DUK vs. NEE: Duke Energy vs. NextEra Energy Stock Comparison

July 10, 2026

How do Duke Energy (DUK) 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

Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Profile Item	DUK	NEE
Name	Duke Energy Corporation	NextEra Energy, Inc.
Country/Region	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	97.65 billion USD	181.66 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DUK

NEE

GSPC

Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
Total Return (1Y)	10.64%	20.80%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	16.13%	9.45%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.58%	5.63%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DUK

NEE

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	15.49%	22.83%
Beta (5Y)	0.38	0.67
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-24.16%	-44.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)	3.41M	11.42M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

DUK 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.42	0.73
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.61	1.07

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 9.66% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 10.33% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

DUK

Utilities industry group

9.66%

Max: 16.11%
Q3: 11.15%
DUK: 9.66%
Median: 9.46%
Q1: 7.50%
Min: 2.67%

NEE

Utilities industry group

10.33%

Max: 16.11%
Q3: 11.15%
NEE: 10.33%
Median: 9.46%
Q1: 7.50%
Min: 2.67%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 29.37% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Duke Energy (DUK) at 15.71%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

DUK

Utilities industry group

15.71%

Max: 29.37%
Q3: 17.31%
DUK: 15.71%
Median: 12.55%
Q1: 9.24%
Min: -0.65%

NEE

Utilities industry group

29.37%

NEE: 29.37%
Max: 29.37%
Q3: 17.31%
Median: 12.55%
Q1: 9.24%
Min: -0.65%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 30.18% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Duke Energy (DUK) at 25.51%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

DUK

Utilities industry group

25.51%

Max: 43.52%
Q3: 30.09%
DUK: 25.51%
Median: 23.50%
Q1: 16.61%
Min: 0.00%

NEE

Utilities industry group

30.18%

Max: 43.52%
NEE: 30.18%
Q3: 30.09%
Median: 23.50%
Q1: 16.61%
Min: 0.00%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
ROE (TTM)	9.66%	10.33%
ROA (TTM)	2.78%	2.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.71%	29.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	25.51%	30.18%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.05%	61.40%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.19%	10.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.87%	9.36%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
EPS Growth (YoY)	10.51%	-2.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	23.75%	16.28%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 0.66 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 0.54 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NEE.

DUK

Utilities industry group

0.66

Max: 1.88
Q3: 1.16
Median: 0.90
DUK: 0.66
Q1: 0.65
Min: 0.33

NEE

Utilities industry group

0.54

Max: 1.88
Q3: 1.16
Median: 0.90
Q1: 0.65
NEE: 0.54
Min: 0.33

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.61 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 1.57 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max: 3.02
Q3: 1.81
DUK: 1.61
Median: 1.34
Q1: 0.85
Min: 0.00

NEE

Utilities industry group

1.57

Max: 3.02
Q3: 1.81
NEE: 1.57
Median: 1.34
Q1: 0.85
Min: 0.00

Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.66	0.54
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.61	1.57
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.41	7.23

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 3.34% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.66% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

DUK

Utilities industry group

3.34%

Max: 5.78%
Q3: 3.76%
DUK: 3.34%
Median: 2.88%
Q1: 1.89%
Min: 0.00%

NEE

Utilities industry group

2.66%

Max: 5.78%
Q3: 3.76%
Median: 2.88%
NEE: 2.66%
Q1: 1.89%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 65.23% and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 58.95% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

DUK

Utilities industry group

65.23%

Max: 116.67%
Q3: 73.40%
DUK: 65.23%
Median: 58.69%
Q1: 36.87%
Min: 0.00%

NEE

Utilities industry group

58.95%

Max: 116.67%
Q3: 73.40%
NEE: 58.95%
Median: 58.69%
Q1: 36.87%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.34%	2.66%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	65.23%	58.95%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 19.48 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 22.16 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

19.48

Max: 32.52
Q3: 24.20
Median: 20.61
DUK: 19.48
Q1: 16.26
Min: 5.02

NEE

Utilities industry group

22.16

Max: 32.52
Q3: 24.20
NEE: 22.16
Median: 20.61
Q1: 16.26
Min: 5.02

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 2.98 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 6.52 clears its benchmark range — NEE looks notably rich on sales.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.98

Max: 6.21
Q3: 3.59
DUK: 2.98
Median: 2.71
Q1: 1.65
Min: 0.00

NEE

Utilities industry group

6.52

NEE: 6.52
Max: 6.21
Q3: 3.59
Median: 2.71
Q1: 1.65
Min: 0.00

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.82 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 3.29 carries an above-peer premium to book — NEE is pricier on assets.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.82

Max: 3.79
Q3: 2.40
Median: 1.92
DUK: 1.82
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.37

NEE

Utilities industry group

3.29

Max: 3.79
NEE: 3.29
Q3: 2.40
Median: 1.92
Q1: 1.43
Min: 0.37

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	DUK	NEE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.48	22.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.98	6.52
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.82	3.29
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-2.30%	-10.16%