Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)

Duke Energy announced its first-quarter financial results and confirmed its 2025 EPS targets. The CEO provided an overview of the company's 2024 performance and energy modernization progress at the annual shareholders meeting. The stock received a "Golden Star Signal" in its long-term chart. Duke Energy set a new summer peak usage record due to a heat wave. The company reported stronger-than-expected financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Duke Energy filed its 2025 Carolinas Resource Plan, outlining new investments in nuclear, natural gas, solar, and battery storage. Scotiabank upgraded Duke Energy to "Strong-Buy," while Jefferies Financial Group cut its rating from "buy" to "hold".

Demand for Duke Energy's products and services exhibits seasonality, influenced by weather patterns, with higher demand during extreme hot or cold weather. The company experiences peak demand times during summer heat waves and winter cold snaps and implements demand response programs to manage these peaks. Duke Energy is also experiencing growing energy demand in its Southeast service regions, driven by population growth, technology hubs, and advanced manufacturing and data centers.

Duke Energy Corporation is an American energy holding company focused on electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as natural gas operations. It operates in the Utilities sector and Electric Utilities industry, structured around Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables segments. The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity using various sources, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and renewables. It also distributes natural gas and manages transportation and storage services. Additionally, Duke Energy develops, owns, and operates renewable energy projects.

Duke Energy serves approximately 8.6 million electric customers across six states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the U.S., including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky. The company's service territory spans approximately 90,000 square miles.

Duke Energy has maintained a strong brand reputation, being recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the World's Most Admired Companies for 2025 for the eighth consecutive year. The company's commitment to grid reliability and its charitable giving and employee volunteerism contribute to its positive reputation.

Institutional investors hold a significant majority of Duke Energy's shares, approximately 63% to 69% of the company. The largest institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and State Street Corp. Retail investors and insiders own about 31% to 37% of the company, with insiders holding less than 1%.