Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) has been given an average recommendation of “Hold” by the seventeen ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have issued a hold recommendation and nine have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $137.80.

Several research firms have recently commented on DUK. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, December 29th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley set a $139.00 target price on Duke Energy in a report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th.

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Duke completed the sale of its Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas business to Spire for $2.48 billion; management says proceeds will help fund its large regulated capital plan, improving liquidity and funding for growth. Duke Energy completes sale of its Tennessee Piedmont Natural Gas business to Spire
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and media highlight Duke’s improving clean?energy profile — strengthened by nuclear performance and aggressive renewable expansion — which has contributed to an ~11.7% three?month gain and supports long?term regulated growth expectations. Duke Energy Stock Rises 11.7% in 3 Months: Should You Buy Now?
• Neutral Sentiment: DUK has shown relative strength versus the market in recent sessions (advanced while the broader market fell), signaling defensive demand from income and low?beta investors. Duke Energy (DUK) Advances While Market Declines
• Neutral Sentiment: Minor operational incident: a localized power outage in Jeffersonville impacted hundreds of customers but service was restored; not material to companywide operations. Power restored in Jeffersonville after outage impacts hundreds of Duke Energy customers
• Negative Sentiment: Duke’s proposed rate hike (reported as an ~18% increase in some filings) has sparked strong public pushback and contested public hearings across the Carolinas; regulatory resistance could delay or reduce allowed returns and cash flow. Duke Energy rate hike proposal sparks debate across the Carolinas
• Negative Sentiment: Customer affordability issues are rising: disconnections among Duke Energy Carolinas customers doubled in February, fueling political pressure and making regulators more sensitive to large rate increases. Disconnections among Duke Energy Carolinas customers doubled in February

Duke Energy Price Performance

DUK opened at $130.92 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $101.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.72 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. Duke Energy has a 12-month low of $111.22 and a 12-month high of $134.49. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $127.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.38.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.57 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.66 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th were given a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.3%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 67.41%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total value of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This trade represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total transaction of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,007 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. The trade was a 23.61% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.14% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duke Energy

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Basso Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Dorato Capital Management purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. increased its position in Duke Energy by 1,111.1% during the 4th quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new position in Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management increased its position in Duke Energy by 68.6% during the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation is a U.S.-based electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s core business is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy operates a mix of regulated electric utilities and non-regulated energy businesses, providing essential energy infrastructure and services across multiple states.

Its operating activities include owning and operating generation assets across a portfolio that encompasses nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and an expanding array of renewable resources, as well as battery storage and grid modernization projects.