NEE Outperforms Industry in Three Months: Buy, Hold or Sell the Stock?

Core Insights - NextEra Energy (NEE) has outperformed the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry with a 10.7% share price increase over the last three months, compared to the industry's 8.5% rise [1][10] - The company's strong performance is attributed to an expanding customer base and improving economic conditions in Florida, which are driving demand for its services [2][9] - NEE's third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $1.13 per share exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.04 by approximately 8.7% [8][15] Financial Performance - NEE's earnings per share for 2025 are projected to be in the range of $3.45-$3.70, reflecting a year-over-year increase from $3.43 [17] - The company has consistently surpassed earnings expectations, achieving an average surprise of 4.39% over the past four quarters [15][16] - The current return on equity (ROE) for NEE is 12.42%, outperforming the industry average of 9.95% [19] Growth Strategy - NEE plans to invest nearly $43 billion from 2025 to 2029 to enhance its infrastructure and service reliability [10][11] - The company aims to add 36.5-46.5 GW of new renewable capacity from 2024 to 2027, with a robust backlog of 29.6 GW of signed contracts [12] - NEE's subsidiary, Florida Power & Light Company, has saved customers nearly $16 billion in fuel costs since 2001 through modernization initiatives [11] Dividend and Shareholder Value - NEE intends to increase its annual dividend rate by 10% at least through 2026, with the current annual dividend at $2.27 per share and a yield of 2.7% [21] - The company has a share buyback plan allowing for the repurchase of 180 million shares, contributing to shareholder value [14] Market Position - NEE is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 21.33, which is higher than the industry average of 16.17 [22] - The company benefits from lower interest rates, which enhance its capital servicing costs and overall financial outlook [13][24]