CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Duke Energy's first-quarter profit fell slightly after spinning off its natural gas business early in the year.
The Charlotte-based company earned $357 million, or 28 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2007. That's down from $358 million, or 37 cents per share, during the same period in 2006.
Duke Energy says it earned 30 cents per share during the period when excluding special items and discontinued operations.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial forecast a profit of 31 cents per share. Thomson estimates usually exclude special items.
Revenue rose 91 percent to just over $3 billion, up from $1.62 billion during the same period a year earlier. Analysts expected revenue of just over $3 billion.
