Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Goldman Sachs Group from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports.
DUK has been the topic of several other reports. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Duke Energy from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. SunTrust Banks reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $87.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $96.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $83.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, October 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $87.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Duke Energy presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $87.26.
Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) traded down $1.13 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $80.11. 3,230,000 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,840,000. The company has a market cap of $56,070.00, a PE ratio of 21.03, a P/E/G ratio of 4.24 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.71. Duke Energy has a 52-week low of $76.14 and a 52-week high of $91.80.
In related news, EVP Lloyd M. Yates sold 5,000 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.95, for a total value of $449,750.00. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.07% of the company’s stock.
Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Concorde Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Duke Energy by 0.4% in the second quarter. Concorde Asset Management LLC now owns 2,538 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $217,000 after buying an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Verus Financial Partners Inc. boosted its position in Duke Energy by 0.3% in the second quarter. Verus Financial Partners Inc. now owns 3,718 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $319,000 after buying an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Kanawha Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Duke Energy by 0.3% in the third quarter. Kanawha Capital Management LLC now owns 4,610 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $369,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Truepoint Inc. boosted its position in Duke Energy by 0.5% in the first quarter. Truepoint Inc. now owns 2,792 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $229,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BKD Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Duke Energy by 0.4% in the second quarter. BKD Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,338 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $286,000 after buying an additional 14 shares in the last quarter. 57.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy Corporation (Duke Energy) is an energy company. The Company operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure; Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Company operates in the United States through its direct and indirect subsidiaries. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment provides retail electric service through the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity to approximately 7.5 million customers within the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States.
