Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC Cuts Stock Position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK)

Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 3.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 590,400 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 21,762 shares during the period. Duke Energy comprises approximately 1.1% of Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC owned approximately 0.08% of Duke Energy worth $72,011,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DUK. Bcwm LLC purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $9,815,000. Bailard Inc. lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 31,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,439,000 after purchasing an additional 3,139 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 25.7% during the 4th quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 35,755 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $3,852,000 after purchasing an additional 7,319 shares during the last quarter. First Business Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $384,000. Finally, Alley Investment Management Company LLC lifted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 36.4% in the fourth quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 76,477 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $8,240,000 after buying an additional 20,414 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Stock Up 0.4%

NYSE:DUK opened at $116.39 on Friday. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $99.21 and a 52 week high of $125.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. The stock's fifty day moving average is $117.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $115.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.37.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.76 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $8.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.70 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.88% and a net margin of 15.40%. Duke Energy's revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.44 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th were issued a dividend of $1.045 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 16th. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 69.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have commented on DUK shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Duke Energy from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $125.00 to $132.00 in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Duke Energy from $114.00 to $121.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on Duke Energy in a report on Friday, June 13th. They issued a "market perform" rating for the company. Guggenheim lifted their price target on Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $127.00 price objective (up previously from $126.00) on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $126.94.

Duke Energy Profile

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.

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