Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. Increases Stake in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK)

Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 13.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 269,354 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 32,164 shares during the quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.'s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $29,020,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Groupama Asset Managment bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the third quarter worth $2,537,000. Zimmer Partners LP bought a new stake in Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $166,263,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 155.1% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 1,873,321 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $201,832,000 after buying an additional 1,138,979 shares in the last quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 116.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC now owns 2,065,344 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $222,520,000 after buying an additional 1,111,581 shares during the period. Finally, Amundi grew its stake in Duke Energy by 29.2% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 2,488,849 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $269,368,000 after buying an additional 561,784 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Duke Energy Trading Up 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE DUK traded up $2.08 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $120.29. The company had a trading volume of 4,336,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,585,920. The stock has a market cap of $93.40 billion, a PE ratio of 21.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.48. Duke Energy Co. has a one year low of $92.75 and a one year high of $121.25. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $112.61 and its 200-day moving average price is $113.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52.

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Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.05. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.50% and a net margin of 14.90%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Co. will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.48%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. Duke Energy's payout ratio is 73.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on DUK. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $113.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Duke Energy from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Guggenheim raised their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $122.93.

Duke Energy Profile

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.