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 (3.51% vs 2.96% 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 rate | 3.51% | 2.96% |
| Distribution Safety Score™ | 99 | 99 |
| Safety-Adjusted Yield | 3.47% | 2.93% |
| 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 | 0.364 | 0.644 |
| 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 (3.51% vs 2.96% 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 | 3.51% | 2.96% |
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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 3.51% vs 2.96% 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 $29.25/month, while NEE would produce $24.67/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 0.364 for DUK and 0.644 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 3.51% and 2.96% 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 rate for DUK and NEE?
DUK currently distributes 3.51% and NEE 2.96%, based on fund data updated September 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 99, NEE scores 99. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. DUK has also shown lower price volatility (beta 0.36 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 $29.25 per month ($351.00 annually). The same in NEE would produce about $24.67 per month ($296.00 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 September 5, 2026.
Overview
Duke Energy and NextEra Energy are both dividend-paying utility stocks serving North American power markets, but they differ in generation mix and geographic footprint. DUK operates traditional regulated electric and gas utilities across the Southeast and Midwest, while NEE blends regulated utility operations with a large renewable and nuclear generation portfolio. The key distinction is growth profile: NEE has built substantial wind and solar assets positioned to benefit from energy transition tailwinds, whereas DUK remains more anchored to its legacy thermal and regulated utility base.
How they differ
NEE's strategy centers on renewable and nuclear generation alongside regulated utility operations, while DUK focuses primarily on regulated electric and gas utility service delivery in specific regions. This shows up in volatility: DUK has a beta of 0.371, indicating lower sensitivity to broad market moves, versus NEE's 0.653. DUK offers a higher distribution yield at 3.51% compared to NEE's 2.96%, though both pay quarterly. NEE's growth assets in renewables and battery storage position it for faster earnings expansion in a decarbonizing grid, while DUK's model relies more on rate-base growth and regulatory recovery in its existing territories. Operationally, NEE spans North America with generation assets in multiple states and Canada; DUK's geographic reach is more concentrated in the Southeast and Midwest.
Who each is best for
- DUK: Fits investors seeking stable income with lower portfolio volatility, comfortable with a mature utility's steady but modest paced returns and less exposed to energy-transition upside.
- NEE: Designed for income investors with a longer time horizon who want exposure to renewable energy growth within a dividend-paying framework and can tolerate higher market sensitivity than traditional utilities.
Key risks to know
- Regulated utility rate risk: Both stocks depend on state and federal regulatory decisions affecting allowed returns on assets. Changes to rate structures or delays in rate cases could compress margins or slow dividend growth.
- Interest rate sensitivity: Utilities finance long-lived infrastructure with debt. Rising rates increase borrowing costs and can pressure stock valuations, particularly affecting NEE more given its higher beta and growth-asset financing needs.
- Energy transition execution risk for NEE: While renewable assets offer long-term upside, NEE faces execution risk on large capital projects, integration of acquired generation, and cost overruns in battery and grid-modernization initiatives that could weigh on near-term earnings.
- Legacy fuel dependence for DUK: DUK's ongoing reliance on coal and natural gas generation exposes it to potential regulatory pressure or stranded-asset risk if carbon regulations accelerate faster than planned retirements and transitions.
- Dividend sustainability: DUK's higher 3.51% yield, while attractive, will require earnings growth to sustain without erosion; NEE's lower yield offers more cushion if growth disappoints.
Bottom line
If you prioritize current income and portfolio stability, DUK's lower beta and higher yield appeal; if you're willing to accept more volatility for exposure to renewable energy growth and a longer earnings runway, NEE's diversified generation model offers different return drivers. Both are dividend-paying utility stocks and carry the interest-rate and regulatory risks inherent to the sector—past performance doesn't 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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