United Capital Management of KS Inc. Makes New $14.52 Million Investment in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• United Capital Management of KS Inc. purchased a new stake of 117,297 shares in Duke Energy worth approximately $14.52 million in the third quarter, making it the fund's 14th-largest holding (about 2% of its portfolio).
• Duke Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $1.065 per share (ex-dividend Feb 13, payable Mar 16), equivalent to a $4.26 annualized payout and roughly a 3.2% yield.
• In its latest quarter Duke reported $1.50 EPS versus $1.49 expected and revenue of $7.94 billion versus $7.57 billion expected, while analysts maintain a consensus rating of "Hold" with an average price target of $136.87.

United Capital Management of KS Inc. purchased a new stake in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 117,297 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $14,515,000. Duke Energy accounts for 2.0% of United Capital Management of KS Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. KCM Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Duke Energy by 3.1% during the third quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,141 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,131,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. Tower Bridge Advisors boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 49.3% in the third quarter. Tower Bridge Advisors now owns 23,452 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,902,000 after acquiring an additional 7,749 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC grew its position in Duke Energy by 6.5% during the third quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 16,931 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,059,000 after acquiring an additional 1,029 shares during the period. IFG Advisory LLC increased its stake in Duke Energy by 6.5% during the third quarter. IFG Advisory LLC now owns 40,093 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,961,000 after acquiring an additional 2,434 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JT Stratford LLC raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 3.6% in the 3rd quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 12,219 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,512,000 after purchasing an additional 428 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Price Performance

DUK opened at $131.68 on Friday. Duke Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $111.22 and a twelve month high of $132.65. The firm has a market cap of $102.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.84, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $122.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $122.31.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. The company had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $7.57 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.66 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. Duke Energy's payout ratio is currently 67.41%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DUK has been the subject of a number of research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Duke Energy from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 11th. Mizuho set a $130.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $126.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Finally, BTIG Research reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $141.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Friday, January 30th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $136.87.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total transaction of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,007 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total transaction of $123,001.32. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 3,896 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This trade represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Brookfield completed a minority investment in Duke Energy Florida (roughly a 9.2% stake), the first stage of a broader partnership to support Florida infrastructure growth — this brings outside capital and validation for Duke’s Florida growth plans. Brookfield Stake Reshapes Duke Energy Florida Growth And Investor Outlook
• Positive Sentiment: Operational improvement: Duke Energy Florida reports its lowest average outage times in more than 20 years after grid upgrades — a tangible reliability win that can reduce storm-related costs and support regulatory goodwill. Duke Energy Florida achieves lowest average outage times in more than 20 years
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: Wells Fargo raised its price target from $115 to $135 (equal-weight), and other recent analyst activity has pushed the stock toward new 52-week highs — these upgrades/raises help underpin investor sentiment and offer upside to consensus targets. Wells Fargo price target raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Market-context coverage: sector-rotation stories are highlighting utilities like Duke as defensive, dividend-bearing beneficiaries of flows away from overbought tech — this increases investor attention but is a macro flow story rather than company-specific news. 3 Blue-Chip Stocks Built for a Rotating Market
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst downgrade: Evercore ISI Group issued a downgrade of Duke Energy, which is pressuring the stock after recent upgrades — downgrades from a well-known shop can trigger short-term selling and re-rating risk. Evercore ISI Group downgrades Duke Energy (DUK)
• Negative Sentiment: Customer-bill messaging: Duke published explanations for why some customers may see higher bills (rate mechanics, fuel/wholesale costs, or timing effects), which can raise regulatory and political sensitivity — a headline risk for utilities reliant on stable regulatory relationships. Duke Energy explains the reasons some customers may see higher bills

Duke Energy 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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