Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Acquires 67,885 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Key Points

• Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services increased its Duke Energy holdings by 11.4%, purchasing 67,885 additional shares to own 665,748 shares valued at approximately $84.3 million. Institutional investors collectively own 65.31% of the company.
• Duke Energy reported quarterly EPS of $1.43, exceeding estimates of $1.30, while revenue totaled $7.59 billion. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating with an average price target of $138.44 versus the stock’s $124.51 opening price.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend to $1.085 per share, equivalent to an annualized $4.34 dividend and a 3.5% yield. Investors are also watching regulatory uncertainty around Duke’s proposed North Carolina rate increase and storm-related restoration costs.

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 665,748 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 67,885 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC owned approximately 0.09% of Duke Energy worth $84,270,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of DUK. Basso Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Duke Energy by 1,111.1% in the 4th quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 68.6% during the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Financial Management LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 300.0% in the fourth quarter. Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC now owns 280 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on DUK shares. Evercore raised their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $140.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Wells Fargo & Company increased 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 report on Monday, April 20th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $138.44.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $124.51 on Friday. Duke Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $113.89 and a fifty-two week high of $134.49. The company has a market cap of $97.08 billion, a PE ratio of 18.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.66. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $125.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $126.55.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $7.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.66 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.78% and a return on equity of 9.78%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.25 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Shareholders 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 yield of 3.5%. 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 (DPR) is currently 63.96%.

Key Duke Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy restored approximately 223,000 outages in Greater Cincinnati—about 85% of the total—within 48 hours. Crews expect to restore nearly all remaining customers, reducing operational and reputational concerns from the storm damage. Duke Energy restores 85% of Greater Cincinnati outages
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s North Carolina rate case remains a potential earnings support. Duke has reduced its proposed increase as regulators consider a settlement, which could still provide additional revenue and recovery of infrastructure costs if approved. Duke Energy cuts proposed rate hike
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy completed the sale of 40 million equity units. The financing provides capital for investment and financial needs, but the equity-linked structure may increase the company’s share count and could pressure per-share value. Duke Energy completes major equity units financing offering
• Neutral Sentiment: Emergency grants and continued restoration efforts in Ohio and Kentucky demonstrate community support following widespread storm damage, although the associated response and repair costs could affect near-term results. Duke Energy Foundation awards emergency grants
• Negative Sentiment: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson rejected a proposed settlement involving a 6.8% residential rate increase, creating uncertainty over the timing and size of any approved rate relief. Consumer advocates are also challenging Duke’s requests by citing the company’s profitability. Attorney general rejects Duke Energy settlement
• Negative Sentiment: The severe Cincinnati-area storms left more than 180,000 customers without power at the peak, highlighting potential repair expenses and weather-related execution risks for Duke Energy. Duke Energy customers remain without power

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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