We recently published a list of 10 Best Alternative Fuel Stocks To Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to look at where NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) stands against other best alternative fuel stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
The alternative fuel and renewable energy industry is currently one of the fastest-growing sectors globally. Examples of alternatives include wind, solar, nuclear, hydropower, and biofuel energy. According to the Business Research Company, the global alternative fuel or renewable energy market was valued at $1.10 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.55 trillion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.8%. Growing environmental concerns and stringent environmental regulations in many developed countries have significantly boosted the renewable energy sector, leading to an increase in installed capacity for renewable sources. The increasing power demand and energy consumption are also key drivers of the growing demand in the alternative or renewable fuels industry.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand is expected to increase by 3.4% annually by 2026, with 85% of this additional demand coming from China and India. India’s electricity demand alone is predicted to grow by over 6% annually until 2026, driven by economic growth and rising air conditioning use. Southeast Asia is also expected to see a 5% annual increase in electricity demand through 2026. In the United States, a moderate rise in electricity demand is anticipated in the coming years, primarily driven by data centers. The electricity consumption by data centers, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency could potentially double to 1,000 TWh by 2026. The IEA forecasts that the surge in electricity generation from low-emission sources will meet global demand growth over the next three years, with renewable energy expected to surpass coal as the leading energy source by early 2025.
READ ALSO: 10 Oil Stocks with Biggest Upside Potential According to Analysts and 7 Best Emerging Markets Stocks To Buy Now.
Uncertainty in U.S. Alternative Energy Market
On November 11, Reuters reported that hedge funds rapidly increased their investments in bank stocks, marking the fastest pace in three years, while simultaneously reducing their holdings in renewable energy companies, according to a note from Goldman Sachs. This shift in investment strategy came in response to Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election. Financial stocks, including banks, have become the most favored and most net-purchased sector on Goldman’s prime brokerage trading desk.
Additionally, hedge funds placed long bets on consumer finance, capital markets, and financial services companies, with a focus on US stocks and equities in developing Asia and Europe, where they exited short positions and added long ones. In contrast, utility companies, especially independent power, and renewable electricity producers faced heavy selling, with hedge funds taking two short positions for every long position in U.S. utility companies.
Despite short-term challenges, the rapid growth and increasing investment in alternative fuel and renewable energy reflects a global shift towards sustainable and environmentally friendly energy solutions. As renewable technologies continue to advance and become more cost-effective, they are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for new energy projects worldwide.
A rooftop view of a busy city skyline with solar energy panels and wind turbines illuminating the skyline.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best alternative fuel stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we used Clean Energy ETFs plus online rankings to compile an initial list of 25 alternative fuel stocks. We then used Insider Monkey’s Hedge Fund database to rank 10 stocks according to the largest number of hedge fund holders, as of Q3 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here)
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is a leading player in the renewable energy and utility sectors. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) operates through its subsidiaries, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and NextEra Energy Resources, to deliver low-cost, reliable, and clean electricity to millions of customers across the United States by using alternative fuels such as solar, wind, and nuclear.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is actively expanding its renewable energy portfolio through a combination of new project developments and strategic partnerships. The company has added approximately 3 gigawatts of renewables and storage to its backlog in Q3, bringing the running four-quarter total to approximately 11 gigawatts. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is also focused on driving cost efficiency and innovation across its operations. Additionally, the company is investing in battery storage technology, as storage can be deployed quickly and paired with renewables to provide both energy and capacity. By leveraging its extensive experience and technical expertise, NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is well-positioned to capitalize on the significant growth opportunities in the renewable energy market.
FPL, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is making substantial investments in building a stronger, smarter, and more resilient grid. This includes significant hardening, undergrounding, and automation initiatives, which will be effective in mitigating the impact of severe weather events. The company’s commitment to grid resilience is not only crucial for maintaining reliable service to customers but also for supporting the integration of renewable energy sources.
Overall, NEE ranks 3rd on our list of one of the best alternative fuel stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of NEE to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NEE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
