Gassing up: Duke Energy hopes its latest catch can spur its growth.

• Position: BY THE NUMBERS

Winners in Duke Energy Corp.'s $6.7 billion purchase of Piedmont National Gas Co. aren't hard to spot. Gas company stockholders saw their investment soar more than 30% in a day, CEO Thomas Skains will depart with an $11 million buyout, Duke gains a faster-growing business and investment bankers Goldman Sachs & Co. and Barclays are in line for millions in advisory fees. Still to be determined: how customers and employees can benefit from the combination of North Carolina's two big utilities, both based in Charlotte.

Key numbers:

9%--Decline of Duke share price in 15 trading days after deal announcement

$4.5 billion--Decline in Duke's market valuation in those 15 trading days

4%...