Duke Energy Corporation (DUK): Today's Featured Utilities Winner

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) pushed the Utilities sector higher today making it today's featured utilities winner. The sector as a whole closed the day up 1.6%. By the end of trading, Duke Energy Corporation rose $1.14 (1.7%) to $68.60 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5.4 million shares of Duke Energy Corporation exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 5.6 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $67.85-$68.75 after having opened the day at $67.97 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $67.46. Other companies within the Utilities sector that increased today were: Delta Natural Gas Company (DGAS), up 10.5%, American DG Energy (ADGE), up 8.2%, American Midstream Partners (AMID), up 8%, and China Hydroelectric Corporation (CHC), up 7.7%.

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Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States and Latin America. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas, Commercial Power, and International Energy. The U.S. Duke Energy Corporation has a market cap of $30.1 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.1, equal to the average utilities industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 206.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there is one analyst that rates Duke Energy Corporation a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 15 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Duke Energy Corporation as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its expanding profit margins, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, notable return on equity and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Duke Energy Ratings Report.

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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the utilities sector could consider Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) while those bearish on the utilities sector could consider ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP).

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For more information on Duke Energy Corporation click any of the following:

• Duke Energy Corporation Stock Price

• Duke Energy Corporation Analyst Ratings

• Duke Energy Corporation Key Stats & Profile

• Duke Energy Corporation Earnings

• Duke Energy Corporation Ratio Comparison

• Duke Energy Corporation Growth Rates

• Duke Energy Corporation Balance Sheet

• Duke Energy Corporation Cash Flow

• Duke Energy Corporation Income Statement