Friday Sector Leaders: Services, Utilities
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 20 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Performance of Services and Utilities Stocks: On Friday, the Services sector led with a 0.4% increase, highlighted by Kroger Co's 8.8% gain and Carmax Inc.'s 6.4% rise, while the Utilities sector followed closely with a 0.3% increase, driven by Vistra Corp and NextEra Energy Inc.
ETF Performance Overview: The iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (IYC) is down 0.1% for the day and 0.29% year-to-date, whereas the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) is up 0.5% today and 7.64% year-to-date, reflecting varying performances among their respective holdings.
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Analyst Views on NEE
Wall Street analysts forecast NEE stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 91.240
Low
84.00
Averages
92.50
High
100.00
Current: 91.240
Low
84.00
Averages
92.50
High
100.00
About NEE
NextEra Energy, Inc. is an electric power and energy infrastructure company. It operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC and NextEra Energy Transmission, LLC (collectively, NEER) and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL). Its segments include NEER and FPL. FPL segment is a rate-regulated electric utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in Florida. FPL has approximately 35,052 megawatts of net generating capacity, over 91,000 circuit miles of transmission and distribution lines and 921 substations. The NEER segment owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets in the United States and Canada and includes assets and investments in other businesses with a clean energy focus, such as battery storage, natural gas pipelines, and renewable fuels. It owns, develops, constructs and operates rate-regulated transmission facilities in North America.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Risks and Opportunities: While solar stocks face risks from rising interest rates and supply chain issues, NextEra Energy offers a relatively safe investment opportunity through its stable utility business and long-term power purchase agreements, making it suitable for investors looking to capitalize on the rapidly growing solar market.
See More
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- Oil Price Volatility: The Iran conflict has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting global oil prices; however, many energy companies have learned to operate profitably in low-price environments, enhancing their shareholder return capabilities.
- Chevron's Performance: Chevron (CVX) has seen its stock rise nearly 24% this year, with expected daily oil equivalent production of 3.98 to 4.1 million barrels in 2026, and a 35% increase in free cash flow, showcasing strong profitability and solid financial health.
- ExxonMobil's Success: ExxonMobil (XOM) stock is up 26% this year and nearly 167% over the past five years, with free cash flow skyrocketing from nearly $30 billion in 2019 to nearly $52 billion in 2025, indicating success in cost control and strategic investments.
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See More
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- Chevron's Strong Performance: Following its acquisition of Hess in 2025, Chevron expects its upstream portfolio to produce between 3.98 million and 4.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026, achieving a 35% increase in free cash flow despite a 15% drop in oil prices.
- ExxonMobil Cash Flow Growth: ExxonMobil's net cash provided by operating activities skyrocketed from $30 billion in 2019 to $52 billion in 2025, while free cash flow increased from $6.6 billion to $26.1 billion, showcasing its success in cost management and strategic investments.
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See More
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- Gas Price Surge: Gas prices in the U.S. have surged approximately 80% year-to-date, leading to increased transportation costs that are pushing up prices for most products, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expressing concerns about potential broader inflationary impacts.
- White House Optimism: White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai stated on social media that these are merely 'short-term disruptions' and that the American economy remains on a solid trajectory, a sentiment echoed by National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, who described high gas prices as a 'temporary phenomenon.'
- NextEra Energy Investment Opportunity: As North America's largest electric power and energy infrastructure company, NextEra Energy anticipates a compound annual growth rate of at least 8% for adjusted earnings per share over the next several years, while planning to invest over $25 billion in its renewables and storage business, showcasing its inflation-resistant capabilities in a high gas price environment.
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See More
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- Stable Power Demand: NextEra Energy, as North America's largest electric power and energy infrastructure company, anticipates a compound annual growth rate of at least 8% for adjusted earnings per share through 2032, indicating strong electricity demand that can effectively pass costs to consumers amid inflationary pressures.
- Renewable Energy Expansion: NextEra plans to triple its renewables and storage business in the coming years, with an expected 10% dividend growth this year and a 6% annual increase through 2028, showcasing its long-term strategic positioning in the sustainable energy sector.
- Pharmaceutical Market Potential: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, as the sole manufacturer of approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, expects a more than 3x year-over-year increase in Journavx prescriptions by 2026, highlighting its strong growth potential in the non-opioid pain medication market and further solidifying its market position.
- E-commerce Growth: Walmart's global e-commerce net sales surged 24% year-over-year in Q4 2025, with sales in the U.S. and China increasing by 27% and 28%, respectively, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability in the consumer staples market, especially during inflationary periods.
See More
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- Economic Data Impact: U.S. March existing home sales fell 3.6% month-over-month to a 9-month low of 3.98 million, below the expected 4.05 million, and this weak data could influence the Fed's monetary policy decisions, increasing market expectations for rate cuts.
- Oil Price Volatility: Following President Trump's announcement of a full naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, WTI crude prices rose over 2%, although still below early highs, which could exacerbate global oil and fuel shortages, impacting related industry stock performance.
- Upcoming Earnings Season: Q1 earnings for the S&P 500 are projected to climb 12% year-over-year, but excluding the tech sector, earnings growth is only expected to be around 3%, the weakest in two years, reflecting market caution regarding profit growth.
See More
