We recently published a list of 10 Most Undervalued Utility Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) stands against other most undervalued utility stocks to invest in now.

EY believes that utilities are required to balance growing energy demands, decarbonization goals and customer satisfaction while, at the same time, navigating regulatory and financial challenges. Therefore, creative funding and strategic partnerships remain critical to financing ambitious energy projects amid elevated capital costs. Modernization of infrastructure can lead to a sustainable and resilient energy future, supporting providers and consumers.

Favourable Outlook for US Utilities Sector

As per Morningstar, one of the critical shifts in the US utilities sector is the strong growth of renewable energy sources. Over the past decade, declining costs for wind and solar projects and state-mandated renewable energy targets resulted in strong investments in clean energy. Utilities are required to innovate and invest in smart-grid technologies and battery storage in a bid to accommodate the growing influx of renewable energy. Such advances are expected to ensure grid reliability and efficiency with an increase in renewable energy’s share of the generation mix.

One of the critical components of the moats in the utilities sector is the regulatory framework in which they operate, says Morningstar. The requirement for regulatory approval and oversight to set customer rates tends to limit competition, but it also restricts utilities’ earnings. The regulatory environment ensures their ability to operate with predictable cash flows. The next aspect is the requirement for large capital investment. Building and maintaining the infrastructure required for electricity, gas, and water distribution requires significant capital, with regulators limiting the returns utilities can generate on such investments. Therefore, rate regulation and the requirement of reliable and consistent energy supply result in stable demand and predictable revenues, attracting investors who want low-risk and steady returns.

READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In.

Electricity Demand to Revive

Historically, the US electricity demand has reflected the economic growth, averaging ~2% annually, says Morningstar. That being said, since 2000, this relationship continued to weaken because of improvements in energy efficiency and lower industrial electricity use. As a result, electricity demand has remained flat since 2007. However, the firm believes that revival seems to be on the cards. Several factors are expected to fuel renewed growth in electricity demand.

These include the proliferation of EVs, diminishing returns on energy-efficiency advancements, and surge of data centers because of advancements in AI. The utility companies are required to prepare themselves for higher demand by making investments in grid capacity and reliability. They can also make alliances with EV manufacturers and charging network providers so that they can capitalize on the dynamic EV market, added Morningstar.

Our Methodology

To list the 10 Most Undervalued Utility Stocks to Invest in Now, we used a screener to shortlist companies catering to the broader utilities sector. Next, we filtered out the stocks that trade at a forward P/E of less than ~20x. We also mentioned hedge fund sentiments around each stock, as of Q4 2024. Finally, the stocks were arranged in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

A wind turbine, its blades spinning to generate clean renewable energy.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Forward P/E as on March 4: ~19.4x

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is engaged in generating, transmitting, distributing, and selling electric power to retail and wholesale customers. Analyst David Arcaro from Morgan Stanley gave a “Buy” rating on the company’s stock and raised the price objective to $94.00 from $93.00. The rating was backed by several positive factors, highlighting a strong outlook for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE). The company is expected to witness a marginal increase in EPS, courtesy of a strong renewables backlog and potential new contracts, mainly in the area of renewable energy projects.

The analyst has also highlighted the potential upside opportunities including the possible restart of the Duane Arnold nuclear plant, multi-year renewable contracts, as well as new natural gas power plant projects. Amidst challenges including policy changes and equipment supply risks, the broader financial outlook remains stable for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE). Its healthy operational performance and competitive electric rates strengthen the analyst’s Buy rating. Overall, the growth in the utilities sector, due to higher electricity demand and a pivot to renewable energy, is expected to support NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) as it enhances its clean energy portfolio and investments towards infrastructure.

Madison Investments, an investment advisor, released its Q3 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

“The top contributors in the quarter were NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE), Oracle Corporation, Progressive Corporation, Equifax Inc., and United Healthcare. NextEra has continued to perform well given its strong position in the renewable energy space, increasing demand for power, its transmission capabilities, as well as a tailwind from lower interest rates.”

Overall, NEE ranks 2nd on our list of most undervalued utility stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of NEE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than NEE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.