KCM Capital Inc Purchases New Holdings in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• KCM Capital Inc. opened a new position in Duke Energy during the first quarter, buying 31,000 shares valued at about $4.06 million. The stake makes up roughly 0.7% of the firm’s portfolio.
• Duke Energy reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $1.93 versus estimates of $1.87 and revenue of $9.18 billion, up 11.3% year over year. The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $1.085 per share.
• Insider selling and analyst views were mixed: CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares and Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares, while analysts currently rate the stock Moderate Buy with an average target price of about $138.60.

KCM Capital Inc acquired a new position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 31,000 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $4,059,000. Duke Energy comprises about 0.7% of KCM Capital Inc's investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest position.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Basso Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Dorato Capital Management purchased a new stake in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in Duke Energy by 1,111.1% in the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management raised its position in Duke Energy by 68.6% in the fourth quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares during the period. Finally, Cornerstone Financial Management LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total value of $2,487,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at $11,952,205.74. This trade represents a 17.23% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total value of $438,025.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 21,415 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,680,087.25. The trade was a 14.05% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK stock opened at $127.96 on Thursday. The firm's 50 day moving average is $125.00 and its 200 day moving average is $125.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $99.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.60, a PEG ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.38. Duke Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $113.89 and a 12 month high of $134.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $9.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.44 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 9.73%. Duke Energy's revenue was up 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.76 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $1.085 per share. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Duke Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 65.24%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, April 20th. UBS Group lowered their target price on Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $139.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Mizuho cut their price target on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $135.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $138.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $138.60.

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy reached a North Carolina rate settlement that significantly trims the proposed increase, which could improve the outlook for future revenue and reduce uncertainty for investors.
• Positive Sentiment: The company was highlighted as a trending stock, suggesting increased investor attention and trading interest around Duke Energy shares.
• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy also received coverage tied to dividend growth and data-center demand trends, reinforcing the stock’s appeal as a defensive income name with growth catalysts.
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy awarded $35,000 to West Terre Haute nonprofits, a positive community-relations item but not likely to materially affect the stock price.
• Negative Sentiment: North Carolina officials, including the attorney general, continue to push back on the rate settlement, keeping regulatory scrutiny elevated and leaving some downside risk if approvals become more difficult.
• Negative Sentiment: News that Duke Energy ended a wind lease off the North Carolina coast adds a bit of uncertainty around its clean-energy strategy, though the immediate financial impact appears limited.

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.