Utility Stocks

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

86 stocks Updated Mar 26, 2026
$1.77T Total Market Cap
24.6 Avg P/E Ratio
3.16% Avg Dividend Yield
+1.08% 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 $91.16 -0.50% 27.3 186.85B
2 CEG Constellation Energy $303.32 +2.87% 47.1 109.16B
3 SO Southern Co/The $94.61 +0.67% 24.1 104.54B
4 DUK Duke Energy Corp $128.16 +0.61% 20.8 103.47B
5 AEP American Electric Power $128.30 -0.39% 20.0 71.42B
6 SRE Sempra $95.32 +0.34% 28.0 60.52B
7 VST Vistra Corp $151.51 -0.79% 48.6 55.96B
8 D Dominion Energy Inc $60.66 +0.65% 23.9 55.90B
9 EXC Exelon Corp $47.67 +0.80% 17.5 48.44B
10 XEL Xcel Energy Inc $77.70 -0.33% 23.4 47.25B
11 ETR Entergy Corp $102.76 +0.23% 25.9 45.95B
12 PEG Public Service Enterprise Gp $81.07 +1.10% 20.5 42.63B
13 ED Consolidated Edison Inc $110.03 +0.14% 19.8 40.28B
14 FTS Fortis Inc $55.35 +0.42% 21.8 39.18B
15 PCG P G & E Corp $17.44 +0.58% 14.2 38.28B
16 WEC Wec Energy Group Inc $112.72 -0.32% 23.8 37.11B
17 NRG Nrg Energy Inc $151.04 -0.06% 37.7 32.59B
18 SSEZF SSE plc $32.45 -5.89% 31.0 31.98B
19 ENLT Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd $71.04 -3.47% 77.6 31.50B
20 DTE Dte Energy Company $143.45 +0.09% 21.3 31.15B
21 ATO Atmos Energy Corp $181.55 -0.01% 24.0 30.00B
22 FE Firstenergy Corp $49.52 +0.73% 28.8 29.38B
23 AEE Ameren Corporation $107.80 +0.10% 20.1 29.32B
24 PPL Ppl Corp $37.16 +0.27% 24.5 28.96B
25 CNP Centerpoint Energy Inc $42.07 +0.45% 26.9 28.33B
26 ES Eversource Energy $67.04 -0.64% 16.4 27.74B
27 EIX Edison International $71.19 -0.13% 5.9 27.61B
28 AWK American Water Works Co Inc $134.59 +0.76% 24.0 26.64B
29 CMS Cms Energy Corp $75.44 +0.13% 21.6 23.13B
30 NI Nisource Inc $45.68 +0.00% 23.5 21.85B
31 EMA Emera Inc $51.08 +1.11% 17.9 21.06B
32 EVRG Evergy Inc $79.98 +0.06% 21.6 18.31B
33 LNT Alliant Energy Corp $69.77 +0.16% 22.0 18.00B
34 TLN Talen Energy Corp $328.29 +3.96% 76.8 17.36B
35 PNW Pinnacle West Capital $97.70 -0.22% 20.1 12.41B
36 WTRG Essential Utilities Inc $39.65 -0.13% 18.3 11.28B
37 AES Aes Corp $14.06 -0.50% 11.1 10.13B
38 OKLO Oklo Inc $55.27 +0.56% 9.70B
39 OGE Oge Energy Corp $47.36 +0.72% 19.1 9.59B
40 NFG National Fuel Gas Co $94.40 -0.40% 13.7 8.94B
41 CWEN Clearway Energy Inc-C $39.17 -0.20% 48.2 8.14B
42 IDA Idacorp Inc $138.56 +0.50% 24.2 7.83B
43 UGI Ugi Corp $36.41 -0.36% 11.4 7.74B
44 AQN Algonquin Power & Utilities $6.27 -0.32% 7.25B
45 ORA Ormat Technologies Inc $110.70 +0.78% 52.6 6.51B
46 TXNM Txnm Energy Inc $58.29 -0.36% 36.3 6.44B
47 SWX Southwest Gas Holdings Inc $85.82 -0.61% 13.6 6.30B
48 BEPC Brookfield Renewable Corp $39.82 +1.25% 6.15B
49 POR Portland General Electric Co $51.25 -0.47% 19.8 6.00B
50 BIPC Brookfield Infrastructure-A $38.25 +0.21% 5.60B
51 BKH Black Hills Corp $68.85 +0.44% 18.9 5.51B
52 NJR New Jersey Resources Corp $54.12 -0.17% 16.4 5.36B
53 OGS One Gas Inc $85.22 -0.41% 20.1 5.32B
54 SR Spire Inc $90.24 -0.15% 18.3 5.23B
55 TAC Transalta Corp $13.06 +2.35% 5.06B
56 MDU Mdu Resources Group Inc $20.55 +0.54% 22.6 4.30B
57 NWE Northwestern Energy Group In $65.36 +0.21% 23.5 4.26B
58 KEN Kenon Holdings Ltd $81.36 +1.74% 8.9 4.22B
59 OTTR Otter Tail Corp $86.55 -0.62% 13.0 3.63B
60 AVA Avista Corp $39.36 +0.64% 16.3 3.15B
61 CPK Chesapeake Utilities Corp $123.44 -0.85% 22.3 3.13B
62 MGEE Mge Energy Inc $76.21 -0.70% 21.5 2.92B
63 AWR American States Water Co $73.40 +0.19% 21.9 2.85B
64 CWT California Water Service Grp $43.91 -0.75% 20.0 2.73B
65 HE Hawaiian Electric Inds $14.94 +2.47% 20.4 2.58B
66 NWN Northwest Natural Holding Co $51.42 -3.09% 19.5 2.21B
67 HTO H2O America $56.51 +0.37% 18.7 2.04B
68 RNW Renew Energy Global Plc-A $4.81 +1.05% 15.0 1.96B
69 XIFR Xplr Infrastructure Lp $9.92 -3.41% 964.29M
70 MSEX Middlesex Water Co $50.55 -1.21% 21.9 938.32M
71 UTL Unitil Corp $51.60 +1.90% 18.3 920.72M
72 HNRG Hallador Energy Co $16.63 +5.79% 18.3 765.78M
73 CWCO Consolidated Water Co-Ord Sh $32.25 -0.65% 26.8 491.46M
74 YORW York Water Co $29.87 -1.22% 23.3 467.47M
75 SGU Star Group Lp $12.51 +2.04% 5.5 422.82M
76 CDZI Cadiz Inc $4.60 -4.37% 388.96M
77 GNE Genie Energy Ltd-B $14.09 -0.98% 78.4 380.07M
78 ARTNA Artesian Resources Corp-Cl A $30.50 -3.47% 15.5 349.22M
79 ELLO Ellomay Capital Ltd $25.34 -0.98% 349.17M
80 MNTK Montauk Renewables Inc $1.14 +0.89% 18.8 257.48M
81 ANNA Aleanna Inc $7.07 +86.54% 252.62M
82 PCYO Pure Cycle Corp $10.35 +0.68% 18.0 247.53M
83 RGCO Rgc Resources Inc $21.32 +1.48% 17.8 229.46M
84 GWRS Global Water Resources Inc $7.48 -2.98% 51.6 225.11M
85 SPRU Spruce Power Holding Corp $4.42 +13.04% 71.04M
86 VVPR Vivopower International Plc $2.16 -7.69% 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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