Duke Energy (DUK): analysis in plain words
Is Duke Energy cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Duke Energy (DUK) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in utilities and renewables. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Duke Energy according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Duke Energy (DUK) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $129.59 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 19.5x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +1.1% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 16.0% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 5.5x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 3.43% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $101.0 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Duke Energy figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any DUK figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Duke Energy makes money
Duke Energy is a regulated utility that earns rates approved by state regulators. Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, its largest segment, generates and delivers power in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Gas Utilities and Infrastructure distributes natural gas, mainly through Piedmont Natural Gas.
Over the last 12 months, Duke Energy brought in revenue of $32.8 billion. For every 100 it sells, Duke Energy keeps 52.0 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 27.5 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 26,441 full-time employees, that is about $1 million of revenue per employee.
Duke Energy against its sector
To know whether a Duke Energy figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Duke Energy with the median of the 14 utilities and renewables companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Duke Energy | utilities and renewables median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 19.5x | 19.9x (14) |
| Revenue growth | +1.1% | +8.8% (14) |
| Net margin | 16.0% | 14.5% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 3.43% | 3.16% (14) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 5.5x | 4.6x (14) |
In short, against the typical utilities and renewables company, Duke Energy grows more slowly and carries more debt. By size, Duke Energy ranks number 3 of 6 utilities and renewables companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Duke Energy
What works in favour of Duke Energy, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- For income seekers, Duke Energy pays a dividend yielding 3.43% at today's price, using 64% of its profit to fund it.
The main risk for Duke Energy
Debt is heavy: Duke Energy carries net debt equal to 5.5x its annual EBITDA. With high interest rates or a weak year, interest payments eat into what it can invest or pay out.
On top of that: duke Energy is burning cash: its free cash flow over the last 12 months is negative (-$4.5 billion).
And, like the rest of utilities and renewables, Duke Energy is exposed to interest rates (it funds grids and plants with a lot of debt) and changes in how its tariffs are regulated.
Frequently asked questions about Duke Energy
Is it a good time to buy Duke Energy stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Duke Energy, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Duke Energy stock trades at $129.59, 4% below its 52-week high ($134.49) and 15% above its low ($112.40). Its P/E is 19.5x against a utilities and renewables median of 19.9x, and 18.1x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Duke Energy, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Duke Energy pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Duke Energy pays $4.34 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 3.43%. It uses 64% of its profit to pay it. The utilities and renewables median on Fintols is 3.16%.
Is Duke Energy stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Duke Energy trades at 19.5x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the utilities and renewables median (19.9x). Including its debt, Duke Energy is valued at 11.6x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make Duke Energy expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Duke Energy's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Duke Energy with Southern Company, NextEra Energy and Constellation Energy, which are also in utilities and renewables. As of November 4, 2026, Southern Company is worth $107.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 22.4; NextEra Energy is worth $185.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 15.9; Constellation Energy is worth $87.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 24.0. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Duke Energy below.
Duke Energy competitors
- Southern Company (SO) analysis · Duke Energy vs Southern Company comparison
- NextEra Energy (NEE) analysis · Duke Energy vs NextEra Energy comparison
- Constellation Energy (CEG) analysis · Duke Energy vs Constellation Energy comparison
To understand Duke Energy better
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
More companies like Duke Energy: utilities and renewables stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full DUK analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Duke Energy, not investment advice.