Mariner LLC Acquires 60,877 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Mariner LLC grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 5.6% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,146,514 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 60,877 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $141,872,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DUK. Pflug Koory LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 2,694 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $333,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 5,048 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. EWA LLC grew its position in shares of Duke Energy by 3.9% during the third quarter. EWA LLC now owns 2,203 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $273,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 4.6% in the third quarter. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,854 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $229,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blossom Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 3.5% in the third quarter. Blossom Wealth Management now owns 2,530 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $313,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of DUK stock opened at $133.54 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $103.85 billion, a PE ratio of 21.13 and a beta of 0.50. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $111.22 and a 1 year high of $134.27. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $124.28 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $122.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.33.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 15.41%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.66 EPS. Research analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 67.41%.

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory settlement in South Carolina: Duke reached a proposed agreement to combine Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress operations in SC, which management says could produce customer savings and operational efficiencies if approved by state regulators — a potential long-term earnings/opex tailwind. Duke Energy Carolinas Deal Tests Regulatory Support For Efficiency And Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: $1.0B convertible senior notes: Duke disclosed a private placement of convertible senior notes due 2029 to raise roughly $1 billion. This boosts liquidity and funds operations/capex but carries conversion/dilution risk and will be watched for pricing/terms that affect EPS dilution. Duke Energy (DUK) to Raise $1B Through Convertible Senior Notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Proactive customer advisories: Duke issued multiple notices urging customers in the Carolinas to prepare for damaging winds and possible tornadic activity, signaling active risk management but also raising the chance of higher restoration costs. This is a readiness/communications item investors should monitor for subsequent outage impact. Duke Energy urges customers to prepare for damaging high winds and possible tornadic activities across the Carolinas
• Negative Sentiment: Storm-related outages and extra crews called in: Local reports show thousands without power in Wake County and expanded outage/restoration efforts (e.g., Bartholomew County, Charlotte). These events can pressure near-term cash opex, restoration costs and outage metrics; investors may trim exposure until damage/costs are clearer. Thousands without power across Wake County Monday night, Duke Energy reports

Insiders Place Their Bets

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DUK has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price target on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Barclays lowered their target price on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Finally, Evercore reaffirmed an “in-line” rating and set a $139.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Duke Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $137.80.

Duke Energy 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.