WealthShield Partners LLC Buys 5,837 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK)

Key Points

• WealthShield Partners LLC has increased its stake in Duke Energy Corporation by 29.9%, acquiring an additional 5,837 shares to bring its total holdings to 25,373 shares valued at approximately $3.1 million.
• Duke Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $1.065, marking an increase from the previous $1.05, which reflects an annual yield of 3.4%.
• Current analysts give Duke Energy a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $127.25, although some firms have adjusted their price forecasts recently.

WealthShield Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 29.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,373 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 5,837 shares during the quarter. WealthShield Partners LLC's holdings in Duke Energy were worth $3,095,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

Duke Energy Stock Up 0.5%

NYSE DUK traded up $0.61 on Thursday, reaching $125.82. The stock had a trading volume of 2,831,941 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,175,662. The company has a market capitalization of $97.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.46, a P/E/G ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.36. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $118.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $117.37. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $105.20 and a 1 year high of $127.85.

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

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.065 per share. This is a positive change from Duke Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 67.97%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Scotiabank upped their target price on Duke Energy from $120.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Duke Energy from $125.00 to $124.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $123.00 to $122.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. UBS Group restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $127.00 price target (up previously from $124.00) on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Duke Energy from $130.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $128.31.

Duke Energy Company 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.