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

How do CMS Energy (CMS) 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

CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while NEE is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Profile ItemCMSNEE
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockNextEra Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD182.36 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%7.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%20.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%3.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%21.60%
Beta (5Y)0.310.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-44.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M11.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.350.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.490.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 14.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on equity.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
ROE (TTM)5.31%14.06%
ROA (TTM)3.07%2.41%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%40.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%33.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%60.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 10.74% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CMS.

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

EPS Growth

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% 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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%10.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%9.36%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%-2.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%16.28%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 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.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.950.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.961.53
Net Debt / EBITDA6.338.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.76% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%2.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%43.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 15.67 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.33 sits in the pricier quartile — NEE costs more per dollar of sales.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.97 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
Q3
2.21
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. NextEra Energy (NEE): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
MetricCMSNEE
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7115.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.426.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.282.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%-11.63%