Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Tuesday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of 6.550-6.800 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 6.700. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Duke Energy Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of DUK opened at $125.25 on Thursday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $118.27 and its 200 day moving average price is $121.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $97.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.51. Duke Energy has a 12-month low of $110.51 and a 12-month high of $130.03.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 15.41%.During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.66 EPS. Duke Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.550-6.800 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Duke Energy will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 67.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DUK has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $126.00 to $125.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $126.00 to $115.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Duke Energy from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 13th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $134.13.

Insider Transactions at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total transaction of $1,015,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 11,367 shares in the company, valued at $1,407,234.60. This trade represents a 41.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.14% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key Stories Impacting Duke Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Quarterly results: Duke posted Q4 EPS of $1.50 (vs. ~$1.49 consensus) and revenue of $7.94B, narrowly beating estimates and showing demand-driven top-line growth — supporting near-term earnings stability. Duke Energy Beats Expectations, Continues To Be A Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Data‑center demand: Duke’s pipeline for powering data centers rose to ~4.5 GW after signing 1.5 GW in Q4 (deals include large customers), which boosts incremental load growth and long-term contracted revenue. Duke Energy’s data center pipeline hits 4.5 gigawatts as demand soars
• Positive Sentiment: Big capital plan / multi‑year growth: Management unveiled a record ~$103B capital plan and reiterated 5–7% EPS growth through 2030 — signals of durable regulated investment that should support utility earnings and dividend coverage. Duke Energy sets record $103 billion capital plan, fueled by data center demand
• Positive Sentiment: Strong cash generation: Reports show roughly $4.9–$5.0B net income for the year and recovery of ~$3B in storm costs — both support cash flow and regulatory filings for rate relief. As rate hike awaits, Duke Energy reports $5B annual net income
• Neutral Sentiment: FY2026 guide: Duke set FY2026 EPS guidance at $6.55–$6.80 (roughly in line with consensus), so forward expectations are stable but not materially higher; investors will watch regulatory approvals and load growth to hit the midpoint. Duke Energy reports fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and call materials: Transcripts, slide deck and analyst reports are available and show management emphasizing grid investments and contract wins — useful context but no new surprises. Duke Energy Corporation 2025 Q4 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation
• Negative Sentiment: Municipal risk: St. Petersburg is studying a municipal electric utility as its contract with Duke nears expiration — a localized but tangible regulatory/retention risk that investors will monitor for precedent. St. Petersburg takes steps to consider dropping Duke Energy for city-run electric utility
• Negative Sentiment: Political/regulatory sensitivity: Pending rate increases and higher customer bills are drawing attention and could provoke regulatory pushback, which is a headline risk even as higher rates bolster regulated earnings. Duke Energy reports nearly $5B net income as customers face higher bills and pending rate increases

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DUK. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC now owns 2,113 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $261,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc raised its holdings in Duke Energy by 6.6% during the second quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 1,733 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $204,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC boosted its position in Duke Energy by 0.7% during the third quarter. Prosperity Consulting Group LLC now owns 15,245 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,887,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI grew its stake in Duke Energy by 7.0% in the second quarter. Strategic Investment Advisors MI now owns 1,847 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $218,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ICONIQ Capital LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 2.2% in the second quarter. ICONIQ Capital LLC now owns 5,997 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $708,000 after purchasing an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Duke Energy

Duke Energy Corporation is a U.S.-based electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s core business is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy operates a mix of regulated electric utilities and non-regulated energy businesses, providing essential energy infrastructure and services across multiple states.

Its operating activities include owning and operating generation assets across a portfolio that encompasses nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and an expanding array of renewable resources, as well as battery storage and grid modernization projects.