Analysts Set Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) Target Price at $137.80

Shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) have received an average rating of “Hold” from the seventeen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and nine have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $137.80.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Duke Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday. Mizuho set a $130.00 price objective on Duke Energy in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Duke Energy from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $131.74 on Friday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $126.60 and its 200 day moving average is $123.27. The stock has a market cap of $102.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.84 and a beta of 0.50. Duke Energy has a 1-year low of $111.22 and a 1-year high of $134.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.66 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In other news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the firm’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 transaction, the senior vice president 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. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total transaction of $868,156.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

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

Key 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.