Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is listed on NYSE and operates in the Regulated Electric industry (Utilities sector).
Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,259 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 550,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewa...
| Rating | Analysts |
|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 0 |
| Buy | 13 |
| Hold | 19 |
| Sell | 0 |
| Strong Sell | 0 |
Duke Energy Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, operates as an energy company in the United States. It functions through three main segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment is responsible for generating, transmitting, distributing, and selling electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. It utilizes various energy sources, including coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel, serving approximately 8.2 million customers across six states. This segment manages a service area of about 91,000 square miles and owns around 50,259 megawatts of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment provides natural gas distribution to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation customers, serving approximately 1.6 million customers in regions including North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, southwestern Ohio, and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment focuses on wind and solar renewable generation projects, offering energy and storage services across 22 states with a capacity of 3,554 megawatts. Founded in 1904, the company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. until 2005.
Over the past three fiscal years, the company has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, increasing at a 5.3% CAGR from $29.06 billion in 2023 to $32.24 billion in 2025. This growth has been accompanied by a steady rise in earnings per share, which grew at a 7.8% CAGR, reaching $6.31 by 2025. Despite the revenue growth, gross margins experienced a significant decline, dropping 15.8pp from 47.3% to 31.6%, which may indicate rising costs or pricing pressures. However, operating margins improved by 2.3pp to 26.6%, suggesting effective cost management or operational efficiencies. The company's cash flow story is mixed; while operating cash flow consistently increased, free cash flow remained negative, albeit improving from -$2.73 billion to -$1.67 billion, reflecting challenges in capital expenditure or working capital management. Net debt increased consistently, rising from $80.2 billion to $90.6 billion, which, coupled with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 5.78x, indicates a high leverage position. The interest coverage ratio remains thin at 2.57x, highlighting potential concerns over debt servicing capacity. Additionally, the company's liquidity is constrained, with a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.33, both below the threshold of 1, suggesting potential short-term financial strain. Despite these challenges, the return on invested capital has improved consistently, reaching 5.8%, indicating better capital efficiency.
Recent developments for Duke Energy Corporation primarily focus on strategic initiatives and institutional trading activities. On April 16, 2026, the Duke Energy Foundation announced the first round of America250 grants, awarding over $250,000 to support community projects across its six-state service area. This initiative aims to strengthen communities in anticipation of the United States' 250th anniversary, with specific grants allocated to nonprofits for revitalizing parks and providing meals for veterans in Florida. In terms of institutional trading, Farther Finance Advisors LLC reported holding $6.31 million in Duke Energy stock, while other firms like Lodestone Wealth Management LLC and Dorato Capital Management acquired new positions in the company during the fourth quarter. Additionally, Greystone Financial Group LLC and Empowered Funds LLC increased their holdings, reflecting continued investor interest in Duke Energy. These transactions suggest routine portfolio adjustments rather than significant shifts in company outlook. Meanwhile, Duke Energy is addressing operational challenges, such as seeking a price increase in North Carolina to cover winter power costs, highlighting ongoing efforts to manage financial and operational stability.