Duke Energy 2014 Annual Report Download - page 5

Connected to results

continuing a long, successful record of performance

diluted earnings per share, which was within our

year of meeting or exceeding guidance.

cost structure. Since the Progress Energy merger in

in annual merger-related nonfuel operating and
maintenance expense savings across the company.

the skill and dedication of our employees have kept
our customer rates below national averages.
In 2014, we increased our quarterly dividend
payment by approximately 2 percent, the seventh
consecutive year of annual dividend growth. It was
the 88th year in a row that Duke Energy has paid
a quarterly cash dividend on our common stock,
a record we expect to continue for shareholders,
who rely on a growing dividend.

shareholders. In 2014, Duke Energy achieved a
total shareholder return of 26.4 percent, slightly
below the Philadelphia Utility Index (UTY) return
of 28.9 percent. Our balance sheet and credit

costs low and helps maintain competitive energy
prices for customers.
Since 2009, we have consistently met our long-


through 2014, our actual average annual growth






load growth. Later in this letter, I will report on the

investments we advanced in 2014.
As we move forward, we will continue to closely
monitor variability in retail load growth trends, in
particular the residential class, as well as some of
the variables at Duke Energy International, such
as hydrology in Brazil, foreign exchange rates and
crude oil prices.
2014 ANNUAL REPORT / 3 /
*
Five years:
15.6%
Duke Energy Corporation
S
&P
500
I
n
dex
1
5
.4
%
Phil
a
d
e
lphia
U
t
ili
t
y
I
n
de
x
12.4
%
Three years:
13.1%
Duke Energy Corporation
S&
P
500
Ind
ex
20
.4
%
P
hiladel
p
hi
a
Utilit
y
Ind
e
x
12
.
5%
One year:
26.4%
Duke Energy Corporation
S
&P 5
00
I
n
d
e
x
13.7
%
Phil
a
d
e
l
p
hia
U
t
ili
ty
I
n
d
ex
2
8.9%
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN