Brookstone Capital Management Decreases Stock Holdings in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Brookstone Capital Management reduced its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 66.3% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 38,750 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 76,390 shares during the quarter. Brookstone Capital Management’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $4,905,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,258,757 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $9,172,709,000 after purchasing an additional 1,957,592 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,292,633 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,266,675,000 after buying an additional 230,375 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Duke Energy by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,931,127 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,046,818,000 after buying an additional 58,375 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 13.1% during the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,236,893 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $965,446,000 after buying an additional 954,907 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp raised its position in Duke Energy by 0.4% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,758,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $960,139,000 after acquiring an additional 31,703 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $124.51 on Friday. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $113.89 and a 52-week high of $134.49. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $125.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $126.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.38.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.13. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.78% and a net margin of 15.78%.The business had revenue of $7.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.66 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.25 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $1.085 per share. This is an increase from Duke Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 63.96%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DUK has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Morgan Stanley set a $138.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Mizuho set a $136.00 price objective on Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Barclays reduced their price objective on Duke Energy from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their target price on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.44.

Duke Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy restored approximately 223,000 outages in Greater Cincinnati—about 85% of the total—within 48 hours. Crews expect to restore nearly all remaining customers, reducing operational and reputational concerns from the storm damage. Duke Energy restores 85% of Greater Cincinnati outages
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s North Carolina rate case remains a potential earnings support. Duke has reduced its proposed increase as regulators consider a settlement, which could still provide additional revenue and recovery of infrastructure costs if approved. Duke Energy cuts proposed rate hike
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy completed the sale of 40 million equity units. The financing provides capital for investment and financial needs, but the equity-linked structure may increase the company’s share count and could pressure per-share value. Duke Energy completes major equity units financing offering
• Neutral Sentiment: Emergency grants and continued restoration efforts in Ohio and Kentucky demonstrate community support following widespread storm damage, although the associated response and repair costs could affect near-term results. Duke Energy Foundation awards emergency grants
• Negative Sentiment: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson rejected a proposed settlement involving a 6.8% residential rate increase, creating uncertainty over the timing and size of any approved rate relief. Consumer advocates are also challenging Duke’s requests by citing the company’s profitability. Attorney general rejects Duke Energy settlement
• Negative Sentiment: The severe Cincinnati-area storms left more than 180,000 customers without power at the peak, highlighting potential repair expenses and weather-related execution risks for Duke Energy. Duke Energy customers remain without power

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.