Core Insights - The S&P 500 remains volatile despite a year-to-date gain of over 13%, influenced by renewed trade tensions with China and a resurgence of tariffs [1][2] - Investors are advised to consider defensive plays in light of slipping consumer confidence and broader economic concerns [2] Duke Energy - Duke Energy has a market value of nearly $100 billion and serves customers in the Midwest and South, with a recent investment of $6 billion from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners enhancing its credit profile [3][4] - The company is exploring the addition of new nuclear reactors over the next 12 years while maintaining its legacy fossil-fuel plants due to favorable regulatory changes [4] - Duke Energy offers a dividend yield of 3.33% with a strong history of dividend increases over 20 years, supported by a payout ratio of 69.27% [5] NextEra Energy - NextEra Energy operates both a regulated electric utility and a significant renewable energy business, appealing to investors interested in renewables [7][8] - The company reported a year-over-year adjusted EPS increase of over 9% while keeping residential bills below the U.S. average [8] - NextEra has a backlog of approximately 30 GW of energy resources, attracting institutional investors with nearly $17 billion in inflows over the past year [9][10] Xcel Energy - Xcel Energy, the smallest of the three companies, has a dividend yield of 2.82% and a history of 22 years of dividend increases [11] - The company recently settled a $640 million lawsuit related to the 2021 Marshall Fire, allowing it to refocus on its data center business, which targets 2.5 GW by 2030 [12][13] - This focus on data centers is expected to drive significant earnings growth, providing stability for investors [13]