Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Hits New 52-Week High – What’s Next?

Shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK) hit a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $121.46 and last traded at $121.14, with a volume of 1355755 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $120.12.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on DUK shares. Guggenheim increased their target price on Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $114.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $113.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $122.93.

Duke Energy Stock Up 0.0 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $113.44 and its 200-day moving average is $113.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.84 billion, a PE ratio of 21.17, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.48.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.05. Duke Energy had a net margin of 14.90% and a return on equity of 9.50%. On average, equities research analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 73.20%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Duke Energy

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of DUK. 111 Capital bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $491,000. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC raised its position in shares of Duke Energy by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 175,155 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $18,871,000 after acquiring an additional 1,173 shares during the period. Northstar Financial Companies Inc. acquired a new stake in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $718,000. Centaurus Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Duke Energy by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,409 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $583,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the period. Finally, Anchor Pointe Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth $252,000. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.