Duke Energy Corp. on Thursday reported a drop in profit for its third quarter, despite warmer weather and strong core performance in its regulated utilities business. Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke operates utilities that serve more than seven million customers in the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Overall, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, Duke posted a profit of $932 million, or $1.35 a share, compared with $1.27 billion, or $1.80 a share, a year earlier. Excluding special items, earnings grew to $1.47 a share from $1.40 a share a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected earnings of $1.51 a share. So far this year, strength in Duke’s regulated utilities business has helped to offset weakness abroad. In the latest quarter, Duke’s regulated utilities reported segment income of $905 million, down from $920 million a year ago. Profit was […]