Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions

DUK vs NEE

Duke Energy Corporation versus NextEra Energy, Inc. — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.

DUK wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but NEE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

Scorecard at a glance

Dimension	DUK	NEE	Winner
Yield	3.36%	2.82%	DUK wins
Dividend safety	7.3/10	8.3/10	NEE wins
Growth trend	-0.47% vs 5y	+0.32% vs 5y	DUK wins
Volatility (beta)	0.37	0.67	DUK wins
Scale	$101.8B	$183.4B	NEE wins
Tax efficiency	Qualified-eligible	Qualified-eligible	Tie
Overall	3 wins	2 wins	DUK wins

Dimension by dimension

DUK wins on yield (3.36% vs 2.82%)

On a $10,000 investment that's about $54 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

DUK's higher yield (3.36%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus NEE's 2.82% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.

DUK: 3.36%NEE: 2.82%

NEE wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 7.3/10)

Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. NEE scores better on the weighted average of those factors.

NEE (8.3/10) scores 1.0 points higher than DUK (7.3/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.

DUK: 7.3/10NEE: 8.3/10

DUK shows healthier dividend-vs-price trend

DUK's yield is 0.47% below its 5y average, versus 0.32% for NEE. Lower (or below-average) yield trend often means price appreciation outpaced distributions — a healthier signal.

DUK: -0.47% vs 5yNEE: +0.32% vs 5y

DUK is less volatile (beta 0.37 vs 0.67)

Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.

DUK: 0.37NEE: 0.67

NEE is 1.8× larger by market cap

Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.

DUK: $101.8BNEE: $183.4B

Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions

Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.

DUK: Qualified-eligibleNEE: Qualified-eligible

How we compare these

Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.

This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.

Frequently asked

Which is better for income, DUK or NEE?

DUK wins 3–2 on our six-dimension comparison, but NEE can still be the better fit depending on your priorities — see each dimension below.

DUK vs NEE: which has a higher dividend yield?

DUK yields 3.36% and NEE yields 2.82%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $54 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.

Is DUK or NEE a safer dividend in 2026?

DUK scores 7.3/10 (Solid) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. NEE scores 8.3/10 (Strong). NEE is the safer pick on our scoring model.

Which has better dividend growth, DUK or NEE?