Counterweight Ventures LLC Boosts Holdings in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK)

Counterweight Ventures LLC boosted its holdings in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) by 145.4% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,590 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 13,976 shares during the period. Duke Energy comprises about 1.9% of Counterweight Ventures LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Counterweight Ventures LLC's holdings in Duke Energy were worth $2,720,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of DUK. PBMares Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. PBMares Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,886 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $563,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the period. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Duke Energy by 2.1% during the second quarter. Pinnacle West Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,425 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $444,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 1,944 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $224,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Kanawha Capital Management LLC grew its position in Duke Energy by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Kanawha Capital Management LLC now owns 6,591 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $760,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares during the period. Finally, Baron Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Duke Energy by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,730 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $315,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of DUK stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $113.59. The company had a trading volume of 3,862,020 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,074,830. The stock's 50-day moving average is $115.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $109.43. Duke Energy Co. has a 52 week low of $88.27 and a 52 week high of $121.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $87.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.47.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.73 by ($0.11). Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.34% and a net margin of 14.31%. The business had revenue of $8.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $8.06 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.94 EPS. The business's revenue was up 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th will be given a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 15th. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 76.84%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $104.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $108.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $138.00 target price for the company. Finally, Bank of America upped their price objective on Duke Energy from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $121.85.

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.