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 28, 1983February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ATO
NEE
GSPC
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Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
Total Return (1Y)0.43%7.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.83%20.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.10%3.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ATO
NEE
GSPC
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Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)16.06%21.60%
Beta (5Y)0.550.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)-19.08%-44.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.03M11.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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ATO 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.240.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.340.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 14.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NEE.

ATO

Utilities industry group

9.79%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
ATO
9.79%
Median
9.44%
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%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 40.37% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% also retains a top-quartile share.

ATO

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max
28.78%
ATO
28.50%
Q3
17.30%
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%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 33.00% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

ATO

Utilities industry group

37.22%

Max
53.83%
ATO
37.22%
Q3
31.12%
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%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
ROE (TTM)9.79%14.06%
ROA (TTM)3.89%2.41%
Net Margin (TTM)28.50%40.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.22%33.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)62.21%60.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 10.74% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at -2.63% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.91%10.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.83%9.36%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.22%-2.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.03%16.28%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.81

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
ATO
0.81
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
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 1.53 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
ATO
0.68
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
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Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.810.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.681.53
Net Debt / EBITDA3.748.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.76% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ATO

Utilities industry group

2.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
ATO
2.21%
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%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 43.89% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

ATO

Utilities industry group

46.13%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
ATO
46.13%
Q1
32.38%
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%
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%2.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)46.13%43.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 15.67 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

20.65

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
ATO
20.65
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
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
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.33 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

ATO

Utilities industry group

5.95

Max
6.35
ATO
5.95
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
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
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

1.92

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
ATO
1.92
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
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Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricATONEE
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.6515.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.956.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.922.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.59%-11.63%