Northstar Financial Companies Inc. Has $805,000 Stock Position in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Northstar Financial Companies Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 39.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,144 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 4,053 shares during the quarter. Northstar Financial Companies Inc.’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $805,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 11.6% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,754 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $728,000 after buying an additional 700 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 19.6% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 23,162 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,825,000 after acquiring an additional 3,797 shares during the period. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 1.0% in the second quarter. Schnieders Capital Management LLC. now owns 31,238 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,686,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. AXA S.A. increased its position in Duke Energy by 523.4% in the second quarter. AXA S.A. now owns 42,233 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $4,983,000 after purchasing an additional 35,458 shares during the period. Finally, Nebula Research & Development LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $954,000. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on DUK shares. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Evercore increased their price objective 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 $143.00 to $134.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $142.00 to $137.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 18th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Duke Energy from $139.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $138.33.

Key Stories Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy declared a quarterly dividend of $1.085 per share, up $0.02, reinforcing its appeal as a income-focused utility stock. Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders
• Positive Sentiment: Reports that Duke Energy and North Carolina officials reached a settlement over proposed rate hikes could reduce regulatory uncertainty and support future earnings. Duke Energy, state officials reach settlement in NC electric rate hike case
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s push toward nuclear power as offshore wind becomes less attractive may be viewed as a long-term strategic move to meet rising power demand from data centers and industrial customers. Duke Energy (DUK) Is Betting On Nuclear As Offshore Wind Loses Favor
• Neutral Sentiment: Clearwater is considering a 30-year agreement with Duke Energy to maintain the local power grid, which signals ongoing infrastructure relationships but does not appear to be a near-term earnings catalyst. Clearwater set to vote on 30-year agreement to maintain Duke Energy power grid
• Negative Sentiment: Media reports that vulnerable customers may lose monthly bill credits and that utility companies sought record rate increases could keep public and regulatory scrutiny on Duke Energy’s pricing practices. Vulnerable Duke Energy customers set to lose monthly bill credit many don’t know they receive Utilities sought record rate increases this spring as Duke’s request remains before NC regulators

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In related news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total transaction of $438,025.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 21,415 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. This represents a 14.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of Duke Energy 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 transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,952,205.74. The trade was a 17.23% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Duke Energy Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of NYSE:DUK opened at $126.48 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $124.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $125.31. The company has a market capitalization of $98.60 billion, a PE ratio of 19.37 and a beta of 0.38. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $113.89 and a 52 week high of $134.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.66.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $9.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.44 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 9.73%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.76 EPS. Analysts forecast that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.71 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be issued a dividend of $1.085 per share. This is a boost from Duke Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.4%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.24%.

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.