Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) Receives $135.75 Average Price Target from Analysts

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

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $141.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $137.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on Duke Energy from $136.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Monday.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Duke Energy stock opened at $130.98 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $101.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The business has a 50-day moving average of $122.85 and a 200 day moving average of $122.41. Duke Energy has a 12 month low of $111.22 and a 12 month high of $132.65.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The business had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.66 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Duke Energy will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

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

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target on DUK to $140 from $136, signaling analyst optimism and implying upside vs. the current price — a directional positive for investor sentiment and a potential support for the stock. UBS Adjusts Duke Energy Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Analyses noting sector rotation into value/defensive names highlight Duke as a beneficiary: stable utility cash flows, a ~3% yield and exposure to regulated/resilient businesses help attract flows as investors rotate out of mega-cap tech. 3 Blue-Chip Stocks Built for a Rotating Market
• Positive Sentiment: Other recent analyst target upgrades (coverage noted on Yahoo/MarketScreener) indicate upward revisions to expectations following February results — supports the constructive analyst tone. Price Target Raised
• Neutral Sentiment: A research collaboration involves Duke University (Pratt School of Engineering) and a mobile games developer on aging/cognitive health — this is academic research tied to Duke University, not Duke Energy, and is unlikely to move DUK stock. Avia and University Engineering Program Collaborate
• Negative Sentiment: Duke announced an intended private offering of $1.0B of convertible senior notes due 2029 (with an upsize option), which markets view as dilutive/credit-sensitive — the news directly pressured the stock as investors weigh dilution risk, interest/capital structure effects and why the new funding is needed. Convertible Notes Offering
• Negative Sentiment: Local reporting says Duke is recommitting to fossil fuels in NC, projecting higher carbon emissions — a potential negative for ESG-focused investors and a source of regulatory/PR risk that can pressure valuation multiples for utilities. Falling NC carbon emissions will rise again
• Negative Sentiment: Coverage highlighting rising Duke Energy customer bills increases political and regulatory scrutiny and could lead to rate pressure or reputational headwinds, even as higher prices can temporarily boost revenue — investors watch both the revenue and regulatory downside. Duke Energy bills keep rising

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In related news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owned 3,896 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $498,142.56. This trade represents a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available 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 owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.14% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Duke Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Basso Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Dorato Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 1,111.1% during the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in Duke Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

About Duke Energy

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.