Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 767,226 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management cut its Duke Energy stake by 72.6%, selling 767,226 shares during the third quarter and retaining 289,696 shares valued at approximately $33.0 million. Institutional investors collectively own 65.31% of the company.
• Duke Energy’s stock opened at $121.42, with analysts maintaining a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $132.73, despite several recent target reductions.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of $1.43, exceeding estimates, and announced a quarterly dividend of $1.085 per share, representing a 3.6% annualized yield; investors remain focused on the funding demands of its roughly $103 billion infrastructure plan.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. cut its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 72.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 289,696 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 767,226 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.'s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $33,028,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 15.7% in the 2nd quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 70,388 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $8,910,000 after purchasing an additional 9,562 shares in the last quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 15.3% during the second quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLP now owns 1,283,213 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $162,429,000 after buying an additional 170,700 shares in the last quarter. V. M. Manning & CO. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the second quarter worth $2,432,000. Cohen Klingenstein LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the second quarter worth $2,051,000. Finally, Nykredit A S acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the second quarter valued at about $17,106,000. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy’s proposed large-load tariff for North Carolina data centers was described by state officials as a “massive step forward.” The structure could help make large technology customers pay for the additional generation and grid investment they require, reducing cost-shift risk for existing ratepayers while supporting long-term demand growth. North Carolina large-load tariff response
• Positive Sentiment: Recent investor comparisons highlight Duke Energy’s roughly 3.8% dividend yield, its 2% quarterly dividend increase in July 2026 and a targeted 5%–7% long-term growth range. Those features continue to support the stock’s appeal to income-focused investors relative to some utility peers. Duke Energy versus Xcel Energy
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy is planning a major energy complex in Davie and Davidson counties and continues grid and infrastructure work. These projects may expand the regulated asset base over time, but they also require substantial capital spending. Duke Energy plans energy complex
• Negative Sentiment: KeyCorp lowered its 2026 EPS forecast to $6.64 from $6.70, reduced its third-quarter estimate to $1.88 from $1.99 and cut its fourth-quarter forecast to $1.43 from $1.57. Although KeyCorp retained an Overweight rating and a $128 price target, the revisions signal near-term earnings pressure. KeyCorp Duke Energy estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts are scrutinizing Duke Energy’s dividend because the company is committing approximately $103 billion to infrastructure while operating cash flow does not fully cover distributions. Higher financing needs, interest rates or execution problems could pressure dividend growth and valuation. Duke Energy dividend coverage analysis
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan reportedly cut its price target for Duke Energy, adding to concerns that the stock’s valuation and earnings outlook may face pressure despite its defensive dividend profile. JPMorgan Duke Energy price target

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DUK has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $133.00 to $127.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and set a $121.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Monday, October 12th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $124.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, October 9th. BTIG Research reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Mizuho set a $136.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Duke Energy has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $132.73.

Duke Energy Stock Up 2.1%

NYSE DUK opened at $121.42 on Friday. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $118.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.79. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. The firm has a market cap of $94.68 billion, a PE ratio of 18.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.36. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $112.40 and a 52 week high of $134.49.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.13. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.78% and a return on equity of 9.78%. The firm had revenue of $7.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.66 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.25 earnings per share. Duke Energy's quarterly revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be issued a $1.0850 dividend. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 13th. Duke Energy's payout ratio is presently 65.17%.

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation is an energy holding company that provides regulated electric and natural gas utility services in the United States. Its electric utilities generate, transmit, distribute and sell electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers. The company's generation portfolio includes nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and renewable energy resources.

Duke Energy serves customers primarily in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

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