Stock Comparison
DUK vs NEE: Renewables Scale, or a Classic Regulated Utility?
A head-to-head of NextEra Energy and Duke Energy covering dividends, generation mix, and footprint.
Updated October 16, 2026
How these figures are calculated: methodology.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
DUK has outpaced NEE over the trailing twelve months, posting a -1.31% total return against -3.48%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — NEE has compounded at 12.76% a year, ahead of DUK at 8.97%. DUK has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.6% against 25.7% for NEE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD cumulative | 1Y cumulative | 3Y annualized | 5Y annualized | 10Y annualized | Since Mar 1980 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUK | 6.35% | -1.31% | 14.98% | 7.97% | 8.97% | 11.59% | 16.6% | 0.59 | 0.85 | -13.7% |
| NEE | 1.57% | -3.48% | 17.06% | 2.25% | 12.76% | 13.58% | 25.7% | 0.45 | 0.63 | -23.8% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Mar 1980” measures every fund from March 17, 1980 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Side-by-side snapshot
| Metric |  DUK |  NEE |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Duke Energy Corporation | NextEra Energy, Inc. |
| Issuer | — | NextEra Energy |
| Last Close | $121.47 as of October 16, 2026 | $79.80 as of October 16, 2026 |
| Distribution rate | 3.57% | 3.12% |
| Trailing 12-month yield | 3.52% | 3.05% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 97 | 97 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 3.46% | 3.03% |
| Expense ratio | — | — |
| AUM | — | — |
| Distribution frequency | Quarterly | Quarterly |
| Underlying index | — | — |
| Objective | Provides electric and gas utility services to residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in the southeastern and midwestern United States. | Generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power including wind, solar, and nuclear energy in North America. |
| Asset class | Equity | Equity |
| Inception date | N/A | N/A |
| Beta | 0.345 | 0.639 |
| Last dividend | $1.085 declared, pays 12/16/2026 | $0.6232 |
| Ex-dividend date | 11/13/2026 upcoming | 08/28/2026 |
Bottom lineDUK and NEE are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar electric utility exposure with very similar cost and risk. Neither charges a fund expense ratio, so the decision rests on business fundamentals, payout history, and valuation.
NEE vs DUK: renewables book or classic utility?
Both pay a quarterly utility dividend. NextEra pairs Florida regulated operations with a large renewables platform; Duke is a multi-state regulated utility.
| DUK | NEE | |
|---|---|---|
| Mix | Florida utility plus renewables | Multi-state regulated utility |
| Payout | Quarterly dividend | Quarterly dividend |
| Distribution rate | 3.57% | 3.12% |
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Quick verdict
DUK (Duke Energy Corporation) and NEE (NextEra Energy, Inc.) are both quarterly-pay dividend-paying stocks, but they take different approaches.
DUK offers the higher yield at 3.57% vs 3.12% for NEE. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, DUK would generate roughly $89.25 cash per distribution, while NEE would produce $78.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.
Strategy & risk
DUK is a stock built around electric utility exposure, while NEE is a stock built around renewable energy utility exposure. Beta is 0.345 for DUK and 0.639 for NEE, making DUK the less volatile of the two by this measure.
Security details
DUK (Duke Energy Corporation) is a stock. NEE (NextEra Energy, Inc.) is a stock.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between NEE and DUK?
DUK (Duke Energy Corporation) and NEE (NextEra Energy, Inc.) are both US utilities that pay quarterly. Distributions are 3.57% and 3.12% as of October 2026. NextEra pairs a Florida utility with a large renewables book; Duke is a multi-state regulated utility. Mix and payout history, not a small yield gap, are the decision.
What is the current distribution rate for DUK and NEE?
DUK currently distributes 3.57% and NEE 3.12%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is DUK or NEE better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. DUK currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between DUK and NEE?
DUK (Duke Energy Corporation) is a stock built around electric utility exposure, while NEE (NextEra Energy, Inc.) is a stock built around renewable energy utility exposure. They are issued by — and NextEra Energy respectively.
Can I hold both DUK and NEE?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is DUK or NEE safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: DUK scores 97, NEE scores 97. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. DUK has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.34 vs 0.64 for NEE). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.
How much income does $10,000 in DUK vs NEE generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in DUK would generate roughly $89.25 cash per distribution ($357.00 annually). The same in NEE would produce about $78.00 cash per distribution ($312.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, DUK or NEE?
DUK has outpaced NEE over the trailing twelve months, posting a -1.31% total return against -3.48%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — NEE has compounded at 12.76% a year, ahead of DUK at 8.97%. DUK has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.6% against 25.7% for NEE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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DUK vs NEE — at a glance
Generated October 17, 2026.
Overview
Duke Energy and NextEra Energy are both utility stocks paying quarterly dividends, but they differ in their generation mix and geographic footprint. Duke operates traditional coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants serving the Southeast and Midwest; NextEra combines Florida Power & Light (conventional generation) with NextEra Energy Resources, a large renewable platform focused on wind and solar. Both are defensive income plays in the regulated utility space, but their energy transition exposure and volatility profiles diverge meaningfully.
How they differ
The biggest structural difference is generation strategy: Duke relies on a balanced portfolio including significant coal and gas capacity in regulated markets, while NextEra has pivoted toward renewables through its subsidiary, making it a play on both utility dividends and clean-energy scale. Duke trades at $121.47 per share with a 3.57% distribution rate; NextEra sits at $79.80 with a 3.12% yield, so Duke's higher payout reflects its traditional utility model. On risk, Duke's beta of 0.345 is notably lower than NextEra's 0.639, indicating Duke is more defensive against broader market swings—a reflection of Duke's concentrated, rate-regulated footprint versus NextEra's more complex business spanning renewables development and wholesale power markets.
Who each is best for
- DUK: Fits investors seeking maximum portfolio stability and lower market-driven volatility, with a preference for straightforward regulated-utility dividends from established thermal and nuclear generation.
- NEE: Fits investors comfortable with slightly higher sensitivity to equity-market moves, drawn to exposure to renewable-energy growth within a dividend-paying utility structure and willing to tolerate a modestly lower current yield for transition upside.
Key risks to know
- Regulatory and rate risk: Both utilities depend on state regulatory approval for rate increases to sustain dividend growth. Changes in regulatory treatment or a shift toward stricter rate caps could pressure earnings and future distributions.
- Energy transition and asset stranding: Duke's coal-heavy generation portfolio faces long-term headwinds as coal retirements accelerate; NextEra's renewable focus is an advantage, but rapid deployment of renewables also exposes it to refinancing risk and wholesale-power-price volatility in competitive markets.
- Interest-rate sensitivity: Utilities are capital-intensive and refinance debt regularly. Rising rates increase borrowing costs, which can squeeze margins and limit dividend growth—a risk that weighs more heavily on NextEra given its growth-capex profile in renewables development.
- Execution risk on renewable buildout: NextEra's strategy hinges on continued development of wind and solar projects at attractive returns; delays, supply-chain disruptions, or disappointing project economics could slow earnings growth and dampen dividend trajectory.
Bottom line
Duke offers lower volatility and a modestly higher yield for investors prioritizing stability within a traditional utility framework; NextEra provides exposure to renewable-energy scale with a lower current payout but greater long-term upside if clean-energy deployment accelerates. The choice depends on whether you value current income and defensive characteristics or accept near-term market sensitivity for cleaner energy exposure. Past performance does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.