Duke Energy Corporation (DUK)

Debt-to-equity ratio

		Dec 31, 2023	Sep 30, 2023	Jun 30, 2023	Mar 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Sep 30, 2022	Jun 30, 2022	Mar 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Sep 30, 2021	Jun 30, 2021	Mar 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Sep 30, 2020	Jun 30, 2020	Mar 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Sep 30, 2019	Jun 30, 2019	Mar 31, 2019
Long-term debt	US$ in thousands	72,452,000	71,353,000	69,914,000	69,107,000	65,873,000	66,060,000	63,147,000	62,196,000	60,448,000	57,929,000	57,410,000	54,768,000	55,625,000	56,049,000	56,143,000	56,311,000	54,985,000	54,818,000	54,342,000	53,681,000
Total stockholders’ equity	US$ in thousands	49,112,000	49,006,000	48,333,000	49,260,000	49,322,000	50,345,000	49,720,000	49,446,000	49,296,000	49,307,000	48,132,000	48,186,000	47,964,000	46,006,000	45,484,000	46,921,000	46,822,000	46,438,000	45,213,000	45,030,000
Debt-to-equity ratio		1.48	1.46	1.45	1.40	1.34	1.31	1.27	1.26	1.23	1.17	1.19	1.14	1.16	1.22	1.23	1.20	1.17	1.18	1.20	1.19

December 31, 2023 calculation

Debt-to-equity ratio = Long-term debt ÷ Total stockholders’ equity
= $72,452,000K ÷ $49,112,000K
= 1.48

The debt-to-equity ratio of Duke Energy Corp. has been gradually increasing over the past eight quarters, reflecting a higher reliance on debt compared to equity in their capital structure. The ratio ranged from 1.40 to 1.62 during this period.

This indicates that for every dollar of equity, the company has approximately $1.40 to $1.62 in debt, highlighting a moderate level of leverage. The upward trend in the ratio suggests a potential increase in financial risk, as a higher proportion of debt compared to equity may lead to higher interest payments and financial obligations.

It is important for investors and stakeholders to closely monitor Duke Energy Corp.'s debt levels and overall financial health to ensure that the company can effectively manage its debt obligations and maintain a sustainable capital structure.