BMO Capital Markets Has Lowered Expectations for Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Stock Price

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its target price dropped by investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $136.00 to $130.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,MarketScreener reports. The firm currently has an “outperform” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. BMO Capital Markets’ target price suggests a potential upside of 9.43% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts have also commented on the company. BTIG Research raised Duke Energy to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Duke Energy to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $136.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 11th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $135.56.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK stock traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $118.80. The company had a trading volume of 3,715,166 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,402,734. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.63. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $119.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $121.36. Duke Energy has a one year low of $105.90 and a one year high of $130.03. The firm has a market cap of $92.39 billion, a PE ratio of 18.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.50.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.76% and a return on equity of 9.98%. The company had revenue of $8.54 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.51 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.62 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Duke Energy will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In other news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total value of $1,015,160.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 11,367 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,407,234.60. This represents a 41.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Hengehold Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 10.8% in the fourth quarter. Hengehold Capital Management LLC now owns 7,438 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $872,000 after acquiring an additional 723 shares during the period. Victory Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Duke Energy by 7.2% in the 4th quarter. Victory Financial Group LLC now owns 2,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $234,000 after buying an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Counterweight Ventures LLC grew its position in shares of Duke Energy by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Counterweight Ventures LLC now owns 24,865 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,914,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Nilsine Partners LLC lifted its position in Duke Energy by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Nilsine Partners LLC now owns 6,751 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $791,000 after acquiring an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Brought a $100M, 50‑MW, four‑hour grid battery online at the retired Allen coal plant and announced plans for a 167‑MW expansion; Duke says the projects will lower fuel costs, capture federal tax credits and support growth across the Carolinas — a material infrastructure growth story that investors typically view as positive for long‑term earnings and transition strategy. Duke Energy brings new grid battery on line at former Allen coal plant
• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulators approved Duke rate increases, which should raise allowed utility revenues and support near‑term cash flow and earnings stability in that jurisdiction. South Carolina regulators approve Duke Energy rate increases
• Neutral Sentiment: Longtime EVP and Chief Generation Officer Preston Gillespie will retire after 40 years — an executive succession item that creates some near‑term leadership change risk but is not unexpected. Monitor succession details for any operational guidance changes. Duke Energy announces leadership changes in its generation and operational excellence organization
• Neutral Sentiment: Local customer and community initiatives (e.g., free tree programs in Florida) are being promoted; positive for PR/customer goodwill but unlikely to move fundamentals. Duke Energy offers free trees for customers in Florida
• Negative Sentiment: Duke Energy Florida will remove its storm cost‑recovery charge from customer bills a month earlier than planned, producing an approximate $33 reduction for residential bills in February and an additional ~$11 in March — good for customers but a near‑term reduction in billed recoveries and cash inflows for the utility unit. Duke Energy Florida announces storm cost recovery charge will be removed
• Negative Sentiment: Reports show Duke is retreating from a planned large pumped‑hydro expansion, which could limit future large‑scale storage options and raise questions about the company’s longer‑term storage strategy. That may pressure investor expectations for growth in certain clean‑energy segments. Why is Duke Energy retreating from a major pumped-hydro expansion?

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.