Jefferies Financial Group Has Lowered Expectations for Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Stock Price

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its price objective decreased by Jefferies Financial Group from $138.00 to $126.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday,MarketScreener reports. The firm presently has a “hold” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s price objective points to a potential upside of 9.31% from the stock’s current price.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Duke Energy in a report on Monday, October 6th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $143.00 target price for the company. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $131.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 14th. Morgan Stanley reissued an “underperform” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, November 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. Finally, Cowen began coverage on Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a “buy” rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $137.69.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

DUK opened at $115.27 on Monday. Duke Energy has a twelve month low of $105.20 and a twelve month high of $130.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.64 billion, a PE ratio of 18.12, a PEG ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $123.84 and its 200 day moving average price is $121.26.

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

Insider Transactions at Duke Energy

In related news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total transaction of $1,015,160.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 11,367 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,407,234.60. This represents a 41.91% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Activest Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 98.1% during the 1st quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 212 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the third quarter valued at $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 53.7% during the 2nd quarter. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 360.0% during the 1st quarter. Financial Network Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 253 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

About Duke Energy

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.