WCG Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK – Free Report) by 71.0% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 22,705 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 9,428 shares during the quarter. WCG Wealth Advisors LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $2,661,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of DUK. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,258,757 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $9,172,709,000 after acquiring an additional 1,957,592 shares during the last quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd acquired a new position in Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $86,309,000. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al increased its stake in Duke Energy by 447.3% during the 4th quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al now owns 513,905 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $60,235,000 after buying an additional 420,005 shares during the period. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 19.1% during the third quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec now owns 2,613,595 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $323,432,000 after acquiring an additional 419,992 shares during the period. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 178.1% in the fourth quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 505,891 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $59,376,000 after purchasing an additional 323,991 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Duke Energy Trading Up 0.7%
NYSE DUK opened at $121.92 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.66. Duke Energy Corporation has a one year low of $113.66 and a one year high of $134.49. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $126.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $123.98. The firm has a market cap of $95.05 billion, a PE ratio of 18.67 and a beta of 0.39.
Duke Energy Announces Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 65.24%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
Several equities research analysts have weighed in on DUK shares. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Duke Energy from $141.00 to $132.00 in a report on Thursday, May 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $136.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 13th. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $139.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Tuesday. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Duke Energy from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.93.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Duke Energy
Duke Energy News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy CEO said data centers could drive power demand growth at roughly 10x the historical pace, a bullish sign for future load growth and utility earnings potential. Duke Energy CEO sees data centers sparking power growth at 10x historic pace
- Positive Sentiment: The company highlighted a $1.2 billion advanced manufacturing project in Cherokee County, underscoring Duke’s site-readiness efforts and its role in attracting large industrial customers that could support future electricity demand. Duke Energy site readiness efforts help land $1.2 billion advanced manufacturing project in Cherokee County
- Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy Foundation announced $500,000 in grants to support small businesses in North Carolina, a positive community-relations move but not likely a major earnings driver. Duke Energy offers $500,000 to support small businesses across North Carolina
- Neutral Sentiment: BTIG cut Duke Energy’s price target by $2 but kept a Buy rating, suggesting some valuation caution without a change in the broader bullish stance. BTIG Lowers Duke Energy (DUK) Price Target by $2, Maintains ‘Buy’ Rating
- Negative Sentiment: Consumer groups and local residents are pushing back hard against Duke Energy’s proposed rate hikes in North Carolina, which could complicate regulatory approval and limit upside from higher rates. ‘No rate hikes.’ Protestors rally against proposed Duke Energy rate increases
- Negative Sentiment: St. Petersburg officials advanced a feasibility study to explore leaving Duke Energy for a city-owned utility, which raises the risk of customer loss if the effort gains traction. St. Pete advances feasibility study on leaving Duke Energy for city-owned utility, no final decision made
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total value of $2,487,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,952,205.74. This trade represents a 17.23% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total value of $438,025.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 21,415 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. The trade was a 14.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.
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.
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