Duke Energy Corporation $DUK Shares Sold by First Trust Advisors LP

First Trust Advisors LP lessened its stake in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 26.9% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 768,677 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 283,264 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $100,651,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Basso Capital Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Dorato Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Duke Energy by 1,111.1% during the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Triumph Capital Management raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 68.6% during the fourth quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Finally, Cornerstone Financial Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total value of $2,487,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,952,205.74. This represents a 17.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of Duke Energy 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 21,415 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,680,087.25. This trade represents a 14.05% 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.

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: KeyCorp reiterated an Overweight rating on Duke Energy and raised its longer-term earnings outlook, nudging up FY2027, FY2028, and FY2029 EPS estimates. The firm also kept a $139 price target, suggesting confidence in Duke’s earnings growth trajectory.
• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy unveiled its Customer Protection Plus framework, designed to support rapid data center-driven power demand while aiming to deliver billions in customer savings. Investors may view this as a constructive way to monetize infrastructure growth without triggering excessive pushback from customers. Duke Energy (DUK) Unveils Customer Savings Plan To Back Data Center Growth
• Positive Sentiment: The company also announced a higher quarterly dividend, reinforcing Duke Energy’s appeal as an income stock and helping attract dividend-focused investors. Can Duke Energy (DUK) Justify Its Price As Its Higher Dividend Draws Attention?
• Neutral Sentiment: North Carolina leaders and regulators are pressuring Duke Energy to make its federal data-center pledge legally binding. This could support accountability and customer trust, but it also raises regulatory scrutiny around future growth plans.
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory criticism of Duke’s proposed rate increases remains a headwind, with North Carolina’s attorney general saying the lowered request is still too high. That could add pressure to future profitability if rate approvals become more difficult.

Duke Energy Stock Up 1.0%

Duke Energy stock opened at $130.54 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $101.77 billion, a PE ratio of 19.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.38. 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 firm’s 50 day moving average price is $125.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.79. Duke Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $113.89 and a twelve month high of $134.49.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.49% and a return on equity of 9.73%. The business had revenue of $9.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.44 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.76 EPS. Duke Energy’s revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $1.085 dividend. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Duke Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 66.46%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, May 11th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $143.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, July 17th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on Duke Energy from $138.00 to $134.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, Capitol Sec Mgt lowered Duke Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Duke Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.62.

Duke Energy Company 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.