Core Viewpoint - Duke Energy (DUK) is expected to report third-quarter 2025 results on November 7, with a prior earnings surprise of 5% in the last quarter [1] Factors Impacting Q3 Performance - Strategic investments in infrastructure modernization and grid resilience have likely enhanced operational efficiency and reliability, contributing positively to earnings [2] - The implementation of smart, self-healing technology has improved service reliability, with approximately 80% of Duke Energy Florida customers benefiting from it, likely reducing outages and supporting stable power supply [2] - Increased electricity demand from AI-based data centers and a rise in residential customers are anticipated to further support quarterly earnings [3] - The completion of the Sundance Renewable Energy Center, generating 74.9 MW of clean energy, is expected to positively impact the quarter [4] - Higher sales volume and new rates in electric and gas segments are also likely to enhance the bottom line [4] - Warmer-than-normal temperatures during the quarter likely boosted electricity demand for cooling, improving top-line performance [5] - However, higher interest expenses may have offset some of the positive impacts [5] Q3 Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is $1.74 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.4% [6] - The revenue estimate stands at $8.42 billion, indicating a 3.2% growth year over year [6] Earnings Prediction - The model predicts an earnings beat for Duke Energy, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.63% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7][8] Summary of Performance Drivers - Infrastructure and smart grid investments likely boosted efficiency and service reliability [9] - Increased demand from data centers and residential usage may have strengthened quarterly earnings [9] - New solar generation and higher rates likely supported performance, although interest costs may have weighed on results [9]

With a market cap of $96.2 billion, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) is one of the largest U.S. electric and gas utilities, serving millions of customers across the Southeast and Midwest. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, it operates about 50,000 MW of power capacity and focuses on regulated electric and natural gas services. Duke Energy’s stock hasn’t kept pace with the broader market’s power surge. DUK stock has gained 10.1% over the past 52 weeks and 14.9% on a YTD basis, compared to the S&P 500 ...

Core Viewpoint - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Avista, Regions Financial, and Duke Energy recently announcing dividend hikes and offering yields up to 5% [1] Avista - Avista Corp. has increased its dividends for 22 consecutive years, with the latest hike on Feb. 12 raising the quarterly payout from $0.475 to $0.49 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $1.96 per share [3] - The company maintained the same dividend payout in its announcement on Aug. 6, with a current dividend yield of 5.03% [3] - Avista's annual revenue as of June 30 was $1.96 billion, and Q2 2025 revenues were reported at $411 million with an EPS of $0.17, both missing market expectations [4] Regions Financial - Regions Financial Corp. has raised its dividends for 12 consecutive years, with a recent increase on July 16 of 6% to $0.265 per share, equating to an annual figure of $1.06 per share [5] - The company maintained the same dividend payout in its announcement on Oct. 15, with a current dividend yield of 4.37% [5] - Regions Financial's annual revenue as of June 30 was $7.29 billion, and Q3 2025 revenues were reported at $1.94 billion with an EPS of $0.63, both exceeding market expectations [6] Duke Energy - Duke Energy Corp. has increased its dividends for 18 consecutive years, with the latest hike on July 15 raising the quarterly payout from $1.045 to $1.065 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $4.26 per share [8] - The company maintained the same dividend payout in its announcement on Oct. 14, with a current dividend yield of 3.34% [8]

Core Points - Duke Energy and the Duke Energy Foundation are contributing $100,000 to the One SC Fund to support food banks in South Carolina [1] - The initiative is part of a broader campaign to address food insecurity, with over $500,000 allocated to more than 60 feeding programs leading up to Thanksgiving [4][10] - Duke Energy has dedicated more than $2.6 million since 2021 to support food assistance agencies [10] Company Contributions - Duke Energy's annual campaign will kick off next week, focusing on organizations that combat hunger in South Carolina [4] - The campaign will highlight community partners such as Harvest Hope Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina [5] - Duke Energy employees will volunteer their time to assist these organizations throughout the month [5] Community Impact - As colder weather and holidays approach, many families in South Carolina rely on assistance programs, which are currently facing challenges [2] - The contribution to the One SC Fund is aimed at encouraging other corporate entities and citizens to support the fight against hunger [11] - Gov. Henry McMaster emphasized the importance of community support during uncertain times [11]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Utility Electric - Power industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by increased electricity demand from data centers, transportation electrification, and grid modernization efforts [1] - Utilities are investing heavily to enhance grid resilience, upgrade infrastructure, integrate renewable energy, and comply with regulations [1][2] - The sector continues to provide stable cash flows, steady returns, and regular dividends, supported by substantial capital expenditures focused on long-term growth and sustainability [1] Company Insights PPL Corporation - PPL plans to invest $20 billion from 2025 to 2028 to modernize its infrastructure, aiming to strengthen the grid and support electrification [3] - The company is collaborating with the Department of Energy to explore the feasibility of building small nuclear reactors [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PPL's earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 7.1% for 2025 and 8.29% for 2026, with a long-term growth rate of 7.34% [6] Duke Energy Corporation - Duke Energy intends to invest $87 billion between 2025 and 2029, focusing on grid modernization and transitioning to low-carbon energy sources [4] - The company is actively pursuing nuclear energy expansion as part of its clean energy strategy, particularly in the Carolinas [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Duke Energy's earnings implies year-over-year growth of 7.29% for 2025 and 6.08% for 2026, with a long-term growth rate of 6.43% [9] Financial Metrics - Duke Energy's debt-to-capital ratio is 61.74%, while PPL's is 55.47%, both above the industry average of 61.16% [16] - Return on equity (ROE) for PPL is 8.81%, compared to Duke Energy's 9.85%, both below the industry average of 10.35% [17] - PPL's current dividend yield is 2.95%, while Duke Energy's is 3.39%, with Duke having raised its dividend five times in the past five years [19] Valuation and Performance - PPL trades at a premium with a Price/Earnings Forward 12-month ratio of 18.84X, while Duke Energy's is 18.7X, compared to the industry average of 15.42X [20] - In the past six months, PPL's shares have gained 1.1%, while Duke Energy's shares have returned 2.5% [22] - Duke Energy currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), while PPL has a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) [25]

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points, marking the second cut this year, but investor sentiment remained low due to comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell regarding future rate cuts [1][5][10] Interest Rate Cut - The Federal Reserve's benchmark policy rate is now in the range of 3.75-4% following the quarter percentage point cut [5] - Powell indicated that while another rate cut in December is not ruled out, various factors need to be considered, leading to uncertainty among investors [6][8] Inflation and Labor Market - Inflation is nearing the Fed's 2% target, but concerns persist due to rising commodity prices influenced by tariffs [7] - The labor market is weakening, with fewer job additions, raising recession concerns, and the rate cut was primarily aimed at supporting this struggling market [8] Defensive Stock Recommendations - Defensive stocks from the utilities and consumer staples sectors are recommended to mitigate market volatility, including: - **Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)**: Expected earnings growth of 8.1%, beta of 0.74, and dividend yield of 1.99% [9][10][11] - **CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP)**: Expected earnings growth of 8.6%, beta of 0.57, and dividend yield of 2.23% [12][13] - **Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)**: Expected earnings growth of 7.3%, beta of 0.44, and dividend yield of 3.39% [14][15] - **Service Corporation International (SCI)**: Expected earnings growth of 8.8%, beta of 0.89, and dividend yield of 1.58% [16][17] Investment Strategy - The recommended investment strategy focuses on low-beta stocks with high dividend yields and favorable Zacks rankings to provide stability in a volatile market [4][10]

Industry Overview - The AI-powered data center industry is experiencing significant growth, with global infrastructure capex projected to reach approximately $7 trillion by 2030 [1] - The demand for electricity from data centers is driving interest in nuclear energy as a cleaner energy source to meet rising global electricity needs [2] Nuclear Energy Sector - President Trump's executive orders aim to modernize the nuclear sector, targeting an increase in U.S. nuclear capacity from about 100 gigawatts (GW) in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050 [3] - The demand for electric utilities with access to nuclear power is increasing due to the electricity requirements of data centers [4] Company Highlights Dominion Energy Inc. (D) - Dominion Energy is enhancing its electric and natural gas infrastructure, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050 and working on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) [7][8] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 7.6% and earnings growth rate of 22.7% for the current year [9] Duke Energy Corp. (DUK) - Duke Energy plans to invest $87 billion from 2025 to 2029 to strengthen its grid and expand its renewable energy portfolio [10] - The company serves approximately 8.4 million customers and operates 1,500 MW of solar energy in Florida [11][12] - Expected revenue growth rate is 4.6% and earnings growth rate is 7.3% for the current year [12] Ameren Corp. (AEE) - Ameren is investing up to $26.3 billion from 2025 to 2029 to enhance its operations and aims to add 3,200 MW of renewables by 2030 [13][15] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 16.2% and earnings growth rate of 7.3% for the current year [16] Entergy Corp. (ETR) - Entergy plans to invest $40 billion from 2025 to 2028 to upgrade infrastructure and support renewable expansion, targeting an earnings CAGR of over 8% [17] - The company generates 27% of its power from nuclear sources and aims to add 275 MW of nuclear power through upgrades [18][19] - Expected revenue growth rate is 5.4% and earnings growth rate is 6.9% for the current year [20] PG&E Corp. (PCG) - PG&E operates California's only nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, and is integrating AI technology to enhance operational efficiency [21][23] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 6.7% and earnings growth rate of 10.3% for the current year [24]

Core Insights - The demand for electricity from data centers is expected to drive significant growth in global electricity usage for decades, with data centers consuming an estimated 415 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, accounting for about 1.5% of global electricity consumption [4][5]. Utility Stocks - The S&P 500 utilities sector has gained nearly 16% from its low in mid-February, outperforming the S&P 500, indicating a strong performance in the utility sector amidst market fluctuations [7]. - High-yielding utility stocks are identified as potential beneficiaries of the increasing electricity demand from data centers, providing stable and dependable passive income [6][5]. Company Profiles - **Canadian Utilities Ltd. (CDUAF)**: Operates in electricity, natural gas, renewables, and pipelines with assets of $22 billion and a dividend yield of 4.60% [8]. - **Dominion Energy Inc. (NYSE: D)**: An integrated energy utility with a strong dividend yield of 4.34%, well-positioned geographically to serve data centers [10]. - **Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK)**: Located near major data centers, this company offers a solid dividend yield of 3.28% and operates extensive electric and gas distribution networks [14][16]. - **Entergy Corp. (NYSE: ETR)**: Engaged in electric power production and retail distribution, with a dividend yield of 2.48% and serving approximately 3 million customers [19][20]. - **Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC)**: The largest electric parent company in the U.S. by revenue, offering a dependable dividend yield of 3.29% and engaged in energy distribution and transmission [21].

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgent need for energy to support its growth [1][2][3] - A specific company is highlighted as a key player in the AI energy sector, owning critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI technologies [3][7][8] Investment Landscape - Wall Street is investing hundreds of billions into AI, but there is a pressing concern regarding the energy supply needed to sustain this growth [2] - AI data centers, such as those powering large language models, consume energy equivalent to that of small cities, indicating a significant strain on global power grids [2] - The company in focus is positioned to capitalize on the rising demand for electricity, which is becoming the most valuable commodity in the digital age [3][8] Company Profile - The company is described as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, benefiting from tariffs and onshoring trends that are reshaping the energy landscape [5][6] - It possesses critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets and is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors [7][8] - The company is debt-free and has a substantial cash reserve, equating to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, which positions it favorably compared to other energy firms burdened by debt [8][10] Market Positioning - The company also holds a significant equity stake in another AI-related venture, providing investors with indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities in the AI sector [9] - It is trading at a low valuation of less than 7 times earnings, making it an attractive investment option in the context of AI and energy [10][11] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation, further enhancing the investment potential in companies that support AI infrastructure [12][13] Future Outlook - The convergence of AI, energy infrastructure, and U.S. LNG exports is anticipated to create a supercycle, presenting unique investment opportunities [14] - The company is positioned to benefit from the ongoing technological revolution, with expectations of significant returns within the next 12 to 24 months [15][19]

Core Viewpoint - Duke Energy has appointed Loree Elswick as the new president of the Duke Energy Foundation, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and philanthropy in meeting the growing energy needs of customers [1][2]. Group 1: Leadership and Community Engagement - Loree Elswick brings over 20 years of experience at Duke Energy, with a strong focus on customer and community wellbeing, corporate communications, and emergency preparedness [2][4]. - Elswick expressed her commitment to building resilient communities and enhancing the Foundation's impact in the neighborhoods served by Duke Energy [3]. Group 2: Duke Energy Foundation's Contributions - The Duke Energy Foundation provides over $30 million annually in philanthropic support and has invested more than $280 million in communities over the past decade [3][5]. - Duke Energy volunteers contribute nearly $4 million in time to nonprofits each year, highlighting the company's commitment to community service [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company serving 8.6 million electric customers across several states and has a total energy capacity of 55,100 megawatts [6]. - The company is undergoing an ambitious energy transition, focusing on electric grid upgrades and cleaner energy generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and energy storage [7].