Clark Capital Management Group Inc. Has $90.74 Million Position in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• Clark Capital Management Group boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 36.2% to 733,243 shares—approximately $90.74 million—with institutional investors owning about 65.3% of the company.
• Duke announced a $6 billion common-stock offering and completed a $1.5 billion convertible notes sale, actions that raise capital and refinance maturities but could materially dilute existing shareholders.
• The company slightly beat quarterly EPS estimates ($1.50 vs. $1.49), declared a quarterly dividend of $1.065 (annualized $4.26, yield ~3.2%), and carries a consensus analyst rating of "Hold" with an average target near $137.80.

Clark Capital Management Group Inc. grew its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 36.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 733,243 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 194,730 shares during the period. Clark Capital Management Group Inc. owned approximately 0.09% of Duke Energy worth $90,739,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 211.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 280 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. Imprint Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2,608.3% in the 2nd quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 325 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares during the period. Finally, Total Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $133.17 on Friday. 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 cap of $103.56 billion, a PE ratio of 21.07, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.50. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $123.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $122.63. Duke Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $111.22 and a twelve month high of $134.12.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.57 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.66 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $1.065 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 67.41%.

Key Duke Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory progress — Duke secured settlement support for its planned Carolinas utility combination, clearing a key hurdle toward consolidation and potential regulatory approval that could simplify operations and reduce costs. Duke Energy secures settlement support for Carolinas utility combination
• Positive Sentiment: Clean-energy growth — Duke opened its largest battery-storage facility in Knightdale, expanding firming capacity for renewables and supporting long-term earnings stability as the utility transitions generation mix. Duke Energy’s largest battery storage facility now open in Knightdale
• Positive Sentiment: Community resilience programs — The Duke Energy Foundation announced $500k in HERO grants to strengthen emergency preparedness across South Carolina, a modest but constructive CSR/operational resilience signal. SC agencies, nonprofits eligible for Duke Energy’s $500K emergency preparedness grants
• Neutral Sentiment: Debt/maturity management — Duke completed a $1.5B offering of 3.000% convertible notes, which helps refinance near-term maturities and preserves liquidity, though convertibles carry potential future dilution. Duke Energy Completes $1.5 Billion Convertible Notes Offering
• Neutral Sentiment: Operational update — Local outage restoration updates (e.g., New Whiteland) and community feeding programs show steady operational responsiveness but have limited market impact. Duke Energy: Power should be back on in New Whiteland by 4 p.m. Duke Energy teams up with Blessings in a Backpack to feed Floyd County students over spring break
• Negative Sentiment: Major equity raise announced — Duke disclosed a $6 billion common-stock offering, which is likely why some investors are cautious: a large follow-on can materially dilute existing shareholders and pressure the share price despite funding needs. Duke Energy (DUK) Announces $6 Billion Common Stock Offering
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and political pushback — North Carolina residents are raising alarms over rising energy bills and pushing for audits amid rate-hike requests; public opposition can complicate ratemaking and future returns. NC residents sound alarm over rising energy bills, demand audit of Duke Energy
• Negative Sentiment: Local legal dispute — A homeowner is fighting Duke in a high-profile Lake Norman boats lawsuit, a reputational/legal overhang with modest direct financial risk but possible local regulatory attention. Woman fights Duke Energy lawsuit that wants her famous big boats off Lake Norman

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on DUK shares. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Evercore reiterated an "in-line" rating and issued a $139.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 5th. Mizuho set a $130.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $115.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $141.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $137.80.

Insider Buying and Selling at Duke Energy

In related news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,007 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. The trade was a 23.61% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the company'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 value of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares of the company's stock, valued at $498,142.56. The trade was a 19.80% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy 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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