Duke Energy Corporation $DUK Shares Sold by Constitution Capital LLC

Key Points

• Constitution Capital LLC reduced its Duke Energy position by 31.6% in the second quarter, selling 16,000 shares and retaining 34,713 shares valued at approximately $4.4 million. Institutional investors collectively own 65.31% of the company.
• Duke Energy reported quarterly EPS of $1.43, beating estimates of $1.30, while revenue rose 1.1% year over year to $7.59 billion. The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $1.085, equivalent to a 3.6% annualized yield.
• Analysts maintain a generally favorable outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $138.44, but Duke’s planned $1.75 billion equity-units offering could increase financing costs and create potential future share dilution.

Constitution Capital LLC lowered its position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 31.6% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 34,713 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 16,000 shares during the quarter. Duke Energy accounts for approximately 2.3% of Constitution Capital LLC's holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Constitution Capital LLC's holdings in Duke Energy were worth $4,394,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Sharp Wealth Advisory LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. Sharp Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 1,876 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $246,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Duke Energy by 2.3% in the first quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,648 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $478,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. A4 Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. A4 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,597 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $304,000 after buying an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Elm Partners Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 0.9% during the fourth quarter. Elm Partners Management LLC now owns 9,254 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,085,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Finally, CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 4.1% during the third quarter. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC now owns 2,113 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $261,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Key Stories Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Extreme heat in North Carolina pushed cooling demand 43% above normal, while Duke Energy urged customers to reduce usage during demand spikes. Elevated consumption could support near-term electricity sales, although the requests also highlight grid and affordability pressures. North Carolina heat sends cooling demand 43% above normal
• Positive Sentiment: Duke lowered its requested rate increase for Eastern North Carolina and the Asheville area before regulators. A smaller request may improve the chances of approval and reduce political resistance, while still allowing recovery of infrastructure and operating costs. Duke Energy lowers rate increase ask
• Neutral Sentiment: Another proposed Duke rate hike is returning to regulators as hot weather increases demand. Regulatory approval could support revenue, but customer-bill increases remain politically sensitive and could be reduced or delayed. Duke Energy rate hike heads back before regulators
• Neutral Sentiment: Clearwater abandoned a proposed Duke Energy buyout, and Florida TaxWatch urged St. Petersburg to take a similar approach. The developments reduce near-term transaction uncertainty but could complicate Duke’s municipal-relationship and growth outlook in Florida. Florida TaxWatch applauds Clearwater buyout decision
• Negative Sentiment: Duke announced a $1.75 billion equity-units offering, consisting of contracts to purchase common stock and interests in senior notes. The financing supports capital investment but increases financing costs and introduces potential future share dilution, making it the clearest near-term headwind for DUK. Duke Energy announces equity units offering
• Negative Sentiment: Industry discussion about retreating from wind in favor of natural gas raises longer-term fuel-price, regulatory and transition risks for utilities. Greater dependence on gas could expose Duke and its customers to commodity-price volatility. America’s wind retreat and natural gas dependence

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $138.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, July 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Evercore upped their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, May 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on Duke Energy from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $138.44.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $120.98 on Tuesday. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52-week low of $113.89 and a 52-week high of $134.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $94.33 billion, a PE ratio of 18.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.38. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $125.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $126.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.66 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.25 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. Duke Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.550-6.800 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $1.085 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. This is a boost from Duke Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.96%.

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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