Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Price Target Raised to $142.00

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its price objective boosted by The Goldman Sachs Group from $141.00 to $142.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning,MarketScreener reports. They currently have a buy rating on the utilities provider’s stock.

DUK has been the topic of several other reports. UBS Group lowered their target price on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $141.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $126.00 to $115.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $126.00 to $125.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $134.19.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

DUK stock opened at $128.14 on Wednesday. Duke Energy has a 1 year low of $110.51 and a 1 year high of $130.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.28, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.55. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $118.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $121.80.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.66 EPS. Duke Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.550-6.800 EPS. On average, 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. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 67.41%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total value of $1,015,160.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total transaction of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duke Energy

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Dorato Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings 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 purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new position in Duke Energy during the third quarter worth $27,000. Triumph Capital Management increased its holdings in shares of 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its price target to $142 and maintained a Buy rating — adds analyst support and upside to the stock. Goldman Sachs adjusts price target on Duke Energy
• Positive Sentiment: Duke reported solid results (beat expectations) and set FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $6.55–$6.80, supporting earnings-driven upside and dividend coverage. Duke Energy Beats Expectations, Continues To Be A Buy
• Positive Sentiment: Federal judge dismissed a small town’s climate-change suit against Duke, removing a source of legal and regulatory uncertainty. Judge quashes small town’s climate change suit against Duke Energy
• Positive Sentiment: Data-center demand remains strong — Duke’s pipeline hit ~4.5 GW, providing a durable load-growth avenue that supports long-term regulated earnings. Duke Energy’s data center pipeline hits 4.5 gigawatts
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke is deploying AI to detect scams targeting customers — lowers fraud risk and potential losses, but is primarily operational/PR. Duke Energy leverages AI to protect customers and combat scams
• Neutral Sentiment: Company announced customer-support resources after a Florida cold snap — helps mitigate customer backlash from higher winter bills but highlights bill volatility. Duke Energy is here to help Florida customers after cold snap
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage of Duke earning nearly $5B in 2025 while still requesting rate increases — positive for future revenue if approved, but keeps regulatory and PR scrutiny front-and-center. Duke Energy earned nearly $5B in 2025. It is still requesting a rate hike
• Neutral Sentiment: Local complaints about “radical” tree trimming and streetlight issues are generating local headlines — reputational noise with limited immediate financial impact. Answer Man: ‘Radical tree trimming’ by Duke Energy contractors
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Louis Renjel sold 6,800 shares (about $868k) and reduced his holdings ~23.6% — insider selling can weigh on sentiment, though not uncommon after compensation events. SEC Form 4 – Louis E. Renjel
• Negative Sentiment: St. Petersburg is taking steps to consider switching to a city-run utility — a municipal departure could be a long-term demand and political risk if it gains traction elsewhere. St. Petersburg takes steps to consider dropping Duke Energy

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.