65,750 Duke Energy Corporation $DUK Shares Purchased by Oak Grove Capital LLC

Oak Grove Capital LLC lifted its position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 30.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 278,361 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 65,750 shares during the period. Duke Energy accounts for about 1.4% of Oak Grove Capital LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 12th biggest position. Oak Grove Capital LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $31,736,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in Duke Energy by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. now owns 6,623 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $838,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Sharp Wealth Advisory LLC boosted its position in Duke Energy by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. Sharp Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 1,876 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $246,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares in the last quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 2.3% in the first quarter. Absher Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,648 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $478,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. Sovereign Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Sovereign Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,052 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $400,000 after buying an additional 84 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Walker Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Duke Energy by 1.7% during the first quarter. Walker Asset Management LLC now owns 4,973 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $651,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently issued reports on DUK shares. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on Duke Energy from $134.00 to $132.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. Scotiabank cut their target price on Duke Energy from $146.00 to $131.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th. Mizuho set a $136.00 price objective on Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. KeyCorp upgraded shares of Duke Energy from a “sector weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $139.00 price target on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $138.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 17th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $136.12.

Duke Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Data-center agreement could protect customers and support growth. Duke Energy and North Carolina regulators reached a settlement requiring data centers and other large-load customers to pay upfront grid-connection costs and provide additional protections against stranded infrastructure expenses. The arrangement could reduce cost-shifting to existing customers while allowing Duke to benefit from rising electricity demand from technology companies. Duke Energy comes to an agreement on large load tariff
• Positive Sentiment: Income-focused commentary remains supportive. Jim Cramer said Duke’s decline makes the stock potentially attractive, particularly if its dividend yield reaches about 4%. Other recent coverage highlights Duke as a regulated utility with relatively visible cash flows and dividend appeal, which may help attract defensive investors. Jim Cramer weighs Duke Energy against an income alternative
• Neutral Sentiment: Hurricane Isaias preparations are underway. Duke is mobilizing crews and warning customers in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina about possible outages from heavy rain and strong winds. The response demonstrates operational readiness, but storm damage, restoration costs and service disruptions could create short-term financial and sentiment pressure. Duke Energy prepares for Isaias
• Negative Sentiment: Valuation is facing scrutiny. Analysts and income-investing coverage are questioning whether Duke’s share price is fully supported by its dividend stream after a 43.9% three-year return. This could limit upside until earnings, dividend growth or the yield becomes more compelling. Is Duke Energy priced above what its dividend can support?

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of Duke Energy stock opened at $116.62 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $90.93 billion, a PE ratio of 17.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.36. Duke Energy Corporation has a twelve month low of $112.40 and a twelve month high of $134.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $119.45 and a 200 day moving average price of $124.11.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $7.59 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.66 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.78% and a net margin of 15.78%. Duke Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.25 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Friday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $1.0850 per share. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 13th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 65.17%.

About Duke Energy

Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK) is an energy holding company that operates regulated electric and natural gas utilities in the United States. Its electric utilities generate, transmit, distribute and sell electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers.

The company serves customers across the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke Energy also operates natural gas utilities and related infrastructure in several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.