Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. Sells 15,002 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK)

Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. cut its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 11.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 120,847 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 15,002 shares during the period. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P.'s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $14,740,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bcwm LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $9,815,000. Bailard Inc. boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 31,921 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,439,000 after acquiring an additional 3,139 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 25.7% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. First Business Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $384,000. Finally, Alley Investment Management Company LLC lifted its position in Duke Energy by 36.4% during the fourth quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 76,477 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $8,240,000 after purchasing an additional 20,414 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Duke Energy Trading Down 0.3%

DUK opened at $114.50 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $99.21 and a 52 week high of $125.27. The stock has a market cap of $88.99 billion, a PE ratio of 18.99, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.37. The business has a 50 day moving average of $118.02 and a 200-day moving average of $114.89.

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. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.40% and a return on equity of 9.88%. The firm had revenue of $8.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.70 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.44 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.65%. Duke Energy's payout ratio is 69.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

DUK has been the topic of a number of research reports. Barclays raised their price target on Duke Energy from $111.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $114.00 to $121.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $125.00 to $124.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $127.00 target price (up previously from $126.00) on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $127.00 to $138.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $125.75.

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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