QRG Capital Management Inc. Acquires 13,141 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 7.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 180,200 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 13,141 shares during the quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $22,810,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Basso Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 1,111.1% in the 4th 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. Triumph Capital Management boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 68.6% in the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in Duke Energy in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 300.0% during the 4th quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Duke Energy News

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $137.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Evercore raised their target price on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Mizuho set a $136.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, KeyCorp upgraded shares of Duke Energy from a “sector weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $139.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.44.

Duke Energy Stock Up 0.8%

DUK opened at $124.51 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $97.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.38. 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 firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $125.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $126.55. Duke Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $113.89 and a twelve month high of $134.49.

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

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

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

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.