Sapient Capital LLC Has $1.25 Million Stock Position in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK)

Sapient Capital LLC raised its stake in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 55.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 10,263 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,681 shares during the period. Sapient Capital LLC's holdings in Duke Energy were worth $1,252,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of DUK. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 11.6% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,754 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $728,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 16.6% during the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 19,365 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,086,000 after purchasing an additional 2,764 shares during the period. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $69,000. Certuity LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 29.5% during the 4th quarter. Certuity LLC now owns 3,380 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $364,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares during the period. Finally, Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 70.5% during the 4th quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 3,553 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $383,000 after purchasing an additional 1,469 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Trading Down 0.5%

DUK stock traded down $0.53 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $116.75. 2,789,470 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,458,523. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $118.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $114.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.67. The company has a market cap of $90.75 billion, a PE ratio of 20.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.37. Duke Energy Co. has a one year low of $99.21 and a one year high of $125.27.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.17. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.50% and a net margin of 14.90%. The firm had revenue of $8.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.70 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.44 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 16th will be given a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 16th. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 69.32%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DUK has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $126.00 to $125.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $130.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $127.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $125.81.

Duke Energy Profile

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.