Duke Energy Corp vs NRG Energy Inc — how do they compare? Duke Energy Corp trades at $123.1 (market cap $96.05B), while NRG Energy Inc trades at $121.03 (market cap $24.83B). The key difference: Duke Energy Corp is far larger — about 3.9× NRG Energy Inc's market cap, and Duke Energy Corp pays the higher dividend (3.52%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| DUK | NRG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $96.05B | $24.83B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $133.46 | $184.03 |
52-Week Low | $113.99 | $117.04 |
Enterprise Value | $188.56B | $48.79B |
Dividend Yield | 3.52% | 1.61% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
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.
NRG Energy trades at $120.97, up 1.73% today, with a bearish technical signal despite oversold RSI levels near support at $119. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.49, missing estimates of $1.69, but revenue grew 11% year-over-year, driven by cost controls and a strategic 1.2 GW Texas data-center power project. Fundamentals show a P/E of 30.76 and ROE of 26.77%, though net margin is thin at 2.56%.
Outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $207.83 price target (69% buy ratings), citing growth from data-center demand, but risks include rising interest costs, high leverage (debt-to-assets at 56.42% in 2025), and earnings misses. The stock offers a 1.6% dividend yield, but investors face volatility from execution risks in expansion plans.
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 →NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →