Utility Stocks

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

86 stocks Updated May 11, 2026
$1.77T Total Market Cap
28.2 Avg P/E Ratio
3.19% Avg Dividend Yield
+0.42% 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 $94.84 +1.87% 24.9 203.31B
2 CEG Constellation Energy $299.69 -1.30% 45.7 106.07B
3 SO Southern Co/The $93.10 +1.42% 24.3 105.39B
4 DUK Duke Energy Corp $124.90 +0.59% 19.9 98.97B
5 AEP American Electric Power $130.70 +0.41% 20.0 71.69B
6 SRE Sempra $92.83 +1.42% 28.0 60.52B
7 D Dominion Energy Inc $62.56 +1.08% 18.5 55.16B
8 ETR Entergy Corp $112.97 +1.24% 30.5 54.03B
9 XEL Xcel Energy Inc $80.60 +1.52% 24.7 51.60B
10 VST Vistra Corp $152.05 +2.93% 54.0 50.94B
11 EXC Exelon Corp $44.19 +0.64% 17.0 47.04B
12 ED Consolidated Edison Inc $106.21 -0.09% 20.2 40.88B
13 PEG Public Service Enterprise Gp $77.68 +0.71% 19.2 40.47B
14 FTS Fortis Inc $56.23 +0.25% 21.9 39.41B
15 WEC Wec Energy Group Inc $112.77 +0.99% 23.5 36.57B
16 PCG P G & E Corp $16.21 +0.87% 13.5 36.50B
17 ENLT Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd $93.77 +3.60% 90.8 34.80B
18 SSEZF SSE plc $37.20 +5.26% 30.9 31.88B
19 ATO Atmos Energy Corp $182.13 +0.70% 24.3 30.40B
20 AEE Ameren Corporation $109.99 +0.84% 20.8 30.24B
21 NRG Nrg Energy Inc $137.30 -0.59% 34.5 29.85B
22 DTE Dte Energy Company $142.43 +1.30% 23.2 29.36B
23 CNP Centerpoint Energy Inc $42.27 +1.32% 25.5 27.31B
24 PPL Ppl Corp $36.24 +0.92% 23.0 27.14B
25 EIX Edison International $70.58 +2.36% 5.7 26.58B
26 FE Firstenergy Corp $44.60 +0.61% 25.4 25.91B
27 ES Eversource Energy $67.24 +1.10% 14.8 24.96B
28 AWK American Water Works Co Inc $126.01 +0.77% 22.2 24.64B
29 NI Nisource Inc $47.03 +0.66% 24.3 22.55B
30 CMS Cms Energy Corp $73.19 +0.80% 21.0 22.53B
31 EMA Emera Inc $52.23 -0.70% 19.8 21.59B
32 EVRG Evergy Inc $83.43 +2.02% 22.0 18.83B
33 LNT Alliant Energy Corp $72.47 +0.99% 22.6 18.53B
34 TLN Talen Energy Corp $383.44 -0.76% 17.73B
35 OKLO Oklo Inc $78.13 +7.75% 12.47B
36 PNW Pinnacle West Capital $99.71 +0.46% 19.6 12.11B
37 WTRG Essential Utilities Inc $37.57 +0.27% 17.4 10.71B
38 AES Aes Corp $14.35 +0.14% 11.2 10.19B
39 OGE Oge Energy Corp $47.40 +0.11% 20.8 9.78B
40 CWEN Clearway Energy Inc-C $38.51 +0.92% 49.0 8.29B
41 IDA Idacorp Inc $145.41 +0.98% 24.0 7.96B
42 NFG National Fuel Gas Co $79.44 -0.10% 11.7 7.63B
43 ORA Ormat Technologies Inc $123.63 +1.61% 60.3 7.47B
44 UGI Ugi Corp $32.45 +0.40% 10.4 7.05B
45 AQN Algonquin Power & Utilities $5.97 -1.65% 26.7 6.58B
46 TXNM Txnm Energy Inc $59.25 +0.44% 6.56B
47 SWX Southwest Gas Holdings Inc $89.13 -0.91% 14.8 6.51B
48 BKH Black Hills Corp $73.44 -2.38% 19.7 5.75B
49 NJR New Jersey Resources Corp $55.82 +0.49% 17.4 5.68B
50 POR Portland General Electric Co $48.36 -0.31% 22.5 5.63B
51 BEPC Brookfield Renewable Corp $37.33 +1.77% 5.41B
52 OGS One Gas Inc $84.96 +0.06% 20.5 5.41B
53 TAC Transalta Corp $12.80 +0.31% 5.18B
54 SR Spire Inc $85.76 +0.07% 17.8 5.07B
55 BIPC Brookfield Infrastructure-A $39.52 +1.36% 4.70B
56 KEN Kenon Holdings Ltd $89.89 +1.13% 69.2 4.65B
57 MDU Mdu Resources Group Inc $22.80 +1.38% 24.3 4.63B
58 NWE Northwestern Energy Group In $70.77 -2.24% 24.6 4.45B
59 OTTR Otter Tail Corp $88.29 +0.30% 13.4 3.69B
60 AVA Avista Corp $40.68 -0.34% 17.5 3.37B
61 AWR American States Water Co $77.15 -0.06% 23.3 3.04B
62 CPK Chesapeake Utilities Corp $125.56 -0.68% 21.7 3.04B
63 MGEE Mge Energy Inc $73.83 +0.24% 20.1 2.73B
64 HE Hawaiian Electric Inds $13.93 -6.07% 21.2 2.67B
65 CWT California Water Service Grp $42.88 -1.36% 22.1 2.62B
66 HTO H2O America $57.97 +1.42% 23.7 2.43B
67 NWN Northwest Natural Holding Co $50.44 +0.50% 18.7 2.12B
68 RNW Renew Energy Global Plc-A $5.62 +4.07% 15.5 1.97B
69 XIFR Xplr Infrastructure Lp $11.73 +2.80% 1.05B
70 MSEX Middlesex Water Co $51.56 +0.29% 21.9 960.08M
71 UTL Unitil Corp $50.75 -0.43% 18.4 925.45M
72 HNRG Hallador Energy Co $18.81 -0.32% 21.2 889.35M
73 CWCO Consolidated Water Co-Ord Sh $32.92 -0.78% 28.9 530.25M
74 YORW York Water Co $29.62 +1.51% 23.4 469.65M
75 SGU Star Group Lp $12.94 -3.79% 5.8 441.62M
76 CDZI Cadiz Inc $4.67 -1.68% 400.85M
77 GNE Genie Energy Ltd-B $14.44 -1.63% 78.3 379.63M
78 ELLO Ellomay Capital Ltd $23.35 -4.69% 337.69M
79 ARTNA Artesian Resources Corp-Cl A $32.04 +1.14% 14.5 330.37M
80 PCYO Pure Cycle Corp $11.62 -0.51% 20.1 282.50M
81 ANNA Aleanna Inc $3.22 +2.55% 141.2 253.95M
82 RGCO Rgc Resources Inc $23.20 -1.90% 18.5 238.24M
83 GWRS Global Water Resources Inc $7.07 -1.26% 68.9 203.79M
84 MNTK Montauk Renewables Inc $1.38 +3.76% 116.4 203.41M
85 SPRU Spruce Power Holding Corp $3.30 -5.17% 63.77M
86 VVPR Vivopower International Plc $3.02 +0.33% 30.48M

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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