Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Price Target Raised to $128.00 at BMO Capital Markets

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its price target raised by equities researchers at BMO Capital Markets from $123.00 to $128.00 in a report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an “outperform” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. BMO Capital Markets’ target price points to a potential upside of 8.06% from the company’s current price.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Guggenheim lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. 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 report on Thursday, December 12th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $122.86.

Duke Energy Price Performance

NYSE:DUK opened at $118.46 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $91.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.48. Duke Energy has a 12-month low of $92.75 and a 12-month high of $121.25. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. The company’s 50-day moving average is $112.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $113.30.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.05. Duke Energy had a net margin of 14.90% and a return on equity of 9.50%. Research analysts expect that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duke Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $27,000. Parkworth Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Mattson Financial Services LLC purchased a new stake in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, WealthTrak Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 65.31% of the stock is 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.