Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Trading Down 1.2% - Time to Sell?

Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 1.2% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $112.07 and last traded at $114.55. Approximately 3,360,032 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 1% from the average daily volume of 3,319,850 shares. The stock had previously closed at $115.95.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $123.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped 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. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their price target on Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Seven 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $123.87.

Duke Energy Trading Up 1.3 %

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 company has a 50-day moving average of $116.98 and a 200 day moving average of $113.89. The company has a market cap of $93.62 billion, a PE ratio of 21.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.39.

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Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. Analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DUK. Regatta Capital Group LLC bought a new position in Duke Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $203,000. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. International Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,833 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $346,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Duke Energy by 16.1% during the 1st quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 4,013 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $489,000 after purchasing an additional 557 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 48.3% in the 1st quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 18,798 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,276,000 after buying an additional 6,120 shares during the period. Finally, CHICAGO TRUST Co NA grew its position in shares of Duke Energy by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA now owns 6,028 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $735,000 after buying an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.