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Harry Sideris, Duke Energy CEO, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss the misleading ideas around energy prices amid the expansion of data centers, how the recent U.S. power pledge works and much more.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 23rd, 2026

Andra AP fonden purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK – Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 31,300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $4,098,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. World Investment Advisors increased its stake in Duke Energy by 62.7% in the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 42,680 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $5,003,000 after purchasing an additional 16,450 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Duke Energy by 22.7% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 132,530 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $15,534,000 after buying an additional 24,497 shares during the period. Moseley Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 423.6% during the 4th quarter. Moseley Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,749 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,143,000 after acquiring an additional 7,887 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 359,829 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $42,176,000 after acquiring an additional 14,137 shares during the period. Finally, Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 187.8% in the fourth quarter. Advisors Management Group Inc. ADV now owns 78,293 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $9,177,000 after acquiring an additional 51,088 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

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

Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy reached a North Carolina rate settlement that significantly trims the proposed increase, which could improve the outlook for future revenue and reduce uncertainty for investors. Positive Sentiment: The company was highlighted as a trending stock, suggesting increased investor attention and trading interest around Duke Energy shares. Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy also received coverage tied to dividend growth and data-center demand trends, reinforcing the stock’s appeal as a defensive income name with growth catalysts. Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy awarded $35,000 to West Terre Haute nonprofits, a positive community-relations item but not likely to materially affect the stock price. Negative Sentiment: North Carolina officials, including the attorney general, continue to push back on the rate settlement, keeping regulatory scrutiny elevated and leaving some downside risk if approvals become more difficult. Negative Sentiment: News that Duke Energy ended a wind lease off the North Carolina coast adds a bit of uncertainty around its clean-energy strategy, though the immediate financial impact appears limited. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total transaction of $2,487,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,952,205.74. The trade was a 17.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total transaction of $438,025.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 21,415 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,680,087.25. This trade represents a 14.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $139.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Duke Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, March 28th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Duke Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.60.

View Our Latest Report on DUK

Duke Energy Price Performance Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $127.96 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.44. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $113.89 and a 1-year high of $134.49. The company has a market capitalization of $99.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.60, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.38. The business has a 50-day moving average of $125.00 and a 200-day moving average of $125.67.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $9.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.44 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 15.49%.The company’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.76 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $1.085 per share. This is an increase from Duke Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 65.24%.

Duke Energy Profile (Free Report)

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.

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Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Over the past month, shares of this electric utility have returned +0.7%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.3% change. During this period, the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, which Duke Energy falls in, has gained 1%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?

While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

Duke Energy is expected to post earnings of $1.28 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +2.4%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +0.6%.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $6.72 points to a change of +6.5% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed +0.2%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $7.15 indicates a change of +6.4% from what Duke Energy is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.1%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Duke Energy.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Projected Revenue GrowthWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

In the case of Duke Energy, the consensus sales estimate of $7.69 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +2.5%. The $33.66 billion and $35.49 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +4.4% and +5.4%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryDuke Energy reported revenues of $9.18 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.3%. EPS of $1.93 for the same period compares with $1.76 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.42 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +8.97%. The EPS surprise was +7.82%.

Over the last four quarters, Duke Energy surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates each time over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Duke Energy is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Duke Energy. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.

The Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry players generate, transmit and deliver electricity to millions of customers across the United States. Utilities are steadily transitioning toward cleaner energy sources while prioritizing carbon emission reductions, supported by government initiatives that encourage the adoption of cleaner power generation. At the same time, they continue to invest in grid modernization and upgrade transmission and distribution infrastructure to improve reliability. As hurricanes remain a recurring annual threat, ongoing infrastructure enhancements strengthen grid resilience, minimize outage durations and enable faster power restoration for customers impacted by severe storms.

NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) , with its expanding clean power generation portfolio and customer base, renewable operations and well-chalked-out capital investments to strengthen infrastructure, offers an excellent opportunity to stay invested in the utility space. Other utilities worth adding to your portfolio are Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) , American Electric Power (AEP - Free Report) and Ameren Corporation (AEE - Free Report) .

About the Industry The Utility-Electric Power industry is responsible for the generation, transmission, distribution, storage and supply of electricity to consumers. Demand for utility services remains relatively stable across economic cycles, with variations largely influenced by weather, as extreme heat or cold typically drives demand higher. The sector is undergoing a major transformation, with a growing number of utilities pursuing zero-emission targets. Meanwhile, rising internet usage, accelerating electric vehicle adoption, industrial reshoring and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence are expected to significantly increase electricity demand, as AI applications require substantially more power than conventional online activities such as music streaming or web browsing. A low-interest-rate environment is favorable for this capital-intensive industry.

3 Trends Shaping the Future of the Electric Power Industry Grid Congestion and Interconnection Delays: Demand for clean energy is rising across the United States due to the usage of new technology and the development of AI-based data centers. However, the existing transmission and distribution networks are yet to cope with the rapid increase in electricity demand. Per a report from Berkeley Lab, more than 2,000 gigawatts of power generation and storage capacity are currently in U.S. interconnection queues. Delays in interconnection and power delivery may hurt utilities' long-term prospects, prompting customers to seek reliable alternative energy sources to avoid project postponements.

Supply-Chain Constraints Slow Grid Modernization: Persistent supply-chain disruptions are slowing utility infrastructure expansion and driving up project costs. Extended lead times for critical equipment such as power transformers and switchgear, shortages of key raw materials like grain-oriented electrical steel and copper, and tariff-related cost pressures are limiting capacity additions. As a result, utilities face delays in grid modernization and clean energy projects, rising capital expenditures and pressure on long-term earnings growth, while prolonged delays may drive customers to seek alternative power sources.

Utilities Ramp Up Renewable Energy Expansion: U.S. electric power operators are steadily transitioning toward cleaner energy sources. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”), the share of U.S. electricity generation from renewables is projected to increase from 24% in 2025 to 25% in 2026 and reach 27% in 2027, driven by continued growth in solar and wind capacity. The Inflation Reduction Act is expected to further accelerate this shift by eliminating uncertainties around federal renewable energy incentives. By providing long-term, predictable support for a broad range of low-cost clean energy solutions, the act enhances earnings visibility and strengthens the utilities’ pathway toward decarbonization. The ongoing development of large battery storage projects in the United States is supporting the renewable projects as it removes the intermittency of renewable energy.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates weak near-term prospects. The 62-stock Utility-Electric Power industry is housed within the broader Zacks Utilities sector and currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #158, which places it in the bottom 36% of more than 247 Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.

The industry’s positioning in the bottom 50% of the Zacks Rank industries is a result of a negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. The industry’s recent earnings estimate of $2.61 in June 2026 reflects a decline of 6.5% from June 2025, reflecting pessimism from the analysts.

Before we present a few Utility-Electric Power stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let us take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and current valuation.

Electric Power Industry Beats the Sector But Lags the S&P 500 The Utility Electric Power industry has surpassed its sector but lagged the Zacks S&P 500 over the past 12 months. The industry has gained 17.3% compared with its sector’s 13.5% rally. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 23.7% in the same period.
 

Price Performance ( One Year)

Electric Power Industry's Current Valuation The P/E F12M (Price/Earnings Forward 12 months) ratio is particularly useful for valuing electric power utilities, as their regulated operations produce reliable and consistent earnings. It provides a simple way to determine whether a stock is fairly valued compared with the industry peers.

The Utility Electric Power industry is trading at 15.47X compared with the S&P 500’s 21.21X and the Utility sector’s 15.34X.

Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 17.28X, as low as 11.99X and at the median of 14.9X.

Industry P/E F12M vs S&P 500 (5yrs)

Industry P/E F12M vs Sector (5yrs) 4 Utility-Electric Power Stocks to Watch and Accumulate Utilities is a mature sector and all the stocks selected from the Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry have a market capitalization of more than $30 billion. The stocks currently have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.

NextEra Energy: Juno Beach, FL-based NextEra Energy is engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy. The company has a well-chalked-out capital deployment plan, which will be directed toward modernizing and strengthening the existing infrastructure and generating more electricity from clean sources to lower carbon emissions. The company has plans to invest more than $94.1 billion through 2030 to strengthen its operations further.

NEE’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth is pegged at 9.12%. The current dividend yield for NEE is 2.8%, which is better than the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s 1.34%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NextEra Energy’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates growth of 8.09% and 8.70%, respectively.

Price and Consensus: NEE

Duke Energy: Charlotte, NC-based Duke Energy is a premier utility service provider offering efficient power and energy services. Duke Energy has been making strong progress in reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation. The company has plans to invest $103 billion in the 2026-2030 period. Investments in grid modernization, renewable energy and transmission infrastructure are expected to expand Duke Energy's operation and drive consistent earnings.

DUK’s current dividend yield is 3.43%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Duke Energy’s 2026 and 2027 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 6.34% and 6.48%, respectively.

Price and Consensus: DUK

American Electric Power: Columbus, OH-based American Electric Power is a public utility holding company, which, through directly and indirectly owned subsidiaries, generates, transmits and distributes electricity, natural gas and other commodities. AEP is currently executing its investment plan of $78 billion over the 2026-2030 period in its electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations, including renewables.

AEP’s long-term earnings growth is pegged at 8.6%. The current dividend yield for AEP is 2.87%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American Electric Power’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 6.37% and 7.95%, respectively.

Price and Consensus: AEP

Ameren Corporation: St. Louis, MO-based Ameren, a utility that generates and distributes electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale end markets in Missouri and Illinois. It expects capital deployment in excess of $31.8 billion in different projects from 2026 to 2030. Ameren’s growth has been led by its systematic and consistent investments in growth projects and infrastructural upgrades.

AEE’s long-term earnings growth is pegged at 7.68%. The current dividend yield for AEE is 2.69%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEE’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 6.96% and 7.43%, respectively.

Price and Consensus: AEE

July is off to a jittery start. The VIX closed at 17.16 on July 13, up 14.2% in a single session and 10.2% for the week.

, /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) today declared a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $1.085 per share, an increase of $0.02. This dividend is payable on September 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 14, 2026.

The company also declared a quarterly cash dividend on its Series A preferred stock of $359.375 per share payable on September 16, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 14, 2026. This is equivalent to $0.359375 per depositary share.

Duke Energy has paid a cash dividend on its common stock for 100 consecutive years.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Media Contact: Gillian Moore
24-hour: 800.559.3853

Analyst Contact: Mike Switzer
Office: 704.382.6473

SOURCE Duke Energy

For those looking to find strong Utilities stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? Let's take a closer look at the stock's year-to-date performance to find out.

Duke Energy is a member of our Utilities group, which includes 111 different companies and currently sits at #14 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the sector to gauge the strength of each group.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Duke Energy is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for DUK's full-year earnings has moved 0.1% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.

Based on the most recent data, DUK has returned 6.9% so far this year. In comparison, Utilities companies have returned an average of 6.2%. This means that Duke Energy is outperforming the sector as a whole this year.

Another Utilities stock, which has outperformed the sector so far this year, is PG&E (PCG - Free Report) . The stock has returned 6.9% year-to-date.

The consensus estimate for PG&E's current year EPS has increased 0.2% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Breaking things down more, Duke Energy is a member of the Utility - Electric Power industry, which includes 63 individual companies and currently sits at #106 in the Zacks Industry Rank. This group has gained an average of 7.7% so far this year, so DUK is slightly underperforming its industry in this area. PG&E is also part of the same industry.

Investors interested in the Utilities sector may want to keep a close eye on Duke Energy and PG&E as they attempt to continue their solid performance.

NextEra Energy (NEE +0.46%) and Duke Energy (DUK +0.22%) are two of the largest utilities in the U.S. While one recently sold a business, the other is poised to make a historic growth move.

NextEra Energy: Navigating Volatile Revenue FluctuationsNextEra Energy generates revenue by producing and distributing electricity to wholesale and retail customers mainly in Florida. It is the largest electric utility in the U.S. and a leading global producer of wind and solar energy.

It reported an approximate 31% net income margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and proposed an all-stock $67 billion merger with Dominion Energy (D +0.13%) to create the world's largest regulated electric utility. 

Duke Energy: Maintaining a Higher Revenue BaselineDuke Energy (DUK +0.22%) primarily generates and distributes electricity and natural gas to millions of residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the Southeastern and Midwestern United States.

It recently completed the sale of its Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas business to Spire and reported an approximate 17% net income margin for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Why Revenue Matters for Retail InvestorsRevenue here refers to the data provider's standardized income statement revenue line item and shows the total money brought in before any expenses are deducted, helping investors gauge basic business scale.

Quarterly Revenue for NextEra Energy and Duke EnergyQuarter (Period End)NextEra Energy RevenueDuke Energy RevenueQ2 2024 (June 2024)$6.1 billion$7.2 billionQ3 2024 (Sept. 2024)$7.6 billion$8.2 billionQ4 2024 (Dec. 2024)$5.4 billion$7.4 billionQ1 2025 (March 2025)$6.2 billion$8.2 billionQ2 2025 (June 2025)$6.7 billion$7.5 billionQ3 2025 (Sept. 2025)$8.0 billion$8.7 billionQ4 2025 (Dec. 2025)$6.6 billion$7.9 billionQ1 2026 (March 2026)$7.0 billion$9.2 billionData source: Company filings. Data as of June 23, 2026.

Foolish TakeDuke Energy is a purely regulated electricity and gas utility serving nearly 8.7 million customers across six states, which makes its revenues more predictable.

NextEra Energy, on the other hand, also owns a massive renewable energy arm, NextEra Energy Resources, which generates electricity from owned renewable assets and sells wholesale electricity under long-term contracts. Spot price fluctuations, hedging adjustments, and project timing can make quarterly revenue lumpy.

That will, however, change if the NextEra-Dominion merger goes through. By adding Dominion’s massive regulated electric utilities across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to its existing Florida footprint, NextEra will create the world’s largest regulated electric utility with more than 10 million customers, a generation capacity of 110 gigawatts (GW), and a combined rate base of $138 billion that should drive annualized adjusted EPS growth of at least 9% through 2032.

Above all, NextEra is actually placing a massive bet on artificial intelligence (AI) with the acquisition. While Duke Energy has been mapping out a massive $103 billion capital plan over the next five years to capitalize on the AI data center build-out, NextEra is trying to buy its way directly into the heart of the AI power boom, as Dominion is based in Richmond, Virginia, a booming data center hub.

If I had to buy one stock today, I’d bet on NextEra Energy for its formidable mix of regulated utility assets and renewables, and the significant AI power potential. 

Key Takeaways Tech sell-off has driven investors toward defensive sectors like utilities, financials and healthcare. COLL, IRWD, AMTB and DUK are highlighted for expected earnings growth and improved estimates. Nasdaq fell after a strong quarter as AI valuation and spending concerns fueled the recent rotation. Tech stocks have been suffering over the past few weeks, as investors continue to rotate out of the artificial intelligence (AI)-focused tech and semiconductor stocks due to growing concerns over their sustainability. Despite a solid first half, the Nasdaq ended June sharply lower, as panic among investors triggered a massive tech sell-off.

Investors, over the past few weeks, have been shifting to other defensive areas of the market. Given the ongoing turmoil, it would be a safe option to invest in defensive picks from the utility, financials and healthcare sectors, such as Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. (COLL - Free Report) , Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (IRWD - Free Report) , Amerant Bancorp Inc. (AMTB - Free Report) and Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) , which have solid growth potential for this year.

Tech Slide ContinuesTech stocks have continued to suffer since mid-June, with the Nasdaq giving up 1.2% on Tuesday to end at 25,818.69 points. The ongoing sell-off comes amid growing concerns over the sustainability of AI-related stocks.

Although tech stocks have largely been responsible for the broader market rally since 2023, growing concerns over sky-high market valuations, higher capital spending on data centers, and uncertain near-term revenue prospects have led to a tech sell-off lately. Investors are increasingly questioning whether corporate adoption of AI will be solid enough to justify the massive investments being made in AI infrastructure.

The Nasdaq gained 21.4% in the second quarter, recording the best quarterly gains since 2020 and outperforming both the Dow and S&P 500. However, the sell-off saw the tech-heavy index end the month nearly 2.8% lower. The Nasdaq is roughly 0.8% down month to date.

June alone saw 2.3 trillion erased in market cap for the “Magnificent Seven” tech companies, all of which have been investing heavily in AI.

The tech sell-off comes as investors take refuge in other defensive areas of the market like utilities, financials and healthcare. The Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) and Financials Sector SPDR (XLF) have gained 6.1% and 2,5%, respectively, year to date. The Health Care Sector SPDR (XLV) is up 4.6% year to date.

4 Defensive Stocks With UpsideCollegium PharmaceuticalCollegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company. COLL develops and commercializes prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals for the treatment of central nervous system, respiratory and skin-related disorders. 

Collegium Pharmaceutical has an expected earnings growth rate of 1.9% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 3.4% over the last 60 days. COLL currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Ironwood PharmaceuticalsIronwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of treatments primarily addressing gastrointestinal diseases.

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals has an expected earnings growth rate of more than 100% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 18.2% over the last 60 days. Currently, IRWD sports a Zacks Rank #1.

Amerant BancorpAmerant Bancorp Inc. is a bank holding company. AMTB operates through its subsidiaries, Amerant Bank, N.A., Amerant Investments, Inc. and Amerant Trust, N.A. The company provides deposit, credit and wealth management services to individuals and businesses primarily in the United States, as well as select international clients. 

Amerant Bancorp has an expected earnings growth rate of 3.5% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 1.1% over the last 60 days. AMTB sports a Zacks Rank #1 at present.

Duke Energy CorporationDuke Energy Corporation is a diversified energy company with a broad portfolio of domestic and international, natural gas and electric and regulated and unregulated businesses that supply, deliver and process energy in North America and selected international markets. DUK primarily operates through three business segments — Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables.

Duke Energy Corporation has an expected earnings growth rate of 6.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.1% over the past 60 days. Currently, DUK has a Zacks Rank #2.

Duke Energy to announce second-quarter 2026 financial results on Aug. 4 PR Newswire CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 7, 202

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A $750,000 portfolio and a $4,000 monthly income target look like a clean equation, and they are: $48,000 divided by $750,000 equals 6.4%. The trick is that 6.4% is an awkward number. It sits above what most regulated utilities pay and below what a pure business development company portfolio might offer. Hitting it reliably means blending, not chasing, and the composition of the blend matters more than the headline yield.

The 10-year Treasury yield sits at about 4.4%, so a 6.4% portfolio yield is roughly 200 basis points above that benchmark. That is the price of admission for monthly checks that may grow with the businesses behind them. What follows is how five names commonly used for this job actually behave, and what happens if you lean too hard on any one of them.

The Cash Flow Engine Two of the five holdings pay monthly, which matters when the target itself is monthly. Realty Income (NYSE:O | O Price Prediction) currently yields about 5.2%, with a $0.271 monthly payout and a track record of 670 consecutive monthly distributions. Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) pays a $0.26 monthly regular dividend plus a $0.30 quarterly supplemental, which together produce a running yield near 6% before supplementals, closer to 7% with them.

The three quarterly payers fill in the gap. Verizon (NYSE:VZ) yields about 6.3% at a $0.7075 quarterly rate. Altria (NYSE:MO) yields about 5.7% at a $1.06 quarterly rate. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) yields about 3.3% at $1.065 quarterly. Duke is the portfolio’s stability anchor.

Why 6.4% Is a Composition Problem Equal-weighted, these five names would blend to roughly 5.4% using MAIN’s regular dividend alone, short of the target. To reach 6.4%, the higher-yielding sleeves have to carry more weight, or the portfolio has to count on variable supplementals. That is where the sustainability questions start.

Verizon’s low earnings multiple tells you the market is not paying much for growth here. Altria still targets a dividend payout ratio of about 80% of adjusted EPS, which leaves less room for disappointment than a lower-payout business. Main Street reported Q1 2026 net investment income of $0.93 per share and distributable net investment income of $1.00 per share, a reminder that BDC income depends on credit conditions, interest rates, and portfolio performance.

Duke and Realty Income do the steadier work. Duke’s quarterly dividend has climbed from $1.025 in 2024 to $1.065 in 2026. Realty Income has posted 115 consecutive quarterly dividend increases and 672 consecutive monthly dividends. Neither yields enough on its own to meet the 6.4% target, but both can reduce the portfolio’s dependence on the day a higher-yielder trims its payout.

The Growth Math Most Income Investors Skip A 6.4% starting yield that grows 3% a year does not overtake an 8% flat yield in cumulative income over 15 years, but it does produce a higher annual income stream by about year nine. With CPI-U at 335.123 in May 2026, up 4.2% over the prior 12 months, inflation is still doing real damage to fixed payments. The Duke sleeve exists to help fight that.

Make the 6.4% Yield Survive Real Life Model your after-tax income, not the gross. Realty Income distributions and Main Street’s dividends are often largely ordinary income, not qualified dividends, though final tax character can vary by year. In a 24% federal bracket, a fully ordinary $48,000 gross target would drop to about $36,480 before state taxes. If the actual spending gap is $40,000 after tax, you may not need 6.4% at all. Locate the tax-inefficient names in tax-advantaged accounts where possible. Main Street and Realty Income may be better candidates for an IRA or Roth because much of their income is often taxed at ordinary rates. Altria and Duke generally pay qualified dividends when IRS holding-period rules are met, so they can be more tax-efficient in a taxable account. Stress-test a distribution cut. Assume Verizon, Altria, or Main Street trims 20%, then recalculate the monthly income. If the portfolio still covers essential spending after a cut to one higher-yield sleeve, the allocation is more durable. If it does not, the yield is too concentrated in the fragile names.

A $750,000 portfolio can produce $4,000 a month, but the first month is not the real test. The real test is whether the income survives inflation, taxes, and the first dividend cut. A 6.4% target is reachable, but it has to be built from holdings that can do different jobs: some paying more now, some growing the check, and some keeping the whole plan from leaning too hard on the riskiest yield.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $773,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions working to strengthen STEM education by expanding access to hands-on learning opportunities and helping prepare Florida students for careers in high-demand industries.

High-impact investments:

Higher Education ($330,000)

Florida A&M University Foundation ($25,000) Florida Polytechnic University Foundation ($50,000) Florida State University Foundation ($10,000) Foundation for Seminole State College of Florida ($20,000) University of Central Florida Foundation ($75,000) University of Florida ($75,000) University of South Florida Foundation ($75,000) North Florida ($13,000)

Bring Me A Book Forgotten Coast ($3,000) Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education ($10,000) Central Florida ($175,000)

Education Foundation of Lake County ($10,000) Education Foundation of Osceola County ($20,000) Foundation for Orange County Public Schools ($75,000) Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools ($40,000) FUTURES Foundation for Volusia County Schools ($30,000) Greater Tampa Bay Area ($205,000)

Citrus County Education Foundation ($40,000) Girls Inc. of Pinellas ($20,000) Hernando County Education Foundation ($10,000) Highlands County Education Foundation ($10,000) Pasco Education Foundation ($45,000) Pinellas Education Foundation ($50,000) Polk Education Foundation ($30,000) Statewide ($50,000)

Consortium of Florida Education Foundations ($50,000) For descriptions of how each grant will be used, the specific counties impacted and quotes from leadership, please click here.  

Our view:

Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president: "Duke Energy is proud to support these organizations' efforts to give students in the communities we serve – and call home – the best future possible. Their innovative approaches to sparking interest in rapidly growing STEM industries will certainly leave a lasting impression on these young people. We look forward to seeing many of them become lineworkers, power plant technicians, IT specialists or other skilled professionals who help keep the lights on every day."

Positive response:

Kerry Avery, Education Foundation of Osceola County executive director: "Our partnership with Duke Energy represents what is possible when education and industry come together with a shared purpose. Duke Energy has stood alongside us as a trusted partner, helping open doors for students for decades, and has demonstrated a genuine commitment to investing in people, communities and the future workforce."

Shaunda Burdette, Citrus County Education Foundation executive director: "Partnering with Duke Energy allows us to expand opportunities, remove barriers to learning and invest in the future of our students. We are grateful for Duke Energy's continued commitment to education and for helping us empower the next generation of leaders, innovators and community members."

Stacey Capogrosso, Pasco County Education Foundation president: "Duke Energy's partnership doesn't just fund programs; it changes trajectories. Because of their continued commitment, students who might never have imagined a career in energy or engineering are earning industry certifications, building robots and designing solutions to problems that matter. That's the power of a partnership rooted in shared purpose."

Kim Jowell, Pinellas Education Foundation CEO: "Duke Energy is a long-standing partner of Pinellas Education Foundation. We are incredibly grateful for their continued investment in curriculum enrichment through Energy and Engineering in Action. Their partnership helps students explore energy, climate and engineering concepts in meaningful ways, while inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators."

Lisa D. Roderick, M.Ed., Madison County School District coordinator of federal programs: "Partnering with Duke Energy means that we can help uplift education by focusing on energy and engineering education for our students in all our public schools. Without Duke Energy's assistance, we would not be able to support education, and our teachers, as effectively as we do now."

Thomas Smith, University of South Florida St. Petersburg interim regional chancellor: "From investing in research and new forms of energy technology to enhancing learning experiences for our students, Duke Energy has been a tremendous partner for our campus. This collaboration will continue to impact young learners in our College of Marine Science Oceanography Camp, helping to develop a new generation of scientists and leaders who will improve our marine environment for the better."

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DE_AlyRaschid

SOURCE Duke Energy

Duke Energy's nearly $1 billion investment with North Carolina suppliers strengthens American supply chains, local economies and the nation's e

Key Takeaways Duke Energy plans to invest about $103B from 2026-2030 to expand and modernize regulated utilities.DUK reaffirmed 2026 EPS guidance and expects 5-7% adjusted EPS growth through 2030.Duke Energy sees rising demand from data centers, manufacturing and economic development projects. Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) is entering one of the largest capital investment cycles in its history, positioning itself to benefit from rising electricity demand while maintaining relatively predictable cash flows.

Duke Energy plans to invest approximately $103 billion between 2026 and 2030 to modernize its regulated electric and gas utilities, expand generation capacity, strengthen grid reliability and meet accelerating electricity demand. Management reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $6.55-$6.80 and a 5-7% adjusted EPS growth rate projection through 2030, with confidence to earn in the top half of the range beginning in 2028. The company reaffirmed its 2026 capital expenditure outlook of approximately $17.75 billion, with year-to-date spending totaling $4.19 billion as of March 31, 2026.

Duke Energy continues to see increasing demand from large commercial and industrial customers, particularly data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities and economic development projects across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana and other service territories. Management expects these trends to remain an important driver of load growth over the coming decade.

DUK is simultaneously executing a balanced energy transition strategy. Rather than relying on a single technology, the company is expanding renewable generation, investing in battery storage, upgrading natural gas assets and exploring advanced nuclear technologies.

Although regulatory approvals and interest rates remain important factors to monitor, Duke Energy's predominantly regulated business model provides unusually strong earnings visibility. As capital investments are placed into service and incorporated into the regulated asset base, they create opportunities for steady earnings growth while supporting the company's long-standing commitment to dividend increases.

Utilities With Multi-Billion-Dollar Capital Investment PlansAlong with Duke Energy, several other utilities are also pursuing similar long-term investment strategies, as discussed below:

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE - Free Report) aims to invest nearly $94.2 billion in the 2026-2030 period. Its unit, Florida Power & Light Company, plans to invest nearly $57.38 billion during 2026-2030 to develop new generation units, add new transmission and distribution units, and strengthen existing operations.

Dominion Energy, Inc. (D - Free Report) has a well-chalked-out long-term capital expenditure plan to strengthen and expand its infrastructure. The company plans to invest $11.4 billion in 2026 and nearly $65 billion during the 2026-2030 period to further strengthen its operations.

DUK’s Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 EPS indicates an increase of 6.34% and 6.49%, respectively, year over year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DUK Stock Trading at a PremiumDUK is trading at a premium relative to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 18.56X compared with the industry average of 16.29X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DUK Stock Price PerformanceIn the past six months, the company’s shares have risen 9.3% compared with the industry’s 10.7% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

DUK’s Zacks RankThe company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Duke Energy's new AI-powered Bill Insights helps Carolinas customers understand what's driving their summer energy costs , /PRNewswire/ -- Heading into the hottest stretch of the year, with highs climbing into the mid-90s and heat indices approaching 100 F across the Carolinas over the weekend – and potentially even hotter conditions mid to late next week – Duke Energy is giving Carolinas customers a new way to answer a familiar summer question: "Why is my bill higher?"

The new AI-powered Bill Insights feature in the Duke Energy mobile app delivers a personalized, plain-language breakdown of what's driving each month's energy costs – including how much is tied to weather and how usage compares over time. This first phase offers a simple, at-a-glance view, and it's just the beginning. Duke Energy plans to expand the feature in the coming months with more detailed insights.

Bill Insights are available now to Duke Energy Carolinas residential customers on the Billing tab of the mobile app and rolls out to Duke Energy Progress customers in mid-July.

"Our customers want to better understand what's behind their energy bills," said Sasha Weintraub, executive vice president and chief customer officer at Duke Energy.

"AI Bill Insights complements what we provide through My Home Energy Report, which gives customers personalized insights into their usage and tips to help them save. Now we're introducing an easy-to-understand, plain-language look at what's shaping each month's bill – and we'll keep enhancing it based on what customers find most helpful."

'I didn't change anything. Why are my energy costs higher?'
It's one of the most common questions Duke Energy hears every summer – and the answer comes down to how air conditioning systems work. When a thermostat is set to 72 degrees and the outdoor high is 82 in May, the system bridges a 10-degree gap. In July, when the high reaches 98, that gap grows to 26 degrees – and the system runs significantly longer to close it, using more energy, even though no one touched the dial.

The data behind higher summer energy use
Cooling degree days – a National Weather Service measure of how hard air conditioners have to work – ran about 12% to 18% above 1991-2020 normals across Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham during the summers of 2024 and 2025. That means AC systems were running longer and using more energy than in a typical summer.

Humidity compounds the effect. Average dew points across the Carolinas climb about 25 degrees between April and midsummer, pushing AC systems from barely running to working full time. Up to 30% or more of an AC unit's capacity can go toward removing moisture – and that share grows as humidity rises. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%.

What customers can do
In addition to checking Bill Insights, Duke Energy encourages customers to take a few practical steps to manage summer energy use:

Adjust the thermostat and use ceiling fans. Adjust your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting and increase it slightly while away. Running a ceiling fan can help you feel up to 4 degrees cooler without changing the setting. Consider a stand-alone dehumidifier to take some of the moisture-removal burden off the AC system. Watch for Usage Alerts emailed mid-billing cycle for projected energy costs so there are no end-of-month surprises. Schedule a free home energy assessment to identify where conditioned air may be escaping through the attic, ductwork or other gaps. Explore Smart $aver® rebates for HVAC, insulation and other efficiency upgrades. For more programs, solutions and tips, visit duke-energy.com/SummerSolutions.

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

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Dividend investors love clean numbers. A $1 million portfolio yielding 5% generates $50,000 a year, and it is tempting to treat that figure as spendable income. In reality, federal taxes, state taxes, Medicare premiums, and inflation all take their share before those dollars reach your checking account.

Consider three retirees. Retiree A owns a $750,000 portfolio producing $37,500 annually. Retiree B owns a $1 million portfolio producing $50,000. Retiree C owns a $1.5 million portfolio producing $75,000. The yields are identical, but the amount each retiree ultimately gets to keep can look very different once taxes, healthcare costs, and inflation enter the picture.

The Real Keep Rate A portfolio’s yield tells you how much income it generates, not how much income you keep. A retiree collecting $50,000 of mostly qualified dividends in a low-tax state may retain more than 90% of that income before inflation. Another retiree generating the same $50,000 from REIT distributions and bond interest while paying higher state taxes and Medicare surcharges may keep closer to 70% to 80%. Identical yields can produce a difference of thousands of dollars a year in actual spending power.

The Great Shrinkage Start with Retiree B’s $50,000 of annual income. If that income comes primarily from qualified dividends and the couple files jointly, much of it may fall within favorable tax treatment after the standard deduction. Change the source of the income, however, and the picture changes quickly. REIT distributions, bond interest, and other ordinary income are generally taxed at higher rates, reducing the amount that ultimately reaches the retiree. State taxes, Medicare costs, and inflation take additional bites along the way. The result is a simple lesson: a $50,000 portfolio income stream rarely translates into $50,000 of spending power.

Tax Character Decides Everything Identical $50,000 income streams produce wildly different keep rates depending on character. Qualified dividends from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ | JNJ Price Prediction), currently yielding 2.2%, NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) at 2.7%, Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) at 3.4%, and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) at 5.9% all get 0%, 15%, or 20% rates. Realty Income (NYSE:O) at 5.2% pays mostly non-qualified REIT distributions taxed as ordinary income, though a 20% QBI deduction softens the bite. Invesco’s investment-grade corporate bond ETF (NYSEARCA:PFIG) and the 4.5% 10-year Treasury distribute interest taxed entirely at ordinary rates. Same $50,000, different keep rate.

The Medicare Surprise Many retirees focus on taxes and overlook Medicare. Part B and Part D premiums are deducted from Social Security benefits, and higher-income retirees can face additional IRMAA surcharges. A large Roth conversion, a major capital gain, or an unusually strong income year can push income above a threshold and temporarily increase Medicare costs. The result is that earning more income does not always translate into keeping more income.

The Geography Test Where you live affects both how much income you keep and what that income can buy. Tennessee has no state income tax, while Pennsylvania generally treats retirement income favorably. New Jersey tends to impose a heavier tax burden and a higher cost of living. As a result, the same $75,000 income stream can produce very different levels of spendable income and purchasing power depending on the retiree’s ZIP code.

Inflation Quietly Drains the Account Taxes and Medicare premiums reduce the income you receive. Inflation reduces what that income can buy. Even if a dividend check never changes, its purchasing power steadily erodes over time. At 2% inflation, a flat $50,000 income stream loses roughly 18% of its purchasing power over ten years. At 3%, the loss approaches 26%. At 4%, the loss reaches about one-third. Extend the timeline to twenty years and a flat income stream can lose nearly half its real value. Income that grows has a chance to keep pace. Income that stays flat gradually falls behind.

The Number That Actually Matters Two retirees can own portfolios with identical 5% yields and end up with very different lifestyles. Retiree B’s $50,000 income stream might remain largely intact if it comes from qualified dividends in a low-tax state. Another retiree generating the same $50,000 from REIT distributions and bond interest, while paying higher state taxes and Medicare surcharges, could keep thousands less each year. Yield is only the starting point. The figure that matters is how much income remains after taxes, healthcare costs, and inflation.

The Counterargument Three Things to Do Audit the tax character of every holding. Separate qualified dividends from REIT distributions and bond interest, then estimate the federal rate on each bucket using current brackets. Model an IRMAA scenario before triggering one. Run any Roth conversion or capital gain through a tax projection to see whether it crosses a Medicare surcharge threshold. Stress-test the portfolio at 3% inflation for 20 years. If real income falls below your minimum spending, lean toward holdings with dividend growth, like the 64-year streak at JNJ, rather than chasing the highest current yield.

Key Takeaways U.S. PCE inflation rose 4.1% in May, its highest annual rate since April 2023. DUK, KO, ARKO and NYT have seen positive earnings estimate revisions in the past 60 days. Rising inflation and rate hike expectations boost the appeal of defensive stocks. U.S. inflation surged past the 4% mark in May, for the first time since early 2023, giving the Federal Reserve enough reason to go for a rate hike in the near term. A surge in energy prices, owing to the Middle East conflict, drove commodity prices higher, which was primarily responsible for the sudden rise in inflation.

A rate hike now appears inevitable. Given this scenario, we recommend buying four defensive stocks from the utility and consumer staples sectors, namely, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) ,The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) , Arko Corp. (ARKO - Free Report) and The New York Times Company (NYT - Free Report) .

These stocks have seen positive earnings estimate revisions in the past 60 days, carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) at present, and are set for solid returns. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Inflation Continues to RiseThe personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index rose 4.1% year over year in May, its largest gain since April 2023, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. This comes after PCE inflation jumped an unrevised 3.8% in April.

Month over month, the PCE index rose 0.4% in May, after climbing 0.7% in April. Oil and other energy prices rose 6.5%. Food prices increased 0.3%. Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy, rose 0.3% sequentially in May and 3.4% from the year-ago level. The annual reading for the core PCE was the highest level since October 2023.

Inflation eased last year but started surging from March, primarily due to higher energy costs that raised everything from transportation costs to commodity prices. Oil prices surged as much as 40% in March and April following the war in Iran.

Although oil prices have eased after the United States and Iran signed a preliminary peace deal, the crisis is far from over. The impact of the initial rise in oil prices is still pushing up the prices of commodities. Also, a surge in prices of semiconductors and other tech goods could likely push inflation up.

The Federal Reserve has been contemplating hiking rates as inflation remains far away from its 2% target. Markets have been pricing in a 25-basis-point rate hike by the end of this year. High borrowing costs could further weigh on the economy and keep markets volatile for a longer period.

4 Low-Beta Defensive Stocks With Growth PotentialDuke Energy CorporationDuke Energy Corporation is a diversified energy company with a broad portfolio of domestic and international, natural gas and electric and regulated and unregulated businesses that supply, deliver and process energy in North America and selected international markets. DUK primarily operates through three business segments — Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables.

Duke Energy Corporation has an expected earnings growth rate of 6.3% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.1% over the past 60 days. DUK has a Zacks Rank #2. Duke Energy has a beta of 0.39 and a current dividend yield of 3.37%.

The Coca-Cola CompanyThe Coca-Cola Company’s strong brand equity, marketing, research and innovation help it to garner a market share of more than 40% in the non-alcoholic beverage industry. KO is putting its best foot forward to evolve its business model to become a total beverage company with something for everyone to drink. The Coca-Cola Company has coped with the industry-wide flattening of soda sales over the years by going on a buying spree and making investments in healthier alternatives like coffee, sparkling water and sports drinks.

The Coca-Cola Company has an expected earnings growth rate of 8.7% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 0.9% over the past 60 days. The Coca-Cola Company has a Zacks Rank #2. KO has a beta of 0.35 and a current dividend yield of 2.63%.

Arko Corp. Arko Corp.’s primary asset is a controlling stake in GPM Investments. ARKO, formerly known as Haymaker Acquisition Corp. II, is based in Richmond, VA.

Arko Corp’s expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 93.3%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 11.5% over the past 60 days. Arko Corp. has a Zacks Rank #1. ARKO has a beta of 0.98 and a current dividend yield of 1.56%.

The New York Times CompanyThe New York Times Company is a leading global media organization focused on delivering high-quality journalism and information. Founded in 1851 and incorporated in 1896, NYT has evolved from a traditional newspaper publisher into a diversified digital-first media company with a strong global subscriber base and a growing portfolio of lifestyle and entertainment products. 

The New York Times Company has an expected earnings growth rate of 19.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has improved 5% over the last 60 days. NYT has a beta of 0.95 and a current dividend yield of 1.29%.

, /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the final round of grants through the Duke Energy Foundation's America250 initiative, $186,100 is being distributed to 16 nonprofit organizations across North Carolina that are bringing the nation's 250th anniversary to life through local stories, public art, oral histories and community programming.

Why it matters: The grants back hometown projects across more than 20 North Carolina counties – bringing history to life through museum exhibits, public art, oral histories and student field trips.

Dig in: From immersive exhibits and student access programs in Charlotte and Winston-Salem to a statewide rural storytelling tour led by PBS North Carolina and community-driven projects along the coast, these efforts help more North Carolinians connect with the people, places and stories that shaped the country.

Our view – Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president: "North Carolina's story is woven into America's story – from the pivotal moments at Kings Mountain and the Battle of Guilford Courthouse to the bold declarations of independence in Halifax and Mecklenburg, and the small-town main streets that built this state. These grants give communities the chance to tell their own piece of that 250-year story in ways that bring people together, spark curiosity in the next generation and remind us that history doesn't just live in textbooks – it lives right here, in our towns and neighborhoods."

Where the funding is going:

Western N.C.

Friends of Lake James State Park: Expanding the free Overmountain Victory Trail Annual March Celebration with Native American stories, traditional music, living-history demonstrations and a StoryWalk® for families across seven mountain counties. Transylvania Heritage Museum: Mounting Let Freedom Ring, a six-month exhibit and program series exploring Revolutionary-era Appalachia through Patriot soldiers, an Enslaved African Provision Garden and a Cherokee Medicine Wheel.  Tryon Arts & Crafts School: Digitizing 200+ Foothills heritage artifacts, hosting the Hearth & Anvil culinary challenge and curating two museum-grade exhibitions celebrating multigenerational mountain craft. Piedmont & Charlotte region

Charlotte Museum of History: Hosting American Revolution, Augmented – the East Coast's first major semiquincentennial exhibition, with 23 interactive 3D and VR experiences expected to reach 150,000 visitors from five states. Lincoln County Historical Association: Building a 1,200-square-foot multimedia museum display tracing Lincoln County from the Catawba people and 1779 through the formation of Lake Norman, with portable mini-exhibits for schools. Stanly County Arts Council: Producing a traveling 8'-by-20' mosaic mural – 950 hand-painted tiles by Stanly County residents – that will tour all 10 municipalities before its permanent installation. Soil Conservation Society of America, N.C. Chapter: Revitalizing the Anson County homeplace of Hugh Hammond Bennett – the "Father of Soil Conservation" – with interpretive signage, historical markers and a native pollinator demonstration garden. Old Salem Inc.: Underwriting admission and bus transportation so 1,175 Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Title I students can experience pre-Revolutionary life inside a National Historic Landmark district. Triangle & Central N.C.

Alliance for Historic Hillsborough: Completing Phase II of Telling the Full Story, an interactive digital map paired with oral histories that surface the Black and Indigenous voices that helped shape one of N.C.'s oldest towns. Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum: Launching Patterns of Belonging, a year-long exhibit featuring journals, murals and recorded reflections from Raleigh Parks' English Language Learners on what America means to them. Durham Center for Senior Life: Producing Preserving Memories, a 10-panel oral history exhibit with QR-linked audio that elevates Durham's older adults as the community's memory-keepers. Clayton Historical Association: Hosting Clayton Area History Day with reenactors, blacksmiths, period musicians and Colonial-era demonstrations that connect Johnston and Wake counties to the Revolutionary story. Heritage Quilters Giving Circle: Creating Stitching the People's History, a series of portrait quilts and essays honoring change leaders in Warren and Vance counties – from Congresswoman Eva Clayton to civil rights organizer Ella Baker. Coast & Eastern N.C.

Tryon Palace Foundation: Transforming a New Bern lot into Wilson Park, a landscaped green space anchored by a 16-foot sculpture by N.C. artists telling the stories of New Bern's free and enslaved African American artisan class. WWII Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition: Delivering public history programs in America's first WWII Heritage City – honoring shipyard workers, Coast Guard history, women's wartime contributions and local Medal of Honor recipients. Statewide

NC Public Television Foundation: Bringing PBS NC's Homegrown History series into two rural communities for free documentary screenings, moderated dialogue and a story-submission portal that adds local voices to the national archive. Big picture: These grants represent the second round of funding under the Duke Energy Foundation's America250 initiative, a more than $1 million investment in community‑driven projects across the company's six states to recognize America's 250th anniversary.

Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.  

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities. 

Contact: Madison McDonald
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Monthslong initiative capped off with more than $260,000 in grants to 14 nonprofits telling the American – and Palmetto State – story , /PRNewswire/ -- As America's 250th anniversary approaches this Fourth of July, Duke Energy Foundation is providing more than $260,000 in grants to South Carolina organizations to help preserve local history and expand civic learning across the Palmetto State. This is the final round of the Foundation's America250 initiative, completing a $550,000 investment in South Carolina tied to the nation's anniversary focused on community-driven projects.

Where the money goes: The grants have been awarded to 14 organizations that will help educate and share history at a statewide and local level.

SC American Revolution Trust International African American Museum Black Creek Arts Council Dillon County Boys and Girls Club Fine Arts Center of Kershaw Lancaster Council of Arts Performing Arts and Science Academy (PASA) Oconee History Museum Honor for Heroes Partners for Active Living (PALS) Kids Upstate Beautiful Places Alliance Sumter Museum Ann Springs Close Greenway Why it matters: "As we plan to celebrate this milestone anniversary in our country, it's important to recognize that history is local, personal and still making an impact on our communities," said Tim Pearson, Duke Energy South Carolina president. "We are proud to support our communities in bringing those stories forward in a way that helps invite people to learn, reflect and connect."

Positive Response:

Molly Fortune, South Carolina American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission Chief Executive Officer: "As we celebrate the founding of our nation, we are grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for this grant which will help give equal access to immersive historical experiences to students across the Palmetto State. Sharing the South Carolina story is an important part of America's 250th anniversary, and we are grateful that Duke Energy has helped us to create a lasting impact on students and teachers in our state." Annie Rivers, Sumter Museum Executive Director: "The Sumter Museum is honored to be a recipient of the Duke Energy Foundation America250 Grant and is uniquely positioned to serve our community by enhancing and expanding our Carolina Backcountry Homestead programming for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. This support allows us to bring the American story to life through immersive living history experiences that connect our community to the people, skills, and struggles that shaped our shared past. By extending these programs both on-site and into the community, we will deepen access, inspire curiosity, and strengthen understanding of our region's role in America's founding story." Joy Raintree, Director of South Carolina State Parks: "We are grateful to the Duke Energy Foundation for helping make this project possible through the America250 grant program. This investment at Musgrove Mill will enhance how we share South Carolina's Revolutionary War history, creating meaningful educational experiences and stronger connections to our collective past for visitors and the local community." Annie Smith, Director, Dillon County Boys and Girls Youth Center: "Because of this grant, our students were able to stand in the very places where history was made, from Birmingham to Selma to Montgomery – and see the Civil Rights Movement not as a chapter in a book, but as a living legacy they are now part of. This support allows us to continue giving young people experiences that shape their identity, deepen their understanding of justice, and inspire them to lead with purpose." The Bigger Picture
The grants mark the final round of the Foundation's America250 initiative, completing a more than $1 million investment across six states tied to the nation's anniversary and helping communities bring local history to life in new, more accessible ways. Earlier this year in South Carolina, $275,000 was granted to organizations committed to taking care of our shared green spaces while $30,000 was granted to veteran workforce development.

Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Media Contact: Catherine Ramirez
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

, /PRNewswire/ -- While summer heat has already settled across Florida, the astronomical start of the season is observed this Sunday, June 21. Duke Energy Florida is helping customers manage their energy use – and their bills – by offering practical tips focused on the five appliances that use the most energy in the home: air conditioners, water heaters, refrigerators, washing machines and dishwashers.

The big five:

Air Conditioners: Set the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature and raise it a few more degrees when leaving home. Adjusting it 7-10 degrees from its normal setting for eight hours a day can lower cooling costs by up to 10%.   Electric water heaters: Behind an air conditioner, a water heater is typically the second-highest user of energy in a home. Set it to 120 degrees to save 6-10% on energy costs.• Showers often account for over half of a home's hot water usage – installing low-flow fixtures may result in 25-60% in additional savings.

Refrigerators and freezers: Set the refrigerator temperature to 35-38 degrees. The freezer should be set to 4-5 degrees if it is part of a combined fridge/freezer and 0 degrees if it is a separate unit.• To check the seal on their refrigerator door for cracks or deterioration and avoid energy loss, try the dollar bill test: Close the door on a dollar bill – it should stay in place. If it falls, replace the worn seal.

Washing machines: Run full loads of laundry in the washing machine during morning or evening hours to lower energy use and reduce indoor heat. For additional savings, use cold water whenever possible. Dishwashers: Use the dishwasher's "eco-mode" and/or the air-dry or overnight-dry settings (instead of the heat-dry setting) to save water and energy. Our view:

"Duke Energy Florida is here to help our customers take control of their energy use this summer," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "By focusing on how and when these five key appliances are used – while taking advantage of our many energy efficiency tools and programs – they should see that simple, strategic changes add up and can have a real impact on their bills."

Get a progress report:

Midway through each billing cycle, customers will get a Usage Alert email showing how much energy they have used so far. They can compare it to the same time last year (for example, July 2025 vs. July 2026) to track their progress – and, if needed, make further adjustments before their bill arrives.

More resources are available:

Duke Energy Florida offers several other energy efficiency tips, tools and programs as well as flexible payment options. More information can be found at duke-energy.com/SummerSolutions.  

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DE_AlyRaschid

SOURCE Duke Energy

In the latest trading session, Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) closed at $125.05, marking a +1.24% move from the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.44%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.09%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 2.22%.

Heading into today, shares of the electric utility had lost 1.71% over the past month, lagging the Utilities sector's loss of 1.28% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.08%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Duke Energy in its forthcoming earnings report. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $1.33, reflecting a 6.4% increase from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $7.7 billion, up 2.59% from the year-ago period.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $6.71 per share and a revenue of $33.66 billion, signifying shifts of +6.34% and +4.43%, respectively, from the last year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Duke Energy. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Duke Energy presently features a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).

Digging into valuation, Duke Energy currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 18.42. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 18.11.

The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 154, positioning it in the bottom 37% of all 250+ industries.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow DUK in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

© Duke Energy / Wikimedia Commons

The Federal Reserve has cut 75 basis points since September 2025, dragging the fed funds upper bound to 3.75%. That backdrop matters for Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK | DUK Price Prediction), a regulated electric and gas utility serving 10 million customers across the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Lower rates ease refinancing costs on a $103 billion five-year capital plan and push income investors back toward the stock’s 3.41% yield. The question I want to answer: is that dividend bulletproof?

Dividend Snapshot Metric Value Annual Dividend $4.24 per share Dividend Yield 3.41% Quarterly Rate $1.065 Most Recent Increase +1.9% (Q1 2026) Beta 0.379 Payout Ratios Leave Comfortable Room on Earnings, Less on Reported FCF TTM EPS of $6.50 against a $4.24 dividend pencils out to a 65% earnings payout ratio, squarely in the healthy zone for a regulated utility. Operating cash flow tells an even better story: $12.352 billion in 2025 covered $3.3 billion of common dividends 3.74x over.

Metric Value Assessment Earnings Payout Ratio 65% Healthy OCF Dividend Coverage 3.74x Strong FCF (post-CapEx) -$1.67B Capex-driven, financed Reported FCF is negative because CapEx ran $14.02 billion as Duke builds out generation and grid for AI load. That is the utility model: dividends are funded from cash flow while growth CapEx is funded by rate base recovery and debt.

Balance Sheet Built for the Build-Out EBITDA of $16.48 billion and equity of $54.46 billion support the leverage. Cash jumped to $2.14B in Q1 2026, up 350% YoY, helped by $5.3 billion in strategic transactions that strengthened the credit profile.

A Streak That Keeps Climbing Year Quarterly Dividend 2026 $1.065 2025 $1.045 2024 $1.045 / $1.025 2023 $1.025 2022 $1.005 The dividend has risen every year in the available record from $0.78 in 2013 to $1.065 in 2026. No cuts, no freezes.

Management Sounds Confident CEO Harry Sideris told investors on the Q4 2025 call: “The fundamentals of our business have never been stronger… we are well-positioned to deliver 5% to 7% EPS growth through 2030.” With 2026 EPS guided to $6.55 to $6.80 and 7.6 GW of data center demand contracted, the earnings runway supports continued raises.

The Verdict: This Dividend Is Rock Solid Dividend Safety Rating: Safe. A 65% earnings payout, 3.74x OCF coverage, a beta of 0.379, and an easing Fed that lowers Duke’s refinancing burden all line up for income investors. The setup looks attractive for income investors if rates keep drifting lower and rate cases continue clearing. The risks to monitor are regulators rejecting the 14% North Carolina rate request or data center demand underdelivers. On the numbers in front of me, this payout looks built to last.

Final $830,000 round completes the Foundation's more than $1 million America250 investment across the six states Duke Energy serves , /PRNewswire/ -- From new heritage trails and museum exhibits to preservation projects and public art, communities across Duke Energy's six-state service area will have new ways to explore the local stories behind America's 250th anniversary.

The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding nearly $830,000 in 54 grants to nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions and community partners in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

The grants mark the final round of the Foundation's America250 initiative, completing a more than $1 million investment tied to the nation's anniversary and helping communities bring local history to life in new, more accessible ways.

Why This Matters

The latest round supports projects that preserve local heritage and expand civic learning across the communities they serve.

"America's 250th anniversary is an opportunity to recognize that history is not only national – it is local, personal and still shaping the places we call home," said Loree Elswick, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. "Through these grants, we're helping communities bring those stories forward in ways that invite people to learn, reflect and connect."

What This Enables

Across Duke Energy's service territories, these grants will support efforts such as: 

Hosting the Smithsonian's traveling "Americans" exhibition as part of a six-week community initiative exploring American identity in Darlington County, South Carolina. Restoring a 1947 railroad locomotive tied to historic power plants, preserving a piece of local industrial history in Vigo County, Indiana. Bringing local history programming to rural communities through statewide "Homegrown History" community events led by the North Carolina Public Television Foundation. Creating a recurring constitutional exhibit with interactive displays and school-ready "history trunk" materials at the Dunedin History Museum in Florida. Supporting Cincinnati's BLINK public art exhibition, with installations that highlight regional identity and shared history across Ohio and Kentucky. The Bigger Picture

Earlier this spring, the Foundation awarded 32 grants to revitalize parks, green spaces and shared community places, and in May it supported veterans' career pathways with more than $250,000 invested in workforce development programs to help veterans gain job-ready skills and build pathways to in-demand civilian careers.

The Foundation also awarded $250,000 to the Trust for the National Mall to support the expansion of a free digital platform that enables communities nationwide to experience the National Mall's monuments and history.

"Growing up, I was one of those kids who did not have the funding to visit," said Jeremy Goldstein, vice president of programs at the Trust for the National Mall. "The Duke Energy Foundation is helping ensure that the platform is accessible to every student in America, and this is only the beginning."

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.  

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities. 

Contact: Gina DiPietro
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Duke Energy is a top-tier regulated utility with strong exposure to high-growth regions and a robust nuclear fleet. Q1 results were solid, with adjusted EPS of $1.93 and revenue up 11% YoY, supporting reaffirmed 2026 EPS guidance of $6.55–$6.80. DUK's $103 billion capital plan targets grid upgrades, data center demand, and renewables, balancing growth with manageable leverage at 5x Debt/EBITDA.

Eligible nonprofit organizations can apply for grants of up to $25,000 by June 30 Nonprofit organizations will use the funds to provide awards of up to $5,000 to individual small businesses , /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation today announced $500,000 in grants to support nonprofit-led programs that help small businesses start, grow and thrive across North Carolina.

Zoom in: Nonprofit organizations can apply for $25,000 grants, which will then fund microgrants of up to $5,000 to individual small businesses. Funding can be used by local businesses like restaurants and retail stores to complete renovations, buy equipment or technology, purchase inventory or meet other business needs.

Flashback: Twenty North Carolina organizations were awarded funding for small business support in 2025, including Beaufort Business Association and Moore County Economic Development Partnership. Since 2020, Duke Energy Foundation has committed more than $2.9 million to support small businesses across North Carolina.

Why it matters: "Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, especially in North Carolina where they employ nearly half of the state's workforce," said Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "Through strategic grantmaking, the Foundation helps to stimulate local economies, create jobs and foster economic growth in the communities where Duke Energy operates."

How to apply: Eligible nonprofits can find additional program details and apply via the Duke Energy Foundation's website. Applications are open now through June 30, 2026.

Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.  

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Contact: Madison McDonald
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy