Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC Boosts Position in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 42.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,801 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 6,790 shares during the quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $2,673,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in DUK. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Wiser Advisor Group LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Bare Financial Services Inc boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 211.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 280 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the period. Imprint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Duke Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In related news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was 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 $2,809,633.69. This trade represents a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on DUK shares. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $141.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Mizuho set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Evercore restated an “in-line” rating and set a $139.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, December 29th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $137.80.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of DUK stock opened at $130.03 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $126.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $123.20. The firm has a market cap of $101.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.57 and a beta of 0.50. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $111.22 and a 1-year high of $134.49. 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 issued its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The business had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.57 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.66 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th were given a $1.065 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 67.41%.

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulators approved Duke Energy’s plan to build a combined‑cycle natural gas plant in Anderson County — the company says construction could start in 2027 with service by ~2031, creating jobs and new rate‑base assets that support future earnings. Duke Energy secures approval for gas plant in South Carolina
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke is scouting multiple North Carolina sites (Davie/ Davidson/Yadkin River area) for additional natural‑gas units to meet demand — potential growth pipeline but subject to permitting, community feedback and capital allocation decisions. Davidson or Davie? Duke Energy eyes sites for twin natural gas plants
• Negative Sentiment: Rising Treasury yields could increase borrowing costs and pressure utility multiples, making Duke’s stock more volatile even as fundamentals stay steady — a macro headwind to watch for dividend investors. Duke Energy: Surging Treasury Yields Could Spark Volatility For This Utility
• Negative Sentiment: Local opposition is growing in several communities — homeowners on a lake are contesting dozens of pontoon platforms tied to Duke activity, and residents have also protested data‑center load growth at hearings — risks to permitting, timing and reputational capital. One lake and 200 pontoon platforms are pitting NC homeowners against Duke Energy Residents rail against data centers at Duke Energy hearing
• Neutral Sentiment: Questions over political influence in Florida and local advocacy could lead to regulatory scrutiny or shifting public relations needs; monitor state‑level developments that may affect approvals and rate cases. He beat an anti-utility campaign before. Is he helping Duke Energy Florida?

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.