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DUK vs FE
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Duke Energy (DUK) vs. FirstEnergy (FE) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- DUK boasts a larger market capitalization of approximately $99 billion compared to FE's $28.6 billion, offering greater scale in the utilities sector.
- FE has shown stronger recent momentum with a year-to-date return of 11.4% versus DUK's 9.5%, and 21.6% over the past year compared to 9.2%.
- Both stocks offer attractive dividend yields around 3.4-3.8%, appealing to income-focused investors in a volatile market.
- DUK trades at a lower trailing P/E ratio (price-to-earnings) of 20.2 versus FE's 28.1, suggesting relative value, while both have similar forward P/E around 18-19.
- Recent catalysts include DUK's $103 billion capital expenditure plan for data center growth and nuclear license renewal, and FE's three-year rate plan and infrastructure rebuilds.
- Tickeron’s AI analysis leans toward FE for its superior short-term momentum in the current market environment.
Introduction
Electric utilities like Duke Energy (DUK) and FirstEnergy (FE) provide essential services, making their stocks attractive for defensive portfolios amid economic uncertainty. Both operate in the regulated utilities sector, benefiting from stable demand but facing pressures from interest rates, regulatory changes, and rising power needs from data centers. This comparison analyzes their recent performance, financial metrics, and market positioning to help income-oriented investors and traders evaluate relative strengths in today's environment, where sector tailwinds like electrification support long-term growth.
DUK Overview and Recent Performance
Duke Energy (DUK), a leading U.S. utility serving millions across the Southeast, Midwest, and Florida, focuses on electric and natural gas distribution with growing renewable integration. In recent market activity, its stock has traded around $127, reflecting a year-to-date gain of about 9.5% and stability with a low beta of 0.45 (a measure of volatility relative to the market). Sentiment has been bolstered by a 20-year license renewal for its Robinson Nuclear Plant until 2050 and an ambitious $103 billion capital plan over the next decade to add 20 gigawatts of capacity, driven by data center demand. Upcoming Q1 2026 earnings on May 5 are anticipated to show steady progress, supporting its ROE (return on equity) of 9.7% and dividend yield of 3.35%.
FE Overview and Recent Performance
FirstEnergy (FE) delivers electricity to customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York through regulated subsidiaries. Trading near $49, the stock has outperformed peers with an 11.4% year-to-date rise and 21.6% over the past year, aided by a beta of 0.59. Recent weeks have seen positive developments like plans for a three-year rate case filing by May 22 to fund $36 billion in infrastructure through 2030, including power line rebuilds for reliability, and a dividend hike to an annual $1.86 per share. Q1 2026 earnings due April 28 are expected to reflect EPS (earnings per share) growth, underpinning its 3.76% yield despite higher debt levels.
Trending AI Robots
Tickeron’s Trending AI Robots page curates the top performers from over 350 AI trading bots that analyze thousands of tickers across stocks, ETFs, and crypto using machine learning strategies. Only the most suitable for current conditions—based on metrics like annualized returns (ranging 15-167%, averaging 70-100%), win rates (48-88%, around 60-65%), and profit factors (1.5-12)—earn a spot among the 25+ featured. These bots employ diverse styles, from short-term 5-minute scalps to 60-minute trend-following with take-profit/stop-loss corridors, targeting high-momentum sectors like semiconductors and energy. While none spotlight utilities like DUK or FE, they offer copy-trading tools for real-time signals. Explore the page to discover bots adapting to market shifts.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Both DUK and FE operate regulated electric utility models with similar ROE near 9-10%, but DUK’s larger scale provides broader diversification into gas and renewables. Growth drivers diverge: DUK leverages massive capex for data centers, while FE focuses on rate plans for grid upgrades. Momentum favors FE with superior recent returns, but DUK offers lower valuation (trailing P/E 20 vs. 28) and stability (beta 0.45 vs. 0.59). Risk factors include high debt/equity ratios (172% vs. 193%) sensitive to rates, with sector exposure identical amid rising demand. Market sentiment tilts toward FE for upside potential per analyst targets (10-14% gains), balancing DUK’s defensive appeal.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors FirstEnergy (FE) over Duke Energy (DUK), driven by stronger trend consistency, higher year-to-date and one-year momentum, and near-term catalysts like earnings and rate filings. While DUK excels in stability and scale, FE’s relative positioning suggests greater probability of outperformance in the prevailing utilities rotation.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is DUK is a Buy and FE is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
DUK’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileFE’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- DUK’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- FE’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
DUK’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while FE’s TA Score has 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- DUK’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 3 bearish.
- FE’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
DUK (@Electric Utilities) experienced а +0.60% price change this week, while FE (@Electric Utilities) price change was +1.31% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electric Utilities industry was +0.73%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +1.38%, and the average quarterly price growth was +8.66%.
Reported Earning Dates
DUK is expected to report earnings on Aug 11, 2026.
FE is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electric Utilities (+0.73% weekly)Electric utilities companies generate, transmit and distribute electricity to businesses/offices and residences. Companies may be owned by the government or investors or public shareholders, or a combination thereof. The industry also includes firms that buy and sell electricity. Companies in this industry typically require significant investments in infrastructure. Many firms in this industry pay substantial and regular dividends to shareholders. However, changes in interest rates (and their impact on debt burdens), natural disasters and changing commodity prices could be factors affecting energy utilities’ profit margins. NextEra Energy, Inc., Duke Energy Corporation, Dominion Energy Inc. and Southern Company are among U.S. electric utilities companies with the largest market capitalizations.
| DUK | FE | DUK / FE | |
| Capitalization | 97.4B | 27.2B | 358% |
| EBITDA | 17.6B | 4.35B | 405% |
| Gain YTD | 8.458 | 7.146 | 118% |
| P/E Ratio | 19.23 | 25.56 | 75% |
| Revenue | 33.2B | 15.5B | 214% |
| Total Cash | 2.14B | 52M | 4,115% |
| Total Debt | 91.2B | 28.1B | 325% |
DUK | FE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 17 | 43 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 44 Fair valued | 12 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 28 | 35 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 72 | 77 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 52 | 50 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 34 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
FE's Valuation (12) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as DUK (44). This means that FE’s stock grew similarly to DUK’s over the last 12 months.
DUK's Profit vs Risk Rating (28) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as FE (35). This means that DUK’s stock grew similarly to FE’s over the last 12 months.
DUK's SMR Rating (72) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as FE (77). This means that DUK’s stock grew similarly to FE’s over the last 12 months.
FE's Price Growth Rating (50) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as DUK (52). This means that FE’s stock grew similarly to DUK’s over the last 12 months.
FE's P/E Growth Rating (34) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as DUK (53). This means that FE’s stock grew similarly to DUK’s over the last 12 months.
| DUK | FE | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 72% | 3 days ago 67% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 31% | 3 days ago 51% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 56% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 51% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 3 days ago 47% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 46% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 51% | 3 days ago 49% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 14 days ago 41% | 13 days ago 37% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 53% | 3 days ago 41% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 28% | 3 days ago 37% |
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DUK and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, DUK has been closely correlated with SO. These tickers have moved in lockstep 83% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if DUK jumps, then SO could also see price increases.