Energy Income Partners LLC Has $41.83 Million Stake in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• Energy Income Partners LLC increased its stake in Duke Energy Corporation by 2.1%, now owning approximately $41.83 million worth of shares after acquiring an additional 6,904 shares.
• Duke Energy recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.065, reflecting an increase from the prior dividend of $1.05, with a dividend yield of 3.5% on an annual basis.
• Analysts are optimistic about Duke Energy, with upgrades to target prices from multiple firms, the consensus rating being "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $130.62.

Energy Income Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 2.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 342,939 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 6,904 shares during the quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC's holdings in Duke Energy were worth $41,828,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its position in Duke Energy by 31.6% during the 1st quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 346 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. boosted its position in Duke Energy by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. now owns 1,827 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $223,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2.8% in the first quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,034 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $370,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Lokken Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 3.3% in the first quarter. Lokken Investment Group LLC now owns 2,633 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Finally, Sheets Smith Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 0.3% in the first quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 27,517 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,356,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Stock Down 0.5%

NYSE:DUK traded down $0.59 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $120.91. 3,049,093 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,525,345. The firm has a market cap of $94.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.39. Duke Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $105.20 and a twelve month high of $127.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.66. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $120.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $118.79.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.29 by ($0.04). Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.51% and a return on equity of 9.85%. The business had revenue of $7.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.07 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.18 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. Duke Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.170-6.420 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be given a $1.065 dividend. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This is an increase from Duke Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. Duke Energy's payout ratio is currently 69.27%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on DUK. Barclays upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $122.00 to $131.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $127.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, August 21st. Citigroup upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $130.00 to $142.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Finally, Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, June 13th. They issued a "market perform" rating on the stock. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $130.62.

Insider Activity

In other Duke Energy news, EVP Thomas Preston Jr. Gillespie sold 6,700 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.26, for a total value of $832,542.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 46,422 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,768,397.72. This represents a 12.61% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Bonnie B. Titone sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.38, for a total value of $248,760.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 19,608 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,438,843.04. This represents a 9.26% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company's stock.

About Duke Energy

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.