Utility Stocks

Electric, gas, and water utilities. The ultimate defensive sector — regulated revenue, steady dividends, and recession resistance.

86 stocks Updated Nov 9, 2026
$1.68T Total Market Cap
22.1 Avg P/E Ratio
3.80% Avg Dividend Yield
+2.08% Avg Daily Change

Utility stocks represent companies that provide essential services — electricity, natural gas, and water — to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Utilities operate as regulated monopolies in most markets, with rates set by state public utility commissions, providing predictable revenue streams and steady earnings.

The sector includes electric utilities like NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, and Southern Company, multi-utilities combining electric and gas services, and water utilities like American Water Works. Utilities have historically been considered bond proxies due to their stable dividends and low volatility, making them core holdings for income-focused portfolios.

A major growth catalyst has emerged as AI data centers drive massive electricity demand, requiring utilities to expand generation capacity and grid infrastructure. This list tracks utility stocks with prices, P/E ratios, dividend yields, and market caps updated daily.

# Symbol Name Price Change % P/E Market Cap
1 NEE Nextera Energy Inc $87.59 +0.74% 15.8 183.64B
2 SO Southern Co/The $93.96 +1.75% 21.3 106.17B
3 DUK Duke Energy Corp $128.81 +0.81% 19.3 101.42B
4 CEG Constellation Energy $274.88 +9.97% 25.6 88.56B
5 AEP American Electric Power $128.21 +1.33% 22.0 69.06B
6 D Dominion Energy Inc $68.99 +0.57% 24.0 60.73B
7 ETR Entergy Corp $112.38 +1.66% 25.5 52.70B
8 SRE Sempra $79.06 +1.14% 22.9 52.20B
9 XEL Xcel Energy Inc $80.57 +1.13% 22.0 49.19B
10 EXC Exelon Corp $45.92 +0.66% 18.0 47.35B
11 ED Consolidated Edison Inc $119.40 +0.71% 20.0 44.40B
12 FTS Fortis Inc $59.92 -0.30% 23.1 43.44B
13 VST Vistra Corp $132.89 +6.48% 18.8 41.69B
14 WEC Wec Energy Group Inc $117.76 +1.63% 22.1 37.34B
15 PEG Public Service Enterprise Gp $75.30 +3.70% 20.5 36.16B
16 SSEZF SSE plc $34.96 -0.81% 30.9 31.88B
17 AEE Ameren Corporation $114.64 +1.59% 20.1 31.43B
18 ENLT Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd $70.10 +2.61% 106.8 30.63B
19 AWK American Water Works Co Inc $150.61 +0.21% 26.9 30.35B
20 ATO Atmos Energy Corp $174.10 +0.51% 20.9 29.25B
21 PCG P G & E Corp $13.17 +1.54% 9.3 28.81B
22 DTE Dte Energy Company $139.48 +3.26% 21.3 28.06B
23 PPL Ppl Corp $36.16 +1.01% 21.6 27.33B
24 FE Firstenergy Corp $46.79 +0.78% 24.8 26.87B
25 ES Eversource Energy $69.84 -2.89% 18.4 26.73B
26 CNP Centerpoint Energy Inc $40.66 +1.73% 23.8 26.57B
27 EIX Edison International $60.38 +1.70% 6.2 23.43B
28 EMA Emera Inc $50.97 +0.55% 21.1 21.99B
29 CMS Cms Energy Corp $69.76 +0.84% 21.2 21.73B
30 NI Nisource Inc $45.20 +2.38% 23.4 21.21B
31 EVRG Evergy Inc $88.55 +1.15% 21.8 20.22B
32 LNT Alliant Energy Corp $73.51 +1.16% 23.0 18.83B
33 NRG Nrg Energy Inc $96.42 +9.21% 19.9 16.93B
34 TLN Talen Energy Corp $361.37 +6.71% — 14.73B
35 PNW Pinnacle West Capital $105.41 +1.14% 19.7 12.58B
36 WTRG Essential Utilities Inc $45.47 +0.04% 21.9 12.13B
37 AES Aes Corp $14.93 +0.40% 5.7 10.63B
38 OGE Oge Energy Corp $50.86 +0.43% 22.3 10.42B
39 IDA Idacorp Inc $147.68 +0.77% 25.6 8.67B
40 UGI Ugi Corp $37.56 +1.40% 13.7 8.19B
41 NFG National Fuel Gas Co $74.30 +1.18% 10.4 7.03B
42 SWX Southwest Gas Holdings Inc $93.08 +1.92% 12.6 6.53B
43 TXNM Txnm Energy Inc $58.30 +0.14% 28.2 6.46B
44 BKH Black Hills Corp $86.23 +1.60% 21.6 6.45B
45 AQN Algonquin Power & Utilities $5.69 +3.08% 28.8 6.06B
46 TAC Transalta Corp $13.61 +4.61% — 5.87B
47 ORA Ormat Technologies Inc $91.90 -1.16% 45.2 5.72B
48 NJR New Jersey Resources Corp $54.66 +0.59% 15.2 5.55B
49 POR Portland General Electric Co $45.90 -0.24% 21.3 5.48B
50 SR Spire Inc $89.30 +0.55% 9.6 5.24B
51 OGS One Gas Inc $81.27 +0.43% 17.6 5.14B
52 NWE Northwestern Energy Group In $84.11 +1.67% 29.7 5.09B
53 BIPC Brookfield Infrastructure-A $40.08 +1.06% — 4.84B
54 BEPC Brookfield Renewable Corp $31.98 +0.76% — 4.76B
55 OKLO Oklo Inc $27.17 +15.37% — 4.38B
56 MDU Mdu Resources Group Inc $19.26 +3.38% 19.8 3.90B
57 AWR American States Water Co $90.52 +0.60% 24.6 3.52B
58 AVA Avista Corp $40.19 -0.10% 15.0 3.40B
59 CPK Chesapeake Utilities Corp $140.98 +0.50% 22.6 3.40B
60 OTTR Otter Tail Corp $78.44 -1.95% 17.1 3.33B
61 CWT California Water Service Grp $50.39 -1.27% 23.9 3.18B
62 HTO H2O America $62.23 -1.14% 28.3 3.03B
63 KEN Kenon Holdings Ltd $60.79 +5.83% 25.1 3.01B
64 MGEE Mge Energy Inc $80.19 -0.09% 19.9 2.98B
65 RNW Renew Energy Global Plc-A $6.95 +0.29% 22.3 2.53B
66 NWN Northwest Natural Holding Co $51.72 -0.06% 17.4 2.19B
67 HE Hawaiian Electric Inds $9.21 +9.38% 6.4 1.44B
68 MSEX Middlesex Water Co $59.87 +0.62% 23.7 1.14B
69 UTL Unitil Corp $56.38 -0.39% 18.5 1.03B
70 XIFR Xplr Infrastructure Lp $7.42 +1.37% 4.6 688.69M
71 YORW York Water Co $32.62 +1.24% 21.8 519.38M
72 HNRG Hallador Energy Co $10.10 +7.91% — 441.26M
73 GNE Genie Energy Ltd-B $17.72 +6.04% 17.8 439.80M
74 SGU Star Group Lp $13.18 +0.23% 4.9 431.47M
75 CWCO Consolidated Water Co-Ord Sh $27.22 +2.56% 26.5 428.50M
76 MNTK Montauk Renewables Inc $2.72 +12.86% 48.8 387.17M
77 ARTNA Artesian Resources Corp-Cl A $34.28 -0.32% 14.6 345.58M
78 CDZI Cadiz Inc $3.58 +5.29% — 306.07M
79 PCYO Pure Cycle Corp $10.98 +0.92% 17.5 258.08M
80 RGCO Rgc Resources Inc $23.19 +0.19% 17.2 241.11M
81 ELLO Ellomay Capital Ltd $17.42 +2.44% 3.5 234.31M
82 GWRS Global Water Resources Inc $7.28 -4.21% 70.3 220.32M
83 ANNA Aleanna Inc $2.04 +4.62% 17.3 136.55M
84 SPRU Spruce Power Holding Corp $1.61 -1.23% — 31.38M
85 VVPR Vivopower International Plc $1.83 +20.39% — 30.48M
86 CWEN Clearway Energy Inc-C $34.89 +2.32% — —

Related ETFs

Exchange-traded funds that provide diversified exposure to the utility stocks sector.

XLU SPDR
0.09% ER
Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund
Largest utilities ETF tracking S&P 500 utility companies. Low-cost defensive sector exposure.
VPU Vanguard
0.10% ER
Vanguard Utilities ETF
Broad U.S. utility company exposure. Includes electric, gas, water, and multi-utilities at very low cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are utility stocks?
Utility stocks are shares in companies that provide essential infrastructure services — electricity, natural gas, and water. Major U.S. utilities include NextEra Energy (NEE), Duke Energy (DUK), Southern Company (SO), and Dominion Energy (D). Most utilities operate as regulated monopolies with rates approved by government commissions, providing stable and predictable revenue streams.
Are utility stocks a good investment?
Utility stocks are excellent for income and stability. They offer above-average dividend yields (typically 3-5%), low volatility, and defensive characteristics during market downturns. However, growth is typically modest at 4-7% annually. The AI-driven electricity demand boom has improved growth prospects for utilities positioned to benefit. Risks include regulatory decisions on rate increases, rising interest rates, and capital-intensive infrastructure requirements.
How do interest rates affect utility stocks?
Utility stocks are highly sensitive to interest rates. Because investors buy utilities primarily for dividends, rising bond yields make utility dividends less attractive by comparison, often causing utility stock prices to fall. Utilities also carry substantial debt to fund infrastructure, so higher rates increase borrowing costs. Conversely, when rates fall, utility stocks often rally as their stable dividends become more valuable relative to bond yields.
Do utility stocks pay good dividends?
Yes, utilities are among the best dividend-paying sectors. Average yields of 3-5% significantly exceed the S&P 500 average. Many utilities are Dividend Aristocrats with 25+ years of consecutive increases. Companies like NextEra Energy combine strong dividend growth (10%+ annually) with renewable energy expansion. Conservative investors often build portfolios of 5-10 utility stocks for reliable income that grows faster than inflation.
What is a regulated utility?
A regulated utility operates under government oversight where a public utility commission approves the rates it can charge customers. In exchange for this rate regulation, utilities receive a guaranteed service territory (monopoly) and an allowed rate of return on their capital investments — typically 9-11%. This model provides earnings visibility but limits upside. Unregulated or merchant utilities sell power at market prices, offering higher reward but more volatility.
How are utilities affected by AI and data centers?
AI data centers are driving a historic surge in electricity demand. A single large data center campus can consume as much power as a small city. This is transforming utilities from slow-growth to growth companies, as they invest billions in new generation capacity, transmission lines, and grid upgrades. Utilities near major data center hubs are seeing the strongest demand growth. Nuclear and renewable generation assets are especially valuable for tech companies seeking clean, reliable power.
What is the difference between utility stocks and energy stocks?
Utility stocks deliver electricity and gas to end users through regulated distribution networks. Energy stocks produce and refine oil, natural gas, and other commodities. Utilities have regulated, predictable earnings while energy companies are exposed to commodity price volatility. Utilities tend to have higher dividend yields and lower volatility, while energy stocks offer more upside during commodity booms. Some companies like NextEra bridge both sectors through renewable energy generation.

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