Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC Sells 11,100 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC reduced its position in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 80.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 11,100 shares during the period. Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $319,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Activest Wealth Management boosted its position in Duke Energy by 98.1% in the first quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 212 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 105 shares during the last quarter. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new position in Duke Energy during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 53.7% during the second quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Duke Energy by 360.0% in the first quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 253 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 198 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Bonnie B. Titone sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.38, for a total value of $248,760.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 19,608 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,438,843.04. This trade represents a 9.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Thomas Preston Jr. Gillespie sold 6,700 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.26, for a total transaction of $832,542.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 46,422 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,768,397.72. This represents a 12.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of DUK opened at $123.64 on Friday. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1-year low of $105.20 and a 1-year high of $130.03. The company has a market capitalization of $96.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.10, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.42. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $123.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $120.83.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.85% and a net margin of 15.51%.The company had revenue of $8.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.51 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.62 EPS. Duke Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th will be given a $1.065 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 14th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is presently 69.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Cowen assumed coverage on Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on Duke Energy from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, October 6th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $143.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of Duke Energy to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and six have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $138.00.

About Duke Energy

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.