Comparing NextEra Energy and The Southern Company for Your Utility Portfolio

NextEra Energy (NEE) and The Southern Company (SO) are both prominent US electric utilities investing in renewable energy. NextEra Energy's regulated utility arm and unregulated renewable energy subsidiary make it a strong player in the industry. The Southern Company's regulated operations and forward-looking clean energy investments position it well to navigate the energy transition. Both companies offer stable earnings and steady dividend growth, but NextEra Energy's disciplined capital deployment and strong ESG performance make it a more attractive investment opportunity.

NextEra Energy (NEE) and The Southern Company (SO) are both prominent U.S. electric utilities actively investing in renewable energy. NextEra Energy's regulated utility arm and unregulated renewable energy subsidiary make it a significant player in the industry. The Southern Company's regulated operations and forward-looking clean energy investments position it well to navigate the energy transition. Both companies offer stable earnings and steady dividend growth, but NextEra Energy's disciplined capital deployment and strong ESG performance make it a more attractive investment opportunity.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) has earned a strong reputation as one of the nation’s leading energy providers. As America’s premier clean energy leader and the world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy, NextEra Energy has pioneered technologies that have transformed the industry. The company’s Real Zero Blueprint is the most ambitious target set by any U.S. utility or power generator [1]. NextEra Energy has 28,000 megawatts of renewable generation in operation and 18,000 megawatts under development, with a focus on wind, solar, and energy storage solutions [1]. The company's investments in American infrastructure through 2022 totaled $50-55 billion, contributing to thousands of high-paying American jobs [1].

The Southern Company (SO), on the other hand, has been investing in clean energy to meet future demand. The company's Georgia Power unit proposed a resource plan in January that would delay coal plant retirements and build some clean energy to meet a coming surge of demand [3]. This plan was approved by Georgia regulators, opening the door for Southern to boost spending by as much as $15 billion [3]. Southern's energy mix includes nuclear, gas, and renewables, keeping electricity rates more than 30% lower than the national average [2].

Both companies have shown strong financial performance. NextEra Energy ended the recent trading session at $95.85, demonstrating a +1.12% change from the preceding day's closing price [4]. The Southern Company ended the session at $95.85, showing a +1.12% change as well [4]. However, NextEra Energy's disciplined capital deployment and strong ESG performance make it a more attractive investment opportunity.

NextEra Energy's stock has outpaced the S&P 500, the Dow, and the technology-centric Nasdaq in the past month, while Southern's stock has shown similar performance [4]. NextEra Energy's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.98, signifying a 10.09% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, Southern's upcoming EPS is projected at $0.98, signifying a 10.09% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year [4].

In conclusion, both NextEra Energy and The Southern Company are investing heavily in renewable energy and showing strong financial performance. However, NextEra Energy's disciplined capital deployment and strong ESG performance make it a more attractive investment opportunity.

References:
[1] https://www.nexteraenergyresources.com/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nextera-energy-ranks-no-1-135428647.html
[3] https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/southern-ceo-warns-of-revolution-if-power-bills-arent-cheaper
[4] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/southern-co-so-exceeds-market-returns-some-facts-consider