Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: DUKAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

DUK AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is a regulated electric and gas utility operating across the Southeast and Midwest. In FY2025, the company generated revenue of $32.24B and net income of $4.97B with an operating margin of 26.6%. It provides a 3.57% dividend yield supported by 44 consecutive years of payments, while operating with total debt of $91.24B.

Market cap
$94.71B
Revenue (TTM)
$32.80B
P/E
18.3x
fwd 15.9x
1Y return
-1.3%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$133.72
10.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • Duke Energy beat EPS expectations in each of the last 4 quarters and generated $12.35B in operating cash flow in FY2025.
  • The stock delivers an income yield of 3.57% backed by 44 consecutive years of dividend payments.
  • Valuation multiples trade at a discount to S&P 500 Utilities peers, including a trailing P/E of 18.3x versus the peer median of 21.0x and EV/EBITDA of 10.2x versus 12.2x.

Bear case

  • Capital expenditures of $14.02B in FY2025 contributed to negative free cash flow of -$1.67B.
  • The balance sheet carries high leverage with total debt of $91.24B and a current ratio of 0.66.
  • The stock declined 1.3% over the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.

What Duke Energy does

Duke Energy Corporation operates through three primary segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers across six states with about 50,259 megawatts of generation capacity across a 91,000-square-mile territory. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to 1.6 million customers across North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky, while operating pipeline transmission and storage assets. In addition, the Commercial Renewables segment develops and operates wind, solar, and battery storage projects across 22 states, including 23 wind facilities and 178 solar projects.

Growth and profitability

From FY2021 to FY2025, Duke Energy expanded annual revenue from $25.10B to $32.24B, generating a five-year revenue CAGR of 6.6%. Annual net income grew from $3.58B in FY2021 to $4.97B in FY2025, with EPS increasing from $5.23 to $6.32. Operating margin rose from 21.4% in FY2021 to 26.6% in FY2025, though gross margin fell to 31.6% in FY2025 from 50.1% in FY2024. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue was $32.80B with an operating margin of 27.5%. In the latest quarter, quarterly revenue increased 1.1% year-over-year while quarterly earnings rose 10.6%.

DUK income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Duke Energy held $673.0M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $91.24B, resulting in net debt of $90.56B. The company ended the period with a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67 based on $54.75B in shareholders' equity. In FY2025, operating cash flow was $12.35B, while capital expenditures reached $14.02B, resulting in free cash flow of -$1.67B. Financing outflows in FY2025 included $3.30B in dividends paid alongside $16.0M in share issuance.

DUK balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Duke Energy trades at a trailing P/E of 18.3x and a forward P/E of 15.9x, compared to medians of 21.0x and 16.0x for its S&P 500 Utilities peers. Its enterprise value of $181.52B reflects an EV/EBITDA of 10.2x, below the peer median of 12.2x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 2.9x matches the peer median of 2.9x. Over the past year, Duke Energy shares declined 1.3%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over five years, the stock gained 46.8% compared to 83.0% for the index.

DUK key metrics →

DUK dividend

Duke Energy pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annualized payout of $4.34 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.57%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 64.5%. Duke Energy has paid dividends for 44 consecutive years, recording a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 2.0%.

DUK dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analysts maintain 9 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, and 10 Hold ratings on Duke Energy, with no Sell or Strong Sell recommendations. The mean price target is $133.72, which is 10.1% above the last close of $121.47. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $33.74B and EPS of $6.71, representing 6.4% EPS growth. Duke Energy beat EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings date is November 5, 2026.

DUK forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • A debt-to-equity ratio of 1.67 and net debt of $90.56B leave the company exposed to interest costs and refinancing requirements.
  • Free cash flow has been negative in four of the last five fiscal years, including -$1.67B in FY2025.
  • Gross margin compressed to 31.6% in FY2025 from 50.1% in FY2024.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this DUK AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Duke Energy Corporation (DUK). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: DUK income statement, DUK balance sheet, DUK key metrics, DUK analyst forecast, DUK chart. See the DUK stock overview for the latest quote and news.

DUK AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Duke Energy's dividend yield?

Duke Energy carries a dividend yield of 3.57% with an annualized forward dividend of $4.34 per share. The company has paid dividends for 44 consecutive years.

How much debt does Duke Energy have?

As of June 30, 2026, Duke Energy had total debt of $91.24B and cash and short-term investments of $673.0M, resulting in net debt of $90.56B. Its debt-to-equity ratio is 1.67.

What is the consensus analyst target for DUK stock?

The mean price target for Duke Energy is $133.72, which represents a 10.1% premium over its last close of $121.47. Analyst recommendations include 9 Strong Buy, 3 Buy, and 10 Hold ratings.

What was Duke Energy's revenue growth in FY2025?

In FY2025, Duke Energy generated revenue of $32.24B, representing year-over-year revenue growth of 6.2%. Its five-year revenue CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025 stands at 6.6%.

More Utilities AI stock analysis