Duke Energy Corp vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Duke Energy Corp trades at $123.12 (market cap $96.05B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $412.61 (market cap $89.08B). The key difference: Duke Energy Corp and HCA Health Inc are close in size by market cap, and Duke Energy Corp pays the higher dividend (3.52%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DUK | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $96.05B | $89.08B |
Sector | Utilities | Health |
52-Week High | $133.46 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $113.99 | $361.32 |
Enterprise Value | $188.56B | $139.62B |
Dividend Yield | 3.52% | 0.76% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Duke Energy (DUK) trades at $121.19, down 2.93% on the day, with a bearish technical signal. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $1.43 per share, beating estimates, and maintains solid fundamentals with a 15.78% net income margin. Recent news highlights operational challenges from storms affecting customers but also strategic initiatives like a $35 million equity units offering and data center growth opportunities.
The outlook is mixed; fundamentals are robust with consistent earnings beats and a healthy dividend, but technical weakness and high debt levels pose risks. Analyst consensus is a 'Hold' with a $136.17 price target, suggesting cautious optimism for long-term investors amid near-term volatility.
HCA Healthcare trades at $414.03, up 0.16% today, with strong technical momentum as price sits above key support levels. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q2 2026 earnings beating estimates, revenue growth to $75.6B in 2025, and consistent dividend payments. Recent management appointments signal strategic focus on clinical operations and ambulatory services.
HCA presents a compelling investment case with attractive valuation (P/E 13.8), analyst consensus price target of $449.93 (8.7% upside), and strong institutional support. However, risks include ongoing legal investigations, rising expenses impacting margins, and high debt levels at 80.9% debt-to-asset ratio that could constrain financial flexibility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →