Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Upgraded at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Saturday morning.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on DUK. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their price objective on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, March 9th. Mizuho set a $130.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $137.80.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $131.74 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.55 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $126.60 and its 200-day moving average is $123.27. Duke Energy has a 12-month low of $111.22 and a 12-month high of $134.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $102.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.84 and a beta of 0.50.

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, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 15.41%.The business had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th were issued a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 67.41%.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In other news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,809,633.69. This trade represents a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were 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 owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at $498,142.56. The trade was a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Company insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in Duke Energy by 37.7% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 41,642 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $5,153,000 after acquiring an additional 11,409 shares during the period. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,046,000. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 11.3% in the third quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 274,630 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $33,985,000 after purchasing an additional 27,820 shares in the last quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC lifted its position in Duke Energy by 13.0% in the third quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 88,018 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $10,892,000 after purchasing an additional 10,108 shares during the period. Finally, Greystone Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter. Greystone Financial Group LLC now owns 93,766 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $11,604,000 after buying an additional 10,580 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

More Duke Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: State approval for a new $2.5 billion natural‑gas power plant in South Carolina expands Duke’s regulated asset base and future rate‑base earning potential; this is a clear growth and rate‑recovery catalyst. Duke Energy wins approval for new $2.5B natural gas power plant in South Carolina
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage and roundups continue to list Duke as a defensive, dividend‑paying utility to own in volatile markets (low beta, steady cash flow), supporting demand from income‑focused investors. 5 Defensive Stocks to Buy Amid Market’s Recent Bloodbath
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary (Seeking Alpha) highlights Duke’s regulated products as offering a low credit‑risk entry point, reinforcing the stock’s appeal to conservative investors. Duke Energy’s Products Give Us A Credit Risk-Free Opportunity Once Again
• Neutral Sentiment: Market summaries note Duke advanced while broader markets declined, reflecting sector‑specific flows into utilities rather than broad equity strength. Duke Energy (DUK) Advances While Market Declines
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage reiterates utilities’ defensive status amid wider market volatility, a structural narrative that can support multiple trading sessions of inflows. How to Play Defense in This Market: Embrace Utilities
• Negative Sentiment: Rate‑hike filings in North Carolina (potentially up to ~18% for some customers) and public hearings have triggered customer pushback and media scrutiny; sustained political or regulatory backlash could delay approvals or force concessions that weigh on near‑term returns. Duke Energy proposes rate hike in North Carolina; customers could see bills rise up to 18%
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple stories document rising customer complaints and public hearings over bills, increasing the risk of rate‑case pushback or negative publicity that could pressure regulators and the stock if outcomes are unfavorable. Duke Energy seeks rate hike as customers push back on rising bills

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.