Duke Energy announces Q3 adjusted earnings per share of $1.81, surpassing consensus estimate of $1.75.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 07 2025
0mins
Should l Buy DUK?
Q3 Revenue Performance: Duke Energy reported Q3 revenue of $8.54 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $8.55 billion.
Future Growth Strategy: CEO Harry Sideris emphasized a commitment to a long-term EPS growth rate and a significant five-year capital plan projected between $95 and $105 billion, aimed at enhancing customer value and affordability.
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Analyst Views on DUK
Wall Street analysts forecast DUK stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for DUK is 136.31 USD with a low forecast of 126.00 USD and a high forecast of 150.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
13 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
5 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 123.410
Low
126.00
Averages
136.31
High
150.00
Current: 123.410
Low
126.00
Averages
136.31
High
150.00
About DUK
Duke Energy Corporation is an energy holding company. The Company operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment conducts operations primarily through the regulated public utilities of Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, Duke Energy Florida, Duke Energy Indiana and Duke Energy Ohio. EU&I provides retail electric service through the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity to customers within the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States. The GU&I segment conducts natural gas operations primarily through the regulated public utilities of Piedmont, Duke Energy Ohio, and Duke Energy Kentucky. GU&I serves residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers, including customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. It also purchases a diverse portfolio of transportation and storage services from interstate pipelines.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Increased Customer Trust: CEO Harry Sideris noted that this recognition reflects the trust customers have in Duke Energy, as the company excels in modernizing the grid and meeting rising customer demand, showcasing its adaptability during a transformative period in the energy industry.
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- Cisco's AI Focus: Cisco anticipates earnings of $1.02 per share and revenue of $15.1 billion for Q2 FY2026, with CEO highlighting a major multi-year campus networking refresh, making AI infrastructure demand a critical growth driver.
- Importance of Employment Report: The January employment report is expected to show an addition of 80,000 nonfarm payrolls and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, directly impacting private consumption and U.S. GDP, making it crucial for investors to monitor.
- Consumer Price Index Insights: The January CPI is projected to increase by 2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI rising by 2.6%, providing essential inflation details despite not being the Fed's preferred measure, particularly regarding persistent shelter cost inflation.
See More
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- Nasdaq Struggles: In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite ended the week down 1.8%, despite a strong rally on Friday.
See More
Duke Energy Corporation Price Target Cut by BTIG
- Rating Adjustments: BTIG lowered its price target for Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) from $150 to $141 while maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting cautious expectations for utility companies' 2025 results.
- Market Trends: RBC Capital also cut its target from $143 to $140, keeping a Sector Perform rating, noting that utility companies have frequently updated capital plans over the past 18 months, indicating industry uncertainty.
- Valuation Changes: Wells Fargo reduced Duke Energy's target from $126 to $115 and updated its valuation approach, suggesting the company is currently trading at a premium compared to its historical discounted valuation, reflecting market caution about its future performance.
- Investment Outlook: While Duke Energy is seen as a potential investment, analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and lower downside risk, indicating that investors should choose carefully.
See More
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- Job Data Expectations: The U.S. is expected to add 60,000 jobs in January, up from 50,000 in December, which could influence the Fed's monetary policy direction amidst ongoing economic uncertainty.
- Inflation Metrics Analysis: The January Consumer Price Index is projected to rise by 0.29% month-over-month and 2.5% year-over-year, showing improvement but still falling short of the Fed's 2% target, potentially affecting investor rate expectations.
- Market Reaction and Risks: Recent signs of labor market weakness, including an ADP report indicating only 22,000 new private sector jobs, may heighten expectations for further Fed rate cuts, although investors remain optimistic about economic resilience.
- Stock Market Rotation Trend: A significant rotation within the stock market is underway, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising over 2% this week, reflecting confidence in economic recovery, despite ongoing weakness in tech stocks.
See More
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- Significant Order Growth: GE Vernova secured $10.2 billion in orders in Q1 2025, totaling $59 billion for the year, highlighting robust demand in the natural gas and wind turbine markets, which further solidifies its market leadership.
- Strong Cash Flow and Financial Health: The company generated $3.7 billion in free cash flow in 2025 and ended the year with nearly $9 billion in cash, indicating a solid financial position that supports future investments and shareholder returns.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: GE Vernova doubled its dividend per share and raised its stock repurchase program from $6 billion to $10 billion in 2025, reflecting strong confidence in future cash flows and likely attracting more investor interest.
- Market Expansion and Acquisition: The company acquired the remaining 50% stake in transformer maker Prolec GE for $5.3 billion, further solidifying its dominance in the North American grid infrastructure market to meet surging power demand.
See More
Duke Energy Recognized as One of the World's Most Admired Companies
- Ranking Improvement: Duke Energy has been ranked third on Fortune's 2026 World's Most Admired Companies list, moving up from fourth last year, marking the company's ninth consecutive year on the list and highlighting its leadership in the electric and gas utility sector.
- Increased Customer Trust: CEO Harry Sideris noted that this recognition reflects the trust customers have in Duke Energy, as the company excels in modernizing the grid and meeting rising customer demand, showcasing its adaptability during a transformative period in the energy industry.
- Energy Transition Strategy: Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, investing in electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation sources, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and energy storage, ensuring customer reliability and value.
- Broad Customer Base: Duke Energy's electric utilities serve 8.6 million customers, while its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, underscoring its significant presence in the U.S. energy market.
See More
