DUK

Utilities

Duke Energy Corporation · Regulated Electric · $98B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
49.5
Below Average

Duke Energy Corporation scores 49.5/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Utilities Sector
DUK
49.5
Sector avg
43.5
Quality
Good
Moat
Neutral
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Weak
Valuation
Good

What is Duke Energy Corporation?

Duke Energy Corporation is one of the largest regulated electric utilities in the United States, serving millions of customers across the Southeast and Midwest.

Duke Energy generates, transmits, and distributes electricity using a diverse fuel mix — coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewables. It also distributes natural gas to residential and commercial customers and develops commercial wind and solar projects through its renewables segment.

Incorporated in 1980 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

  • Regulated electric utility services
  • Natural gas distribution and pipeline infrastructure
  • Commercial wind and solar generation

Is DUK a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates DUK as Below Average overall.

Duke Energy's Quality and Valuation pillars both register as Good, suggesting the business generates reasonably stable earnings relative to its regulated asset base and that the current price is not obviously stretched by UQS measures.

The Risk pillar is rated Weak, reflecting the elevated debt load common in capital-intensive utilities, while Moat and Growth are both Neutral.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does DUK pay dividends?

Yes — Duke Energy Corporation pays a dividend.

Duke Energy pays a regular dividend, a hallmark of large regulated utilities that generate predictable cash flows from rate-regulated operations. The dividend is a key reason income-focused investors follow DUK, though the company's elevated debt level is worth monitoring alongside the payout.

When does DUK report earnings?

Duke Energy reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed equities.

As a regulated utility, Duke Energy's quarterly results tend to be relatively predictable, driven by rate case outcomes and capital investment recovery rather than cyclical demand swings. Weather patterns and regulatory decisions in its service territories can cause quarter-to-quarter variation.

For the most recent quarter's results, see Duke Energy's investor relations page at duke-energy.com.

DUK Price History

+50.8% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in Duke Energy Corporation?

$
Today it would be worth
$15,049
That's a +50.5% total return, or +8.5% annualized.

Based on Duke Energy Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Duke Energy do?

Duke Energy generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to roughly 8.2 million customers across six states in the Southeast and Midwest. It also distributes natural gas and develops commercial renewable energy projects including wind and solar.

Does DUK pay dividends?

Yes, Duke Energy pays a regular dividend. The company's regulated utility model produces relatively stable cash flows that support consistent dividend payments, making it a common holding for income-oriented investors.

When does DUK report earnings?

Duke Energy follows a standard quarterly earnings schedule. Exact dates shift each cycle, so check the investor relations section of duke-energy.com for the most current reporting calendar.

Is DUK a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates DUK as Below Average overall. Quality and Valuation are Good, but the Risk pillar is Weak, reflecting the company's significant debt obligations. Investors should weigh the dividend income against the balance-sheet risk before deciding.

Is DUK overvalued?

The UQS Valuation pillar for DUK is rated Good, suggesting the stock is not obviously overpriced relative to UQS scoring criteria. Full valuation metrics are available to Pro members.

What is DUK's market cap bracket?

Duke Energy is a large-cap utility, one of the biggest regulated electric utilities in the United States by customer count and generation capacity.

Is DUK a long-term quality indicator?

As a long-term quality indicator, DUK shows mixed signals. Its Good Quality rating reflects stable regulated earnings, but the Weak Risk pillar — driven by high capital requirements and debt — is a factor long-horizon investors should consider carefully.

What sector does DUK belong to?

Duke Energy belongs to the Utilities sector. Regulated utilities like DUK are often evaluated on dividend reliability, regulatory relationships, and the ability to recover infrastructure investment through approved rate structures.

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Pro Analysis

DUK — Score History

4045505560Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 16 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 23, 202649.561.859.042.38.064.2-0.1
May 22, 202649.662.059.042.38.064.6+0.1
May 19, 202649.562.059.041.78.064.9-2.2
May 10, 202651.771.159.040.98.065.5+5.3
May 9, 202646.471.159.015.48.063.7-0.1
May 8, 202646.533.359.040.939.262.6-2.9
May 4, 202649.464.359.040.55.763.8+0.1
May 3, 202649.364.359.040.25.763.70.0
Apr 26, 202649.364.359.040.25.764.10.0
Apr 24, 202649.364.359.040.25.763.80.0

DUK — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

61.8/100 (25%)

Duke Energy Corporation shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Capital Efficiency (ROIC)Weak

How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityStrong

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Gross Profit / AssetsWeak

Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

42.3/100 (20%)

Duke Energy Corporation shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendWeak

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRWeak

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthModerate

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthModerate

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

8.0/100 (15%)

Duke Energy Corporation presents elevated risk with concerns around leverage or financial stability.

Financial LeverageWeak

Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.

Debt/EquityWeak

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioWeak

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

64.2/100 (15%)

Duke Energy Corporation trades at a reasonable valuation with decent earnings yield and FCF multiples.

Earnings YieldModerate

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

PEG RatioModerate

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorModerate

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

59/100 (25%)

Duke Energy Corporation has meaningful competitive advantages that should protect its market position. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for DUK.

Score Composition

Quality
61.8×25%15.4
Growth
42.3×20%8.5
Risk
8.0×15%1.2
Valuation
64.2×15%9.6
Moat
59.0×25%14.8
Total
49.5Below Average

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the DUK UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Duke Energy Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Duke Energy Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Duke Energy Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.