These Are the Largest Utility Stocks by Market Cap, but the Best Buys May Not Be What You'd Expect

Group 1 - The Motley Fool updated its list of the largest public utilities, with NextEra Energy at the top, operating Florida Power & Light, one of the largest regulated utilities in the U.S. [1][2] - NextEra Energy has a market capitalization of approximately $148 billion, which is about $30 billion higher than the next largest utility, Iberdrola [2][6] - The company benefits from demographic trends, particularly the influx of retirees to Florida, which supports its customer base [3][4] Group 2 - NextEra Energy operates within a regulated utility business model, which requires government approval for rates and capital investments, leading to slow and steady growth [4] - In addition to its utility operations, NextEra Energy is one of the largest solar and wind power companies globally, capitalizing on the transition to cleaner energy sources [5][6] - The primary investment appeal of NextEra Energy lies in its clean energy business rather than its traditional utility operations [6]