Erste Group Sees NextEra Energy (NEE) Benefiting From Rising Electricity Demand

By Vardah Gill | February 23, 2026, 1:14 PM

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is included among the 14 Best Low Volatility Dividend Stocks to Invest in.

Erste Group Sees NextEra Energy (NEE) Benefiting From Rising Electricity Demand

On February 18, Erste Group upgraded NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) to Buy from Hold. The upgrade followed the company’s decision to raise its long-term growth outlook. According to the analyst, NextEra now expects EPS to grow at a compound annual rate of 8% through 2032 and maintain that same pace through 2035. The firm said this outlook reflects growing confidence in rising electricity demand over the coming years. Erste also pointed out that NextEra stands out financially. The company’s ROE and operating margins remain well above those of its peers. Because of this, the analyst believes the stock still has meaningful upside potential.

A few days earlier, on February 13, NextEra’s board approved a higher quarterly dividend. The company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.6232 per share. This represents a 10% increase compared with the same quarterly dividend last year. The increase aligns with NextEra’s broader dividend plan. The company previously said it expects dividend per share growth of about 10% annually through 2026, based on its 2024 starting point. After that, it plans to grow the dividend at a 6% annual rate from the end of 2026 through 2028. The dividend will be paid on March 16, 2026, to shareholders on record as of February 27, 2026.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is one of the largest electric power and energy infrastructure companies in North America. It supplies electricity to millions of homes and businesses and plays a major role in the region’s energy system.

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