Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Price Target Cut to $130.00 by Analysts at BMO Capital Markets

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its target price reduced by BMO Capital Markets from $136.00 to $130.00 in a report issued on Tuesday morning,MarketScreener reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has an outperform rating on the utilities provider’s stock.

DUK has been the subject of a number of other reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective 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. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Duke Energy from $137.00 to $146.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Duke Energy to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Duke Energy to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $135.56.

Duke Energy Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:DUK traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $118.80. 3,715,166 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,402,734. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $119.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $121.36. Duke Energy has a one year low of $105.90 and a one year high of $130.03. The company has a market cap of $92.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 9.98%. The company had revenue of $8.54 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.51 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.62 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is presently 66.98%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Duke Energy news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total value of $1,015,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 11,367 shares in the company, valued at $1,407,234.60. The trade was a 41.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 53.7% in the 2nd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Access Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $31,000. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Brought a $100M, 50‑MW, four‑hour grid battery online at the retired Allen coal plant and announced plans for a 167‑MW expansion; Duke says the projects will lower fuel costs, capture federal tax credits and support growth across the Carolinas — a material infrastructure growth story that investors typically view as positive for long‑term earnings and transition strategy. Duke Energy brings new grid battery on line at former Allen coal plant
• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulators approved Duke rate increases, which should raise allowed utility revenues and support near‑term cash flow and earnings stability in that jurisdiction. South Carolina regulators approve Duke Energy rate increases
• Neutral Sentiment: Longtime EVP and Chief Generation Officer Preston Gillespie will retire after 40 years — an executive succession item that creates some near‑term leadership change risk but is not unexpected. Monitor succession details for any operational guidance changes. Duke Energy announces leadership changes in its generation and operational excellence organization
• Neutral Sentiment: Local customer and community initiatives (e.g., free tree programs in Florida) are being promoted; positive for PR/customer goodwill but unlikely to move fundamentals. Duke Energy offers free trees for customers in Florida
• Negative Sentiment: Duke Energy Florida will remove its storm cost‑recovery charge from customer bills a month earlier than planned, producing an approximate $33 reduction for residential bills in February and an additional ~$11 in March — good for customers but a near‑term reduction in billed recoveries and cash inflows for the utility unit. Duke Energy Florida announces storm cost recovery charge will be removed
• Negative Sentiment: Reports show Duke is retreating from a planned large pumped‑hydro expansion, which could limit future large‑scale storage options and raise questions about the company’s longer‑term storage strategy. That may pressure investor expectations for growth in certain clean‑energy segments. Why is Duke Energy retreating from a major pumped-hydro expansion?

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.