Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Rating Increased to Hold at Wall Street Zen

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) was upgraded by analysts at Wall Street Zen from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Barclays cut their price target on Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Mizuho set a $130.00 target price on Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $136.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Wednesday, February 11th. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $137.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $137.80.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DUK opened at $130.03 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $101.18 billion, a PE ratio of 20.57 and a beta of 0.50. Duke Energy has a fifty-two week low of $111.22 and a fifty-two week high of $134.49. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $126.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $123.17. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $7.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.66 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Duke Energy

In other news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total transaction of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Duke Energy

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Pflug Koory LLC raised its holdings in Duke Energy by 3.0% during the third quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 2,694 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $333,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC boosted its stake in Duke Energy by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cypress Wealth Services LLC now owns 5,048 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $625,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. EWA LLC increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. EWA LLC now owns 2,203 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $273,000 after purchasing an additional 82 shares during the period. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 4.6% in the 3rd quarter. Mill Creek Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,854 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $229,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, A4 Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. A4 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,597 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulators approved Duke Energy’s plan to build a combined‑cycle natural gas plant in Anderson County — the company says construction could start in 2027 with service by ~2031, creating jobs and new rate‑base assets that support future earnings. Duke Energy secures approval for gas plant in South Carolina
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke is scouting multiple North Carolina sites (Davie/ Davidson/Yadkin River area) for additional natural‑gas units to meet demand — potential growth pipeline but subject to permitting, community feedback and capital allocation decisions. Davidson or Davie? Duke Energy eyes sites for twin natural gas plants
• Negative Sentiment: Rising Treasury yields could increase borrowing costs and pressure utility multiples, making Duke’s stock more volatile even as fundamentals stay steady — a macro headwind to watch for dividend investors. Duke Energy: Surging Treasury Yields Could Spark Volatility For This Utility
• Negative Sentiment: Local opposition is growing in several communities — homeowners on a lake are contesting dozens of pontoon platforms tied to Duke activity, and residents have also protested data‑center load growth at hearings — risks to permitting, timing and reputational capital. One lake and 200 pontoon platforms are pitting NC homeowners against Duke Energy Residents rail against data centers at Duke Energy hearing
• Neutral Sentiment: Questions over political influence in Florida and local advocacy could lead to regulatory scrutiny or shifting public relations needs; monitor state‑level developments that may affect approvals and rate cases. He beat an anti-utility campaign before. Is he helping Duke Energy Florida?

About Duke Energy

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.