NewEdge Wealth LLC Cuts Stock Holdings in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

NewEdge Wealth LLC lessened its position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 43.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,449 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 4,925 shares during the quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $844,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DUK. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,258,757 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $9,172,709,000 after purchasing an additional 1,957,592 shares in the last quarter. Amundi grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 56.9% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 2,662,460 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $312,067,000 after buying an additional 965,808 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of Duke Energy by 13.1% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,236,893 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $965,446,000 after buying an additional 954,907 shares during the last quarter. Milford Funds Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $97,905,000. Finally, Cohen & Steers Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 83.3% in the fourth quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 1,711,445 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $200,598,000 after buying an additional 777,878 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of DUK stock opened at $128.87 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The company has a market capitalization of $100.46 billion, a PE ratio of 19.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.38. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $125.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $125.93. Duke Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $113.89 and a 12 month high of $134.49.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $9.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.44 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 9.73%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.76 EPS. Analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $1.085 per share. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. This is a positive change from Duke Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 66.46%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on DUK. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday. Morgan Stanley set a $138.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. KeyCorp upgraded Duke Energy from a “sector weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $139.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday. Mizuho dropped their price target on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $135.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday, April 20th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $138.62.

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy said customers will not face rate hikes specifically to recover data-center costs, arguing that the rapid growth in data-center demand should ultimately produce long-term customer savings through greater utilization of the grid. This could support load growth and future earnings if the company’s projections are validated. Duke Energy promises no rate hikes to cover data center costs Duke Energy Says Data Center Growth Will Deliver Long-Term Customer Savings
• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy’s battery-storage strategy is expanding as data centers reshape North Carolina’s power demand. Additional storage could improve grid reliability and help the utility manage peak demand, although it also requires capital investment. Duke Energy’s battery strategy grows as data centers reshape North Carolina’s grid
• Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp published longer-term earnings estimates for Duke Energy, giving investors an updated view of potential FY2030 profitability but offering no immediate change to the company’s operating outlook. KeyCorp Estimates Duke Energy’s FY2030 Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: The Duke Energy Foundation announced $1 million in grants to more than 50 North Carolina nonprofits, bringing the company’s customer-assistance and community-support contributions since 2016 above $65 million. The move may bolster community relations but is unlikely to materially affect earnings. Duke Energy surpasses $65 million in North Carolina customer assistance
• Negative Sentiment: North Carolina officials, including the attorney general and Gov. Roy Cooper, are pressing Duke Energy to protect existing ratepayers from data-center-related costs and consider a separate data-center tariff. The political and regulatory pressure raises uncertainty over cost recovery and could constrain the company’s ability to earn on infrastructure investments. Attorney General calls on Duke Energy to commit to data center protections for ratepayers Gov. Stein pushes for Duke Energy to add tariff on data centers
• Negative Sentiment: Residents and state officials continue to push back against proposed electricity-rate increases, even after Duke Energy reduced its request. The dispute reinforces concerns that higher bills could trigger additional political opposition, delays, or less favorable regulatory treatment. Duke Energy reduces proposed rate increase, state officials still push back

Insider Buying and Selling at Duke Energy

In other news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 directly owned 21,415 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. This represents a 14.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,102 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $11,952,205.74. The trade was a 17.23% 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 owned by company insiders.

About Duke Energy

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.