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DUK vs. TLN: Duke Energy vs. Talen Energy Stock Comparison

How do Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but DUK is classified in Electric Utilities while TLN is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.

Duke Energy (DUK) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Talen Energy (TLN) listed on June 2, 2023 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
Profile ItemDUKTLN
NameDuke Energy CorporationTalen Energy Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization99.63 billion USD14.73 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980June 2, 2023
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DUK
TLN
GSPC
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Talen Energy (TLN). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
Total Return (1Y)7.39%-6.63%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.76%88.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.82%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DUK
TLN
GSPC
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Talen Energy (TLN). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Talen Energy (TLN) has an aggressive beta of 1.53, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Duke Energy (DUK) is defensive at 0.32 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.00%58.28%
Beta (5Y)0.321.53
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.16%-36.72%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.11M1.01M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DUK and TLN are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.18-0.19
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.27-0.26

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative ROE of -16.54%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Duke Energy (DUK) reports 10.10%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DUK

Utilities industry group

10.10%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
DUK
10.10%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

TLN

Utilities industry group

-16.54%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
TLN
-16.54%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) reports a negative net margin of -5.67%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Duke Energy (DUK) reports 16.16%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DUK

Utilities industry group

16.16%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
DUK
16.16%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

TLN

Utilities industry group

-5.67%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
TLN
-5.67%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 30.03% and Talen Energy (TLN) at 17.35% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

DUK

Utilities industry group

30.03%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
DUK
30.03%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

TLN

Utilities industry group

17.35%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
TLN
17.35%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
ROE (TTM)10.10%-16.54%
ROA (TTM)2.92%0.88%
Net Margin (TTM)16.16%-5.67%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.03%17.35%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.58%42.67%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Talen Energy (TLN) at 26.68% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Duke Energy (DUK) at 6.19% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for TLN.

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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Duke Energy (DUK) at 10.51% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Talen Energy (TLN) at -127.11% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.19%26.68%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.87%2.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.51%-127.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)23.75%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 0.68 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 0.89 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
DUK
0.68
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.89

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
TLN
0.89
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.63 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Talen Energy (TLN) at 5.97 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.63

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
DUK
1.63
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

TLN

Utilities industry group

5.97

TLN
5.97
Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.680.89
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.635.97
Net Debt / EBITDA5.3813.69

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Duke Energy (DUK) reports a yield of 3.29%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DUK

Utilities industry group

3.29%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
DUK
3.29%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
TLN
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Talen Energy (TLN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Duke Energy (DUK) reports a payout of 62.76%, ranking against industry peers normally.

DUK

Utilities industry group

62.76%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
DUK
62.76%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%

TLN

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
TLN
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.29%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)62.76%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Duke Energy (DUK) trades at 18.74 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Talen Energy (TLN) has no P/E ratio this period.

DUK

Utilities industry group

18.74

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
DUK
18.74
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34

TLN

Utilities industry group

--

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
TLN
--
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): TLN does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; DUK is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Duke Energy (DUK) at 2.99 and Talen Energy (TLN) at 3.29 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.99

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
DUK
2.99
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00

TLN

Utilities industry group

3.29

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
TLN
3.29
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.83 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Talen Energy (TLN) at 10.14 prices above its benchmark range — TLN looks rich relative to book.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.83

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
DUK
1.83
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

TLN

Utilities industry group

10.14

TLN
10.14
Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Talen Energy (TLN): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Talen Energy (TLN)
MetricDUKTLN
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.74--
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.993.29
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.8310.14
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-2.76%6.39%