Utilities stocks today: NextEra’s $4 billion share-sale plan keeps XLU under pressure into 2026
NEW YORK, January 1, 2026, 1:53 PM ET — Market closed U.S. utilities stocks headed into the New Year on the back foot after NextEra Energy disclosed a $4 billion at-the-market share-sale program, a move that can add supply to the market over time. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund, an exchange-traded fund that tracks a basket of utility stocks, last closed down 0.6% at $42.69. (SEC filing) Why it matters now: utilities are among the most interest-rate-sensitive parts of the equity market because investors often value them for steady cash flows and dividends. When financing costs rise or equity