First National Advisers LLC Sells 4,311 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

First National Advisers LLC decreased its stake in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 44.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 5,292 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 4,311 shares during the period. First National Advisers LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $620,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of DUK. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in Duke Energy by 11.6% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,754 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $728,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in Duke Energy by 19.6% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 23,162 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,825,000 after acquiring an additional 3,797 shares in the last quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. raised its stake in Duke Energy by 1.0% during the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 31,238 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,686,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. AXA S.A. raised its stake in Duke Energy by 523.4% during the second quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 42,233 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,983,000 after acquiring an additional 35,458 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nebula Research & Development LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $954,000. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of DUK opened at $125.11 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $97.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.16 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.66. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $129.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $124.13. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $111.22 and a 52 week high of $134.49.

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

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

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

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy said it applied for U.S. Department of Energy loans that could support grid upgrades, added capacity, and potentially billions of dollars in customer savings. That could help fund long-term growth and improve the investment case. Duke Energy applies for Department of Energy loans that represent potentially billions of dollars in customer savings
• Positive Sentiment: Evercore raised its price target on Duke Energy, signaling continued analyst confidence in the utility’s earnings and valuation outlook. Evercore raises Duke Energy price target
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent coverage around maintenance work and volunteer/community activity is largely non-financial and unlikely to materially affect the stock. Duke Energy volunteers help Terre Haute Humane Society
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies lowered its price target, but the new target still implies upside, so the downgrade appears modest rather than a major bearish shift. Jefferies lowers Duke Energy price target
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares in a disclosed transaction. While insider sales are not always a bearish fundamental signal, they can create near-term investor caution. SEC Form 4 filing for CEO share sale
• Negative Sentiment: Another disclosed sale by CEO Louis E. Renjel also adds to insider-selling headlines, which may weigh on sentiment even though the company’s core business remains stable. SEC Form 4 filing for CEO share sale

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $11,952,205.74. The trade was a 17.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the business’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 transaction of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This trade represents a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 31,262 shares of company stock valued at $3,916,582 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DUK has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised Duke Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th. 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. Barclays boosted their target price on Duke Energy from $127.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 7th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $141.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Truist Financial began coverage on Duke Energy in a report on Monday, April 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $142.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $140.20.

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.