FE vs. NEE: FirstEnergy vs. NextEra Energy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do FirstEnergy (FE) 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

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Profile Item	FE	NEE
Name	FirstEnergy Corp.	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	26.88 billion USD	182.36 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	November 10, 1997	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NEE

GSPC

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
Total Return (1Y)	5.62%	7.27%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	14.20%	20.47%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	8.32%	3.34%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NEE

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	16.31%	21.60%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	0.59
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-28.59%	-44.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)	4.29M	11.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FE 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.08	0.14
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.11	0.21

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 14.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 10.04% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for NEE.

FE

Utilities industry group

10.04%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
FE: 10.04%
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%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

NextEra Energy (NEE) at 40.37% retains an above-range share of revenue as profit, while FirstEnergy (FE) at 7.49% keeps a bottom-quartile share — a wide gap in how much each sales dollar survives to the bottom line.

FE

Utilities industry group

7.49%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
Median: 12.73%
Q1: 9.18%
FE: 7.49%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 21.24%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

FE

Utilities industry group

21.24%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
Median: 23.62%
FE: 21.24%
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%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
ROE (TTM)	10.04%	14.06%
ROA (TTM)	3.66%	2.41%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.49%	40.37%
Operating Margin (TTM)	21.24%	33.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)	69.63%	60.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 12.01% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.53% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
Revenue Growth (YoY)	12.01%	10.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.59%	9.36%
EPS Growth (YoY)	3.53%	-2.63%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	35.34%	16.28%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 0.38 and NextEra Energy (NEE) at 0.53 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

FE

Utilities industry group

0.38

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
Q1: 0.66
FE: 0.38
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

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 uses more debt funding than most peers.

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 2.63
FE: 2.07
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

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.38	0.53
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.07	1.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.85	8.09

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 3.90% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while NextEra Energy (NEE) at 2.76% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FE the richer one.

FE

Utilities industry group

3.90%

Max: 6.66%
FE: 3.90%
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%

FirstEnergy (FE) 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 FirstEnergy (FE) at 87.92% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FE

Utilities industry group

87.92%

Max: 113.04%
FE: 87.92%
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%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.90%	2.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	87.92%	43.89%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both FirstEnergy (FE) at 22.43 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.

FE

Utilities industry group

22.43

Max: 31.22
Q3: 23.30
FE: 22.43
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

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 1.68 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.

FE

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
FE: 1.68
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

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

FirstEnergy (FE) at 2.07 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.

FE

Utilities industry group

2.07

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
FE: 2.07
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

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for FirstEnergy (FE) and NextEra Energy (NEE)
Metric	FE	NEE
P/E Ratio (TTM)	22.43	15.67
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.68	6.33
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.07	2.97
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-9.48%	-11.63%