NextEra Energy (NEE -0.76%) is a global leader in producing energy from the wind and sun. It's also a world leader in battery storage. It's the biggest electric utility in the U.S. NextEra also has a large-scale energy infrastructure development business that builds and operates clean energy generating assets, natural gas pipelines, and electricity transmission lines.
The company's focus on renewable energy has paid big dividends over the years. NextEra has increased its earnings per share at a 10% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, which is three times faster than its rivals. That's helped power above-average dividend growth and market-beating total returns.
NextEra Energy has a vast pipeline of lower-carbon energy development opportunities as it continues to lead in decarbonizing the power grid. The company's energy resources segment alone sees the potential to deploy between 76.6 gigawatts (GW) and 107.6 GW of new clean energy capacity from 2026 through 2032. That compares to its 43 GW of operating capacity in mid-2026. It's also investing in emerging climate tech, such as green hydrogen, which uses renewable energy to electrolyze water and produce emissions-free hydrogen. The fuel has a range of potential uses in the energy, industrial, and transportation sectors and could help further reduce emissions.
In mid-2026, NextEra Energy agreed to buy fellow electric utility Dominion Energy (D -0.41%) in a $67 billion deal. The combined company would rank first in the world in renewables and battery storage, first in the U.S. in gas generation, and second in the U.S. in nuclear. The larger NextEra expects to grow its adjusted earnings per share at a compound annual rate of more than 9% through 2032, an acceleration from its current expectation of over 8% compound annual earnings growth.
3. Brookfield Renewable