We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
NEE or DUK: Which Utility Stock to Hold Before Q3 Earnings?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Utility provides basic services and is not affected by volatility in the market. Most Utility companies are mature, fundamentally strong and focused on domestic as well as industrial usages. These companies are generally regulated, generate power as well as operate transmission and distribution lines.
Consistent investment is required to upgrade, maintain and replace older wires, electric poles as well as power stations. These stocks are capital intensive, at the federal and state levels. Steady performance, stable earnings and cash flow enable these companies to reward investors through regular dividends. It is an appropriate investment option for systematic long-term income.
The Utility sector is expected to register an earnings growth of 5.7% in the third quarter of 2018. (For more details read our weekly Earnings Preview report)
However, investors should also be aware of weaknesses in the industry. Stringent emission rules, weather fluctuation and higher debt loads amid rising interest rates are major concerns for utilities.
In this write up, we run a comparative analysis on two prominent electric power utilities — NextEra Energy, Inc (NEE - Free Report) and Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) — to ascertain which one is a better option to hold.
Duke Energy Corporation, holding a Zacks Rank #3, has a market capitalization of $57.99 billion.
Earnings Surprise History
NextEra Energy outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 3.01%. Duke Energy also delivered positive earnings surprises in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 1.70%. NextEra Energy has an edge here.
Price Performance
Shares of NextEra Energy have gained 7.1% and Duke Energy’s shares have improved 5.9% compared with the industry’s rise of 3.8% in the past 6 months. The price movement of NextEra Energy is better compared with the same for Duke Energy.
Debt-to-Capital
The debt-to-capital is a good indicator of the financial position of a company. The indicator shows how much debt is used to run the business. NextEra Energy has a debt-to-capital of 43.94% compared with the industry’s 49.64%. Meanwhile, Duke Energy has a debt-to-capital of 53.98%. NextEra Energy wins this round.
Return on Equity (ROE)
ROE is a measure of a company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholder’s funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Duke Energy and NextEra Energy is 7.92% and 10.49%, respectively. Both the companies have outperformed the industry’s level of 7.06%. NextEra Energy has an edge over Duke Energy.
Dividend Yields
Utility companies generally distribute dividends. Currently, the dividend yield for NextEra Energy is at 2.58%, lower than 4.56% of Duke Energy. Duke Energy’s dividend yield is higher than the industry’s 3.22% and it wins this round.
Long-Term Growth Expectations
In terms of long-term earnings growth expectations, NextEra Energy outperforms Duke Energy. The expected earnings per share growth rate for NextEra Energy for the next five years is pegged at 8.38% compared with 4.64% for Duke Energy.
The Verdict
Our comparative analysis shows that NextEra Energy holds an edge over Duke Energy in terms of earnings surprise history, price movement, debt-to-capital, ROE measures and long-term growth expectations. However, Duke Energy has an edge in terms of dividend yield. As the scale is tipped in favor of NextEra Energy, it is a stick that should be retained in a portfolio.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
Image: Bigstock
NEE or DUK: Which Utility Stock to Hold Before Q3 Earnings?
Utility provides basic services and is not affected by volatility in the market. Most Utility companies are mature, fundamentally strong and focused on domestic as well as industrial usages. These companies are generally regulated, generate power as well as operate transmission and distribution lines.
Consistent investment is required to upgrade, maintain and replace older wires, electric poles as well as power stations. These stocks are capital intensive, at the federal and state levels. Steady performance, stable earnings and cash flow enable these companies to reward investors through regular dividends. It is an appropriate investment option for systematic long-term income.
The Utility sector is expected to register an earnings growth of 5.7% in the third quarter of 2018. (For more details read our weekly Earnings Preview report)
The Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry’s dividend yield of 3.22% is higher than the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s 1.82%.
However, investors should also be aware of weaknesses in the industry. Stringent emission rules, weather fluctuation and higher debt loads amid rising interest rates are major concerns for utilities.
In this write up, we run a comparative analysis on two prominent electric power utilities — NextEra Energy, Inc (NEE - Free Report) and Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) — to ascertain which one is a better option to hold.
NextEra Energy, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), has a market capitalization of around $ 81.29 billion and is among the leading Electric power companies globally. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Duke Energy Corporation, holding a Zacks Rank #3, has a market capitalization of $57.99 billion.
Earnings Surprise History
NextEra Energy outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 3.01%. Duke Energy also delivered positive earnings surprises in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average positive earnings surprise of 1.70%. NextEra Energy has an edge here.
Price Performance
Shares of NextEra Energy have gained 7.1% and Duke Energy’s shares have improved 5.9% compared with the industry’s rise of 3.8% in the past 6 months. The price movement of NextEra Energy is better compared with the same for Duke Energy.
Debt-to-Capital
The debt-to-capital is a good indicator of the financial position of a company. The indicator shows how much debt is used to run the business. NextEra Energy has a debt-to-capital of 43.94% compared with the industry’s 49.64%. Meanwhile, Duke Energy has a debt-to-capital of 53.98%. NextEra Energy wins this round.
Return on Equity (ROE)
ROE is a measure of a company’s efficiency in utilizing shareholder’s funds. ROE for the trailing 12-months for Duke Energy and NextEra Energy is 7.92% and 10.49%, respectively. Both the companies have outperformed the industry’s level of 7.06%. NextEra Energy has an edge over Duke Energy.
Dividend Yields
Utility companies generally distribute dividends. Currently, the dividend yield for NextEra Energy is at 2.58%, lower than 4.56% of Duke Energy. Duke Energy’s dividend yield is higher than the industry’s 3.22% and it wins this round.
Long-Term Growth Expectations
In terms of long-term earnings growth expectations, NextEra Energy outperforms Duke Energy. The expected earnings per share growth rate for NextEra Energy for the next five years is pegged at 8.38% compared with 4.64% for Duke Energy.
The Verdict
Our comparative analysis shows that NextEra Energy holds an edge over Duke Energy in terms of earnings surprise history, price movement, debt-to-capital, ROE measures and long-term growth expectations. However, Duke Energy has an edge in terms of dividend yield. As the scale is tipped in favor of NextEra Energy, it is a stick that should be retained in a portfolio.
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them Free>>