Compass Financial Management LLC Buys Shares of 16,907 Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• Compass Financial Management bought 16,907 Duke Energy shares worth approximately $2.14 million, while institutional investors collectively own 65.31% of the company.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $137.94, despite several recent target reductions.
• Duke Energy exceeded quarterly EPS expectations and raised its quarterly dividend to $1.085, equivalent to a 3.6% annualized yield. Its long-term growth plans include adding 18.5 gigawatts of solar capacity in the Carolinas, though regulatory and customer-cost concerns remain risks.

Compass Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 16,907 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,138,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in DUK. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,258,757 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $9,172,709,000 after acquiring an additional 1,957,592 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 19,292,633 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,266,675,000 after acquiring an additional 230,375 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Duke Energy by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,931,127 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,046,818,000 after purchasing an additional 58,375 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 13.1% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 8,236,893 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $965,446,000 after purchasing an additional 954,907 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Duke Energy by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,758,700 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $960,139,000 after purchasing an additional 31,703 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Mizuho set a $136.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Barclays cut their target price on Duke Energy from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on Duke Energy from $138.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 17th. Finally, KeyCorp raised Duke Energy from a "sector weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $139.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $137.94.

Duke Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke’s proposed Carolinas resource plan targets 18.5 gigawatts of new solar capacity by 2041, reflecting strong electricity-demand growth in North and South Carolina. The plan could support long-term rate-base expansion, although it also implies substantial capital spending. Duke’s Carolinas resource plan targets 18.5 GW new solar by 2041
• Neutral Sentiment: Power was restored in northeast Charlotte after a damaged pole left thousands of Duke customers without electricity. The incident highlights storm-related reliability costs but appears to have been resolved. Power restored after damaged pole caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to be without power
• Neutral Sentiment: Severe thunderstorms caused outages across the Charlotte region and parts of western and upstate North Carolina. Temporary outages may increase restoration expenses and draw attention to grid resilience, but no lasting financial impact was reported. Tracking Duke Energy power outages amid rain severe storms in Charlotte region Thousands without power in Upstate and western North Carolina
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke employees assembled 10,000 hygiene kits for people in need. The community initiative supports the company’s public image but is unlikely to materially affect earnings. Duke Energy volunteers assemble 10,000 hygiene kits
• Negative Sentiment: Morgan Stanley lowered its Duke Energy price target from $138 to $133 and maintained an “equal weight” rating. The revision signals limited near-term conviction despite the target implying potential upside from the referenced price. Morgan Stanley lowers Duke Energy price target
• Negative Sentiment: Duke is seeking to disqualify a consumer group from hearings concerning Florida data centers, a move that could intensify regulatory and public-relations scrutiny over data-center electricity costs and customer protections. Duke Energy tries to disqualify consumer group from Florida data center hearings
• Negative Sentiment: Criticism that Duke’s policies place disproportionate costs on its poorest North Carolina customers adds political and regulatory risk, potentially complicating rate cases and future infrastructure spending. Duke Energy deals double whammy to its poorest North Carolina customers

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $119.89 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. Duke Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $113.89 and a 12 month high of $134.49. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $125.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $126.62. The stock has a market cap of $93.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.00, a PEG ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.38.

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

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a $1.085 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Duke Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.6%. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 65.17%.

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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