Kestra Advisory Services LLC Acquires 24,670 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Kestra Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 13.6% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 205,462 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 24,670 shares during the quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $26,903,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Basso Capital Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Dorato Capital Management purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings 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 valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in Duke Energy in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management increased its position in Duke Energy by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

More Duke Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy Florida said it will deliver $50 million in customer savings and avoid a planned 2027 base rate increase by accelerating the return of tax credits tied to its battery storage system, reinforcing the company’s ability to manage rates and support customers. Duke Energy Florida delivers $50 million in customer savings, avoids 2027 base rate increase through innovative tax strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple market write-ups highlighted Duke Energy as a stable, cash-generating utility with solid sales growth, favorable valuation metrics, and stronger revenue consistency than some peers, which can support investor confidence in the stock. Invest in These 3 Sales Growth Stocks for Robust Returns
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage comparing Duke Energy with other utilities suggested the company has held up well versus the sector this year, underscoring its defensive appeal relative to peers. Has Duke Energy (DUK) Outpaced Other Utilities Stocks This Year?
• Neutral Sentiment: Articles about Duke Energy’s customer bill assistance and free home inspections are favorable from a public-relations standpoint, but they are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings or valuation. Duke Energy to provide credit assistance for customers
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader industry reporting on surging data-center power demand and equipment shortages could eventually benefit utilities like Duke Energy through higher load growth, but it also signals higher costs and longer lead times, making the near-term impact mixed. US power companies scramble to secure equipment as surging data center demand strains supplies
• Negative Sentiment: Duke Energy is still facing regulatory pushback in North Carolina after reducing its requested residential rate hike, which keeps pressure on the company’s ability to win approval for higher rates. Duke reduces rate hike request, still faces regulator pushback

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total transaction of $438,025.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 21,415 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. This trade represents a 14.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction on Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total transaction of $2,487,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,952,205.74. This represents a 17.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on DUK. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $136.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Duke Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th. Capitol Sec Mgt lowered shares of Duke Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, April 10th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 20th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.33.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DUK traded up $0.21 during trading on Friday, hitting $125.47. 2,801,060 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,706,513. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $124.95 and its 200 day simple moving average is $125.12. The company has a market cap of $97.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.21 and a beta of 0.38. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $113.89 and a 52-week high of $134.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.44.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 15.49%.The company had revenue of $9.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.44 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.76 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.71 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th were issued a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 15th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 65.24%.

Duke Energy Company 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.