Wesbanco Bank Inc. Increases Stock Position in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Wesbanco Bank Inc. raised its holdings in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 9.5% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 176,940 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 15,417 shares during the quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc.’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $20,739,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 78,258,757 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $9,172,709,000 after purchasing an additional 1,957,592 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,758,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $960,139,000 after purchasing an additional 31,703 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 7,281,986 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $901,146,000 after acquiring an additional 288,499 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 5,033,225 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $622,862,000 after acquiring an additional 12,758 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 19.1% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec now owns 2,613,595 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $323,432,000 after acquiring an additional 419,992 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy reported better-than-expected quarterly results recently, with EPS topping estimates and revenue coming in above forecasts, which supports the stock’s longer-term fundamentals. Duke Energy Corporation Just Beat EPS By 13%: Here’s What Analysts Think Will Happen Next
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.065 per share, reinforcing its appeal as a defensive income stock for investors seeking stable cash returns. Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street coverage remains broadly constructive, with one recent analysis asking whether analysts are bullish on Duke Energy, suggesting the stock still has support from the sell side. Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Duke Energy Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets trimmed its price target slightly to $138 from $139, a modest change that does not materially alter the positive valuation outlook. BMO Capital adjusts price target on Duke Energy to $138 from $139
• Negative Sentiment: Political and regulatory scrutiny remains a drag, including protests linking Duke Energy to climate and governance concerns in North Carolina. Climate activists block governor’s mansion, call Stein ‘complicit’ with Duke Energy
• Negative Sentiment: News about a $90.5 million refund tied to storm-cost over-collection in Florida highlights ongoing customer and regulatory backlash that could pressure sentiment around future rate decisions. Duke Energy Florida customers to receive $90.5 million refund after storm cost over-collection

Duke Energy Price Performance

DUK stock opened at $124.10 on Friday. Duke Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $111.22 and a 1 year high of $134.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.66. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $129.72 and its 200 day moving average price is $124.21. The firm has a market cap of $96.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.01 and a beta of 0.41.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 15.49%.The firm had revenue of $9.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.76 EPS. Duke Energy’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. Duke Energy has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.550-6.80 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 15th will be paid a $1.065 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 15th. This represents a $4.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 65.24%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on DUK shares. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and set a $141.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Truist Financial started coverage on Duke Energy in a research note on Monday, April 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $142.00 price target on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised Duke Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and nine have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $140.67.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total value of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 3,896 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,007 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. The trade was a 23.61% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.