Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)

Over the past six months, Duke Energy's stock price has increased by 8.39%. Goldman Sachs upgraded its outlook for Duke Energy from Neutral to Buy, and Raymond James initiated coverage of DUK with a Market Perform recommendation. Duke Energy reported robust first-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.76, marking a 22% increase and reaffirmed its 2025 EPS guidance range of $6.17 to $6.42 and maintained its long-term 5-7% annual earnings growth outlook through 2029. Duke Energy declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.065 per share, an increase of $0.02 from the previous quarter. Morgan Stanley slightly revised its price target for DUK from $126 to $125, while maintaining an Equal Weight rating. Duke Energy is issuing $1 billion of common equity in 2025, which could lead to dilution for existing shareholders.

Demand for Duke Energy's products and services exhibits clear seasonality. Energy demand predictably rises in colder months, particularly in winter, as consumers and businesses increase their use of heating systems. Warmer temperatures in the summer can also contribute to higher energy use due to increased reliance on air conditioning. Duke Energy offers programs and tips to help customers manage their energy use and bills during periods of extreme temperatures.

Duke Energy Corporation is an American electric power and natural gas holding company based in Charlotte, North Carolina, operating in the Utilities sector. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity using diverse sources, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, oil, and renewables. The company also distributes natural gas to various customers and invests in related infrastructure projects and has a growing Commercial Renewables portfolio.

Duke Energy serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Its natural gas utilities serve about 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky. The company's service territory spans 104,000 square miles.

Duke Energy has maintained a strong brand reputation, recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies for 2025 by Fortune magazine for the eighth consecutive year. The company was also recognized as the top U.S. utility for investor transparency in 2021. No significant negative events impacting Duke Energy's brand reputation in the past year were found in the search results.

Duke Energy's ownership is primarily composed of institutional investors, holding approximately 66% to 67% of shares outstanding, with major holders including Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. Retail investors hold a substantial stake, estimated to be between 33% and 56.85% of the stock. Insiders own less than 1% of the company's stock.