Stock Comparison
NEE vs DUK: Renewables Scale, or a Classic Regulated Utility?
A head-to-head of NextEra Energy and Duke Energy covering dividends, generation mix, and footprint.
Data updated September 4, 2026
Best for
- DUKInvestors who want higher current income (3.53% vs 3.00% for NEE).
- NEEInvestors who want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
Visual comparison
Key metrics
Projected income on $10K
Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
DUK has lagged NEE over the trailing twelve months, posting a 2.42% total return against 19.82%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: NEE has compounded at 13.16% a year, against 8.35% for DUK. DUK has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.9% against 27.3% for NEE. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
| Symbol | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Since Mar 1980 | Volatility | Sharpe | Sortino | Max drawdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUK | 5.05% | 2.42% | 15.82% | 6.64% | 8.35% | 11.59% | 16.9% | 0.61 | 0.86 | -11.6% |
| NEE | 5.34% | 19.82% | 11.28% | 2.17% | 13.16% | 13.73% | 27.3% | 0.23 | 0.31 | -28.8% |
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer are annualized. “Since Mar 1980” measures every fund from March 17, 1980 — the youngest fund's first trading day — 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 | $120.22 as of September 4, 2026 | $83.43 as of September 4, 2026 |
| Distribution yield | 3.53% | 3.00% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 99 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 3.49% | 2.97% |
| 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 | 0.371 | 0.653 |
| Last dividend | $1.085 declared, pays 09/16/2026 | $0.6232 declared, pays 09/15/2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | 08/14/2026 | 08/28/2026 |
Bottom lineChoose DUK if you want higher current income (3.53% vs 3.00% for NEE). Choose NEE if you want direct ownership of the underlying business, with no fund wrapper or management fee.
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 yield | 3.53% | 3.00% |
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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 3.53% vs 3.00% 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 $29.42/month, while NEE would produce $25.00/month, 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 0.371 for DUK and 0.653 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 3.53% and 3.00% as of September 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 yield for DUK and NEE?
DUK currently distributes 3.53% and NEE 3.00%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution yield 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 99, NEE scores 99. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. DUK has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.37 vs 0.65 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 $29.42 per month ($353.00 annually). The same in NEE would produce about $25.00 per month ($300.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, DUK or NEE?
DUK has lagged NEE over the trailing twelve months, posting a 2.42% total return against 19.82%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: NEE has compounded at 13.16% a year, against 8.35% for DUK. DUK has been the steadier holding, though — annualized volatility of 16.9% against 27.3% 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 August 29, 2026.
Overview
DUK and NEE are both utility stocks paying quarterly dividends, but they operate in distinct regulatory and generation environments. Duke Energy is a traditional regulated utility focused on electric and gas service in the Southeast and Midwest, while NextEra Energy is a diversified utility with substantial renewable generation (wind, solar, nuclear) across North America. The key distinction is exposure: DUK is a pure-play regional utility, while NEE blends regulated utility assets with a large renewable energy development platform.
How they differ
The biggest difference is generation mix and growth profile. DUK operates as a traditional rate-regulated utility in two regions; NEE owns both regulated utility operations (Florida Power & Light) and a separate renewable energy development business (NextEra Energy Resources) that builds and operates wind and solar projects. This gives NEE exposure to the growth of renewable energy infrastructure, while DUK's earnings are more tied to rate recovery and service-area growth.
Second, DUK offers a higher distribution yield at 3.53% versus NEE's 3.00%, reflecting the market's pricing of DUK as a lower-growth, higher-income holding. DUK also carries materially lower beta (0.371 versus NEE's 0.653), suggesting it swings less sharply with broader market moves—typical for a regional utility with steady rate-regulated cash flows.
Third, the stocks diverge on financial risk profile. NEE's renewable platform exposes shareholders to execution risk on development projects and wholesale power prices; DUK's regulated utility model insulates earnings from commodity volatility but ties returns to regulatory outcomes and the pace of capital investment recovery. DUK trades at $120.22; NEE at $83.43.
Who each is best for
DUK: Fits investors who prioritize income stability and lower portfolio volatility, with patience for modest dividend growth tied to regulated rate recovery and service-area expansion.
NEE: Fits investors comfortable with higher market sensitivity in exchange for exposure to the long-term renewable energy buildout, accepting lower current yield for potential capital appreciation and dividend growth as the renewable platform scales.
Key risks to know
- Regulatory risk for both. Rate decisions by state public utility commissions determine the profitability and dividend growth of both stocks. Unfavorable rulings or compressed allowed returns can pressure earnings and dividend growth.
- Capital intensity and financing risk. Both utilities require large ongoing capital investment in infrastructure. Rising interest rates increase the cost of financing these programs, which can constrain dividend growth or require regulatory approval of higher rates.
- NEE's renewable project execution risk. NextEra Resources depends on successfully developing, permitting, and integrating wind and solar projects. Delays, cost overruns, or lower-than-expected power prices can erode profitability at that segment.
- DUK's geographic concentration. Duke serves primarily the Southeast and Midwest; slower growth in those regions or adverse regulatory outcomes in key states pose outsized earnings risk relative to a more geographically diversified utility.
- Transition risk for both. Aging fossil generation and shifting energy policy create uncertainty in long-term asset values and return assumptions, particularly if regulatory frameworks change faster than asset retirements can offset.
Bottom line
DUK prioritizes current income with lower volatility; NEE trades current yield for growth and renewable energy exposure. If you want a steady, lower-risk income stream from a traditional utility, DUK's higher yield and lower beta appeal. If you're comfortable with market sensitivity and seek participation in the energy transition, NEE's renewable platform and upside potential merit consideration. Past performance does not predict future returns.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
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