Mizuho Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Stock Price

Key Points

• Mizuho cut its price target on Duke Energy from $139 to $135 while keeping an outperform rating. The new target still implies about 9% upside from the current share price.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed but constructive, with Duke Energy holding a consensus Moderate Buy rating and a consensus price target of $138.07. Several firms recently adjusted views, including upgrades and small target changes.
• Duke Energy reported solid quarterly results, beating earnings and revenue estimates with $1.93 EPS on $9.18 billion in revenue. However, the stock was trading lower on the day, and recent insider sales by top executives may add to investor caution.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) had its price target cut by analysts at Mizuho from $139.00 to $135.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an "outperform" rating on the utilities provider's stock. Mizuho's price objective points to a potential upside of 9.11% from the stock's current price.

Several other research firms have also commented on DUK. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Duke Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $136.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, April 20th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Evercore upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Duke Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $138.07.

Duke Energy Trading Down 1.8%

NYSE DUK opened at $123.73 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45. The firm has a market cap of $96.46 billion, a PE ratio of 18.95 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $125.74 and a 200 day moving average price of $124.06. Duke Energy has a 52 week low of $113.89 and a 52 week high of $134.49.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.06. The firm 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% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.76 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Duke Energy will post 6.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Duke Energy news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total transaction of $438,025.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 21,415 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. This represents a 14.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total transaction of $2,487,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at $11,952,205.74. This trade represents a 17.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. World Investment Advisors boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 62.7% during the fourth quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 42,680 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $5,003,000 after buying an additional 16,450 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 7.2% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 206,891 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,603,000 after buying an additional 13,882 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 22.7% during the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 132,530 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $15,534,000 after buying an additional 24,497 shares in the last quarter. Moseley Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 423.6% during the fourth quarter. Moseley Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,749 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,143,000 after buying an additional 7,887 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new stake in Duke Energy during the third quarter worth $86,309,000. 65.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Negative Sentiment: A state consumer advocate said Duke Energy may be overcharging customers, which could increase regulatory scrutiny and raise concerns about future rate approvals. State consumer advocate says Duke overcharging its customers
• Negative Sentiment: A pro-coal state regulator will not participate in Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan decisions, adding uncertainty around a key long-term strategy tied to the company’s energy transition and future capital plans. Pro-coal state regulator won’t participate in Duke Energy Carbon Plan decisions
• Negative Sentiment: Duke Energy reported multiple power outages affecting customers in Vigo County and the Pee Dee, which can weigh on sentiment if investors see them as signs of service reliability issues. Over 1,000 Vigo Co. Duke Energy customers without power Wednesday night Duke Energy reports power restored after 2K+ were without it in the Pee Dee
• Neutral Sentiment: Clearwater is appraising Duke Energy property as it evaluates whether to move away from the utility, a development to watch but not yet a clear financial hit. Clearwater appraises Duke Energy property as it investigates ditching the utility
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy’s safety demonstrations for law enforcement and its foundation grants in Florida are largely public-relations and community-relations items with limited near-term stock impact. Duke Energy provides safety demonstration for Pinellas County law enforcement Duke Energy Foundation grants $77,500 to expand access to civic learning and remembrance across Florida
• Neutral Sentiment: The headline about Duke Energy trading lower reflects broad market weakness and recent price action, but it does not add new company-specific catalysts beyond the concerns above. Duke Energy (DUK) Declines More Than Market: Some Information for Investors

About Duke Energy

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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