O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC Acquires 5,649 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 3.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 185,138 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 5,649 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $21,700,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Dorato Capital Management bought a new position in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 1,111.1% during the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter valued at $27,000. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 300.0% during the fourth quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In related news, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total value of $2,487,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,952,205.74. This represents a 17.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total transaction of $438,025.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 21,415 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. This trade represents a 14.05% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

DUK stock opened at $122.11 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $95.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.70 and a beta of 0.39. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $126.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $123.96. Duke Energy Corporation has a one year low of $113.66 and a one year high of $134.49. 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 (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 9.73%. The firm had revenue of $9.18 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.76 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be issued a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 15th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 65.24%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $127.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Evercore upped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $136.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, May 13th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.93.

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.