NextEra Energy (NEE 0.54%) announced today that it snagged the top spot for electric and gas utilities on Fortune magazine's "Most Admired Companies" list.
While the award is reason to celebrate, it's no new news for NextEra, as 2014 marks the eighth straight year that NextEra Energy has grabbed Fortune magazine's gold medal.
"On behalf of our terrific team of nearly 14,000 NextEra Energy employees, I am extremely humbled by the fact that thousands of executives, directors, and financial analysts hold our great company in such high esteem," said NextEra Energy Chairman and CEO Jim Robo in a statement today. "This group of accomplished leaders knows our industry well, and we are appreciative of their recognition of our talented team, our leadership in advancing clean energy on behalf of our customers, and our steadfast commitment to environmental and social responsibility."
Around 15,000 executives weigh in on Fortune's list, ranking companies by such attributes as innovation, use of corporate assets, social responsibility, global competitiveness, and (of note for Foolish investors) long-term investability.
Among accomplishments that NextEra independently listed, the utility noted that its 10-year shareholder return clocks in at 271% (compared with 142% for the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.02%), its sulfur dioxide emissions are 97% lower than the industry average, and its Florida Power Light utility's average residential customer bill is the lowest in the nation.
