Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Reaches New 52-Week High - Time to Buy?

Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $121.46 and last traded at $121.14, with a volume of 1355755 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $120.12.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank boosted 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $114.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Guggenheim boosted 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, Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $123.87.

Duke Energy Stock Down 1.0 %

The company has a market cap of $92.47 billion, a PE ratio of 20.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $113.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $113.65.

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

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were issued a $1.045 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.51%. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 73.20%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duke Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of DUK. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Parkworth Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Mattson Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, WealthTrak Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Company 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.