United Capital Management of KS Inc. Buys 5,281 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

United Capital Management of KS Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 4.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 132,938 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,281 shares during the period. Duke Energy accounts for about 2.0% of United Capital Management of KS Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. United Capital Management of KS Inc.’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $15,156,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. now owns 6,623 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $838,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 2.3% during the first quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,648 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $478,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. NovaPoint Capital LLC raised its position in Duke Energy by 0.7% during the third quarter. NovaPoint Capital LLC now owns 12,551 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,431,000 after acquiring an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Duke Energy by 1.1% during the second quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,617 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $964,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pullen Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 0.7% in the third quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC now owns 12,394 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,413,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Duke Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street analysts are described as cautiously optimistic about Duke Energy’s prospects, although the stock has lagged the S&P 500 over the past year. That outlook may support sentiment, but the article does not provide a specific forecast or rating change. Are Wall Street Analysts Predicting Duke Energy Stock Will Climb or Sink?
• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy Foundation grants to local first-responder agencies offer community-relations benefits, though the story does not indicate a material financial impact. Indiana first-responder grants
• Neutral Sentiment: Davidson County leaders are set to vote on rezoning for a Duke Energy natural-gas facility along the Yadkin River. Approval could advance the project, but the vote is pending and the articles do not report an outcome or quantify its expected financial contribution. Davidson County vote on Duke Energy plant Davidson County rezoning vote
• Negative Sentiment: A news report says a customer’s costly appliance replacements followed a Duke Energy billing mix-up. The case could pose reputational or customer-service concerns, though no broader pattern or material financial exposure is established in the headline. Duke Energy billing mix-up report

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $134.00 to $132.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $130.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 13th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating and set a $121.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, October 12th. Mizuho set a $136.00 price target on Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price target on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 12th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $132.19.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Bonnie Titone sold 2,900 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.00, for a total transaction of $371,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 26,111 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,342,208. This trade represents a 10.00% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK stock opened at $128.26 on Tuesday. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $112.40 and a 52 week high of $134.49. The company has a market capitalization of $100.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.75, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $120.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $124.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.66.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $9.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.91 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.78% and a return on equity of 9.78%. The business’s revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.81 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be paid a dividend of $1.0850 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 13th. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 63.45%.

About Duke Energy

Duke Energy is a U.S. energy company focused primarily on regulated electric utilities and natural gas distribution. Its businesses generate, transmit and distribute electricity, and provide natural gas service to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The company serves electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its natural gas distribution operations serve customers in several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Duke Energy’s power generation portfolio includes nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and renewable resources.