Brokerages Set Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK) PT at $123.87

Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK) has been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the sixteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $126.00.

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $128.00 to $123.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $114.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $111.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $120.31 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.44. Duke Energy has a one year low of $99.21 and a one year high of $125.27. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $119.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $114.64. The company has a market capitalization of $93.51 billion, a PE ratio of 21.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.39.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $8.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.70 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.50% and a net margin of 14.90%. The firm’s revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.44 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Duke Energy will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be given a $1.045 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 16th. This represents a $4.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.47%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is 69.32%.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the first quarter worth $27,000. Parkworth Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Mattson Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest.