American Electric Power Company Inc vs Duke Energy Corp — how do they compare? American Electric Power Company Inc trades at $124.45 (market cap $67.28B), while Duke Energy Corp trades at $123.58 (market cap $96.05B). The key difference: Duke Energy Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Duke Energy Corp pays the higher dividend (3.52%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AEP | DUK | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $67.28B | $96.05B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $138.69 | $133.46 |
52-Week Low | $106.44 | $113.99 |
Enterprise Value | $120.17B | $188.56B |
Dividend Yield | 3.07% | 3.52% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
American Electric Power (AEP) trades at $123.89, up 0.85% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.36 EPS versus $1.48 expected, though revenue grew 7% year-over-year. The company raised full-year 2026 operating EPS guidance to $6.25–$6.55, citing robust demand from data centers and a $78 billion capital plan. Valuation metrics include a P/E of 21.42 and P/B of 2.1, with a consensus price target of $140.89 implying 14% upside.
AEP's outlook is supported by contracted load growth and infrastructure investments, but risks include execution of its capital plan and interest expense pressures. The stock offers a dividend yield with an upcoming $0.95 payment. Analyst consensus is strongly bullish with 61% buy ratings, though technical indicators suggest near-term caution. Long-term growth targets of 7–9% annually provide a solid foundation for patient investors.
Duke Energy (DUK) trades at $122.97, up 1.46% today, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals. Recent earnings beat estimates for three consecutive quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS at $1.43 versus $1.30 expected. The company maintains solid profitability, with a net income margin of 15.78% and ROE of 10.01%. Cash flow trends show consistent operational strength, though investing outflows remain high due to infrastructure spending.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is a Buy with a $136.17 price target, but technical indicators signal near-term caution. Key risks include regulatory scrutiny and high debt levels, while opportunities lie in data-center demand growth and dividend stability. Investors should weigh strong fundamentals against bearish technicals and macroeconomic headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
American Electric Power is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States, providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. About 43% of AEP's of capacity is coal, with the remainder from a mix of natural gas (27%), renewable energy and hydro (19%), nuclear (7%), and demand response (4%). Vertically integrated utilities, transmission and distribution, and generation and marketing support earnings.
Read more on AEP →Duke Energy is one of the largest U.S. utilities, with regulated utilities in the Carolinas, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky that deliver electricity to nearly 8 million customers. Its natural gas utilities serve more than 1.5 million customers. Duke operates in three major segments: electric utilities and infrastructure
Read more on DUK →