Simplicity Wealth LLC Sells 6,194 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Simplicity Wealth LLC lessened its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 44.7% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 7,660 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 6,194 shares during the period. Simplicity Wealth LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $898,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC grew its position in Duke Energy by 19.6% in the fourth quarter. Joel Isaacson & Co. LLC now owns 5,669 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $664,000 after acquiring an additional 930 shares during the last quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. Interchange Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,525 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $530,000 after purchasing an additional 667 shares during the last quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 10,913 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,279,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Keybank National Association OH grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 5.5% during the fourth quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 391,761 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $45,918,000 after purchasing an additional 20,513 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Westhampton Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 13.1% during the fourth quarter. Westhampton Capital LLC now owns 3,503 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $411,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. The trade was a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total value of $123,001.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This trade represents a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK stock opened at $129.79 on Friday. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $129.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $124.30. Duke Energy Corporation has a one year low of $111.22 and a one year high of $134.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $100.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.54 and a beta of 0.46. 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 announced its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 prior year, the business posted $1.66 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulator approved a settlement for combining Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress that projects billions in long‑term customer savings and includes shareholder guarantees — lowers merger/regulatory execution risk and frames future rate outcomes more predictably. South Carolina customers projected to benefit from billions in long-term savings from approved combination of Duke Energy utilities
• Positive Sentiment: The NRC renewed the operating license for Duke’s H.B. Robinson nuclear plant for 20 years (through 2050), supporting long‑lived regulated generation assets and removing near‑term replacement power risk. NRC Renews License for Duke Energy (DUK)’s Robinson Nuclear Plant
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst previews and coverage suggest Duke is likely to beat Q1 earnings estimates, supported by rate base growth and grid investments — this helps explain investor optimism around short‑term EPS upside. DUK Likely to Beat Q1 Earnings Estimates: How to Play the Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke is engaging communities on future powerline plans (open houses) and making small philanthropic grants for SC green spaces — helpful for local relations but limited direct financial impact. Duke Energy hosts open house for future powerline plans Duke Energy Foundation awards $275,000 for SC green spaces
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector/peer previews (AEP, Atmos, NiSource, XLU ETF coverage) provide context for utilities fund flows and relative valuation but don’t directly change Duke’s fundamentals. American Electric Power to Release Q1 Earnings: What’s in the Cards?
• Negative Sentiment: Customer rallies and media coverage opposing a proposed rate hike (reports of potential increases up to ~18%) create political and PR headwinds that could complicate rate proceedings and timing of approved increases. Resident in Charlotte rally against Duke Energy rate hike that could reach up to 18% Corporate greed or justified costs? Duke Energy customers rally against proposed rate hike
• Negative Sentiment: Duke is monitoring extreme drought conditions that could force mandatory water restrictions and create operational challenges or higher costs for certain generation assets. Duke Energy continues to monitor extreme drought conditions, mandatory water restrictions possible

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DUK has been the topic of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, April 20th. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $141.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Friday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $142.00 to $141.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $139.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $140.25.

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.