Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Price Target Raised to $139.00

Key Points

• Mizuho raised its price target to $139 (from $130) and maintained an "outperform" rating, implying roughly a 10.2% upside; the stock's average analyst target is about $140.81 with a "Moderate Buy" consensus.
• Duke Energy beat Q1 estimates with $1.93 EPS versus $1.87 expected and revenue of $9.18B (up 11.3% year‑over‑year), and reaffirmed FY2026 guidance of $6.55–$6.80 EPS.
• Growth drivers include roughly 2.7 GW of new data‑center deals and $5B+ in customer cost‑saving initiatives, while near‑term headwinds are rising costs, higher interest expense and a $90.5M customer refund in Florida.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by stock analysts at Mizuho from $130.00 to $139.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, MarketBeat.com reports. The firm presently has an "outperform" rating on the utilities provider's stock. Mizuho's price target would indicate a potential upside of 10.17% from the stock's current price.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $127.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 7th. Capitol Sec Mgt downgraded shares of Duke Energy from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Evercore reissued an "in-line" rating and issued a $139.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Duke Energy from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $140.81.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DUK traded down $1.41 on Wednesday, hitting $126.17. 337,919 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,094,270. The company's 50 day moving average price is $129.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $124.25. Duke Energy has a one year low of $111.22 and a one year high of $134.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.94 and a beta of 0.41.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. 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 previous year, the company earned $1.76 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Duke Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.550-6.80 EPS. Research analysts expect that Duke Energy will post 6.7 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In other news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This trade represents a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total transaction of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $498,142.56. The trade was a 19.80% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.12% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Basso Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Dorato Capital Management bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Duke Energy by 1,111.1% during the 4th quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management grew its holdings in Duke Energy by 68.6% during the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat consensus — Duke reported $1.93 EPS vs. consensus ~$1.87 and revenue of $9.18B, driven by rate recovery and favorable weather; the beat and strong top‑line growth provide near‑term earnings validation. Duke Energy tops profit, revenue estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Large data‑center pipeline: Duke signed roughly 2.7 GW in new data‑center deals and ESAs now total ~7.6 GW — supporting stronger long‑term load growth and reuse of rate base that can lift regulated earnings. Duke Energy signs 2.7 gigawatts
• Positive Sentiment: Large customer cost‑saving initiatives finalized — Duke says initiatives will deliver >$5B in customer benefits (including ~$2.3B from combining Carolinas utilities), which reduces regulatory risk and signals operational efficiency gains. Duke Energy finalizes two initiatives
• Neutral Sentiment: Regulatory and corporate actions progressing — NC and SC regulators approved utility mergers intended to improve efficiency; that reduces execution uncertainty but benefits accrue over years. NC Utilities Commission approves merger
• Neutral Sentiment: Customer refunds in Florida — Regulators approved a $90.5M refund to about 2M Duke Energy Florida customers. Good for regulatory relations and customer rates, but modestly reduces near‑term cash flow. Duke Energy Florida to issue $90.5M refund
• Negative Sentiment: Costs and interest expenses are headwinds — Management cited rising costs and higher interest expense as pressure points; Duke reaffirmed FY‑2026 EPS guidance at $6.55–$6.80 (in line with consensus) rather than raising it, which may cap near‑term multiple expansion. Duke Energy reaffirms $6.55-$6.80 2026 EPS range

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.

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