On August 17, 2023, the financial website StockNews.com released its coverage on Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) in a research report. The brokerage assigned a “hold” rating to the utilities provider’s stock.

Duke Energy opened at $91.70 on Thursday, with a 52-week low of $83.76 and a high of $113.67. With a market capitalization of $70.67 billion, the company has a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.23 and a beta of 0.43. It also has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.52, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. In terms of moving averages, the stock has a 50-day moving average of $91.76 and a 200-day moving average of $94.68.

As stated in their research report available on StockNews.com, Duke Energy Corporation operates as an energy company in the United States through its two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). EU&I is responsible for generating, transmitting, distributing, and selling electricity in various regions including the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest using diverse sources such as coal, hydroelectric power, natural gas, oil, solar and wind energy sources, renewables including nuclear fuel.

The latest quarterly earnings data from Duke Energy was released on August 8th according to their report by StockNews.com. During the quarter, the utilities provider reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.91 which fell short of analyst consensus estimates by ($0.07), with analysts expecting EPS around $0.
98.The net margin recorded for Duke Energy was 5.
06% while return on equity stood at 8.
05%. Revenue for the quarter was reported at $6.
58 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $6.
16 billion. However, the figure represents a 1.
6% decrease compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Analysts predict that Duke Energy will achieve an EPS of 5.
6 for the current year.

While this research report provides valuable insight into Duke Energy’s financial performance and market outlook, investors are advised to consider multiple sources and conduct thorough analysis before making any investment decisions. As always, it is essential to stay updated with the latest market trends and news surrounding Duke Energy and its industry.

Mixed Analyst Ratings and Changes in Institutional Holdings Shake Duke Energy’s Outlook

August 17, 2023 – Duke Energy Receives Mixed Ratings from Analysts and Sees Changes in Institutional Holdings

Duke Energy, one of the largest utilities providers in the United States, has recently been facing mixed opinions from research analysts. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered its price objective on the company from $109.00 to $97.00 in a research report on June 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group, on the other hand, initiated coverage on Duke Energy and gave it a “neutral” rating with a target price of $99.00 per share.

Guggenheim also lowered its target price for Duke Energy from $114.00 to $102.00 in a research note released on July 7th. Morgan Stanley maintained an “equal weight” rating and set a target price of $102.00 for the company’s shares in a research note on July 21st. BMO Capital Markets reduced its target price even further, from $105.00 to $98.00 while maintaining an “outperform” rating.

These different ratings and varying target prices paint a perplexing picture of Duke Energy’s prospects among industry analysts and experts. While some hold an optimistic outlook for the company, others have concerns about its future performance.

According to Bloomberg data, eight research analysts have given Duke Energy a hold rating, while only two have recommended buying shares in the company. With an average rating of “Hold,” Duke Energy currently has a consensus target price of $101.55 per share.

In addition to these mixed opinions from research analysts, there have also been changes in institutional holdings of Duke Energy stock recently.

Fairfield Bush & CO., an institutional investor, bought new shares of Duke Energy worth $40,000 in the first quarter of this year. Cibc World Market Inc., another institutional investor, increased its holdings by 1.2% during the same period, acquiring an additional 581 shares. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC also saw a growth of 29.5% in its holdings, adding 2,223 shares to its portfolio. Covestor Ltd experienced a significant increase of 447.8% in its Duke Energy holdings, owning 1,260 shares now valued at $141,000. Similarly, Mather Group LLC saw a slight rise of 5.2% in its Duke Energy holdings, with an additional 322 shares.

These modifications in institutional holdings indicate that some investors are still confident in the value and potential of Duke Energy’s stock.

As of now, institutional investors own approximately 63.13% of the company’s stock. While this level of ownership by institutions may influence the stock’s performance indirectly through market forces, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect Duke Energy in the long run.

With mixed ratings and fluctuating institutional holdings, it is evident that Duke Energy is facing varied perspectives on its future prospects within both the analyst community and institutional investor sphere. As investors navigate through this perplexing landscape with bated breaths for clarity and certainty, only time can reveal the true trajectory of Duke Energy’s share price and overall performance moving forward.

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