American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) vs Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)
DUK leads on 9 of 16 compared metrics.
A side-by-side comparison of American Electric Power Company, Inc. and Duke Energy Corporation across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).
AEP
American Electric Power Company, Inc.
$129.23Utilities
DUK
Duke Energy Corporation
$124.97Utilities
Total return — AEP vs DUK
growth of $100 · last 30yAEP +221.1%DUK +194.3%AEP compounded faster
AEP DUK
AEP vs DUK: by the numbers
- •DUK is the larger company ($97.43B vs $70.31B market cap).
- •AEP trades at the lower earnings multiple (19.09 vs 19.14 P/E).
- •AEP converts more revenue to profit (16.49% vs 15.44% net margin).
- •AEP grew revenue faster over the past five years (7.51% vs 6.70% CAGR).
- •DUK pays the higher dividend yield (3.41% vs 2.93%).
Which is better, AEP or DUK?
Metric tally: AEP 7 · DUK 9It depends on what you're optimizing for:
GrowthAEP(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)
IncomeDUK(higher dividend yield)
QualityAEP(higher ROIC)
Valuation
| Metric | AEP | DUK |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 19.09 | 19.14 |
| Forward P/E | 18.86 | 17.43● |
| P/S ratio | 3.19 | 2.92● |
| P/B ratio | 2.22 | 1.79● |
| PEG ratio | 0.88● | 1.74 |
| EV / EBITDA | 14.05 | 11.56● |
| FCF yield | 8.73%● | 6.78% |
Profitability
| Metric | AEP | DUK |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 40.39% | 58.41%● |
| Operating margin | 23.47% | 26.98%● |
| Net margin | 16.49%● | 15.44% |
| ROE | 11.49%● | 9.44% |
| ROIC | 4.71%● | 4.13% |
Dividends
| Metric | AEP | DUK |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 2.93% | 3.41%● |
| Payout ratio | 56.76% | 67.51% |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | AEP | DUK |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 7.51%● | 6.70% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 8.45% | 29.69%● |
| FCF CAGR (5Y) | 38.55% | 131.21%● |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 12.78%● | 8.25% |
Frequently asked
- Which is better, AEP or DUK?
- It depends on your goal. growth: AEP (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: DUK (higher dividend yield); quality: AEP (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, DUK leads 9 to 7.
- Is AEP or DUK cheaper?
- On trailing earnings, AEP is cheaper: AEP trades at a 19.09 P/E and DUK at 19.14.
- Which has grown faster, AEP or DUK?
- Over the past five years, AEP grew revenue faster — AEP at a 7.51% CAGR versus DUK at 6.70%.
- Does AEP or DUK pay a bigger dividend?
- AEP yields 2.93% and DUK yields 3.41% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
- Is AEP or DUK more profitable?
- AEP runs the higher net margin — AEP at 16.49% versus DUK at 15.44%.
- Which has been the better investment, AEP or DUK?
- Over the past 10-year, AEP delivered the higher annualized total return — AEP at 10.61% versus DUK at 8.73%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
American Electric Power P/E ratioDuke Energy P/E ratioAmerican Electric Power dividend yieldDuke Energy dividend yieldAmerican Electric Power ROEDuke Energy ROEAmerican Electric Power operating marginDuke Energy operating marginAmerican Electric Power revenue growthDuke Energy revenue growthAmerican Electric Power free cash flowDuke Energy free cash flow
American Electric Power & Duke Energy appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.