Duke Energy (DUK) Stock Analysis

September 7, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Duke Energy (DUK): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Utilities peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Duke Energy (DUK)
Profile Item	DUK
Name	Duke Energy Corporation
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	93.74 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DUK

GSPC

Duke Energy (DUK) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Duke Energy (DUK) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Duke Energy (DUK) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	2.95%	7.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	15.25%	12.42%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.64%	6.62%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DUK

GSPC

Duke Energy (DUK) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Duke Energy (DUK) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	16.01%	21.32%
Beta (5Y)	0.35	0.54
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-24.16%	-36.98%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. DUK is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.07	0.20
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.10	0.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) posts ROE of 9.86%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

DUK

Utilities industry group

9.86%

Group distribution

Max: 17.16%
Q3: 11.72%
DUK: 9.86%
Median: 9.45%
Q1: 7.55%
Min: 2.49%

Largest peers

CEG: 15.06%
NEE: 11.68%
SO: 11.48%
AEP: 10.13%
DUK: 9.86%
NGG: 8.41%
D: 8.28%

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on ROE within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) keeps 16.00% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

DUK

Utilities industry group

16.00%

Group distribution

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 16.42%
DUK: 16.00%
Median: 12.53%
Q1: 8.04%
Min: -1.02%

Largest peers

NEE: 32.40%
NGG: 18.32%
DUK: 16.00%
SO: 15.44%
D: 13.99%
AEP: 13.78%
CEG: 11.08%

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on net margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) turns 27.50% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

27.50%

Group distribution

Max: 42.26%
DUK: 27.50%
Q3: 26.90%
Median: 21.42%
Q1: 13.61%
Min: -4.80%

Largest peers

NGG: 32.60%
NEE: 31.52%
SO: 29.61%
D: 29.22%
DUK: 27.50%
AEP: 23.25%
CEG: 8.66%

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on operating margin within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	9.86%	9.45%
ROA (TTM)	2.84%	2.99%
Net Margin (TTM)	16.00%	12.53%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.50%	21.42%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.97%	43.97%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Duke Energy (DUK) grew revenue 6.19%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Duke Energy (DUK): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Duke Energy (DUK) grew earnings per share 10.51%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Duke Energy (DUK): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Utilities industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.19%	8.57%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.87%	3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)	10.51%	3.93%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	23.75%	5.04%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) has current ratio of 0.66, in the healthier middle range for its industry. The short-term asset cushion looks balanced relative to peers rather than stretched thin.

DUK

Utilities industry group

0.66

Group distribution

Max: 1.71
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.87
DUK: 0.66
Q1: 0.62
Min: 0.32

Largest peers

CEG: 1.46
D: 0.81
SO: 0.79
NGG: 0.76
DUK: 0.66
NEE: 0.53
AEP: 0.50

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on current ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.62

Group distribution

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
DUK: 1.62
Median: 1.35
Q1: 0.84
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

SO: 1.82
DUK: 1.62
NEE: 1.62
AEP: 1.61
D: 1.60
NGG: 1.21
CEG: 0.76

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.66	0.87
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.62	1.35
Net Debt / EBITDA	5.51	5.33

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) has dividend yield of 3.51%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

DUK

Utilities industry group

3.51%

Group distribution

Max: 6.10%
Q3: 3.82%
DUK: 3.51%
Median: 3.06%
Q1: 1.91%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

D: 4.10%
DUK: 3.51%
SO: 3.40%
AEP: 3.06%
NEE: 2.89%
NGG: 0.64%
CEG: 0.57%

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on dividend yield within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) has payout ratio of 64.16%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

DUK

Utilities industry group

64.16%

Group distribution

Max: 108.33%
Q3: 71.18%
DUK: 64.16%
Median: 58.04%
Q1: 30.08%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

D: 92.39%
SO: 71.81%
NGG: 71.18%
AEP: 65.51%
DUK: 64.16%
NEE: 53.47%
CEG: 15.92%

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on payout ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	3.51%	3.06%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	64.16%	58.04%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) trades at P/E ratio of 18.11, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

DUK

Utilities industry group

18.11

Group distribution

Max: 31.51
Q3: 22.14
Median: 20.42
DUK: 18.11
Q1: 15.87
Min: 6.57

Largest peers

CEG: 27.86
D: 22.27
AEP: 21.37
SO: 21.00
NEE: 18.50
DUK: 18.11
NGG: 17.35

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on P/E ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) trades at 2.86 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.86

Group distribution

Max: 5.98
Q3: 3.47
DUK: 2.86
Median: 2.63
Q1: 1.60
Min: 0.00

Largest peers

NEE: 5.98
NGG: 4.37
SO: 3.32
CEG: 3.23
D: 3.12
AEP: 2.95
DUK: 2.86

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on P/S ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) trades at 1.74 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.74

Group distribution

Max: 3.16
Q3: 2.20
Median: 1.84
DUK: 1.74
Q1: 1.44
Min: 0.34

Largest peers

NGG: 8.64
CEG: 3.16
NEE: 3.01
SO: 2.53
AEP: 2.09
D: 2.03
DUK: 1.74

Where Duke Energy (DUK) stands on P/B ratio within its Utilities peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Duke Energy (DUK) metric values compared with Utilities industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: DUK	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	18.11	20.42
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.86	2.63
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.74	1.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-4.78%	-6.55%