Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)vsKLA Corporation (KLAC)
DUK
Duke Energy Corporation
$124.22
+0.91%
UTILITIES · Cap: $94.40B
KLAC
KLA Corporation
$1,929.20
+5.55%
TECHNOLOGY · Cap: $267.16B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Duke Energy Corporation generates 150% more annual revenue ($32.72B vs $13.10B). KLAC leads profitability with a 35.7% profit margin vs 15.7%. KLAC appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.04. DUK earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 67/100 (B-).
DUK
Strong Buy67
out of 100
Grade: B-
KLAC
Strong Buy66
out of 100
Grade: B-
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Large-cap with strong market position
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 25.5%
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 80 in profit
Keeps 36 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 41.2%
Areas to Watch
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 43.2x book value
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : DUK
The strongest argument for DUK centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 15.7% and operating margin at 25.5%. Revenue growth of 11.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : KLAC
The strongest argument for KLAC centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 35.7% and operating margin at 41.2%. Revenue growth of 11.5% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : DUK
The primary concerns for DUK are Debt/Equity, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio. Debt-to-equity of 1.66 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : KLAC
The primary concerns for KLAC are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 57.9x leaves little room for execution misses.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
KLAC carries more volatility with a beta of 1.50 — expect wider price swings.
KLAC is growing revenue faster at 11.5% — sustainability is the question.
KLAC generates stronger free cash flow (622M), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
DUK scores higher overall (67/100 vs 66/100), backed by strong 15.7% margins and 11.3% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Duke Energy Corporation
UTILITIES · UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC · USA
Duke Energy Corporation is an American electric power and natural gas holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Visit Website →KLA Corporation
TECHNOLOGY · SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS · USA
KLA Corporation is a capital equipment company based in Milpitas, California. It supplies process control and yield management systems for the semiconductor industry and other related nanoelectronics industries. The company's products and services are intended for all phases of wafer, reticle, integrated circuit (IC) and packaging production, from research and development to final volume manufacturing.
Visit Website →Compare with Other UTILITIES - REGULATED ELECTRIC Stocks
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