Joel Adams & Associates Inc. Takes Position in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK)

Joel Adams & Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 2,489 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $268,000.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Plan Group Financial LLC boosted its position in Duke Energy by 13.4% during the fourth quarter. Plan Group Financial LLC now owns 9,104 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $981,000 after purchasing an additional 1,078 shares during the period. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $93,000. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 9.4% in the fourth quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 25,001 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,694,000 after acquiring an additional 2,144 shares during the period. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 8.1% in the fourth quarter. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors now owns 5,541 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $597,000 after acquiring an additional 416 shares during the period. Finally, Bfsg LLC boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 9.8% in the fourth quarter. Bfsg LLC now owns 11,549 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,244,000 after acquiring an additional 1,032 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company's stock.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Duke Energy stock traded up $2.42 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $115.58. 4,423,961 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,366,634. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. The business has a fifty day moving average of $110.10 and a 200 day moving average of $113.00. Duke Energy Co. has a 1-year low of $90.09 and a 1-year high of $121.25. The company has a market capitalization of $89.28 billion, a PE ratio of 20.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.50.

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

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a dividend of $1.045 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. This represents a $4.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.62%. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 73.20%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on DUK shares. Scotiabank increased their price objective on 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 reduced their price objective on Duke Energy from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Duke Energy from $119.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $121.62.

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.