Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Morgan Stanley Analyst Says

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Free Report) had its price objective raised by Morgan Stanley from $123.00 to $128.00 in a research note published on Thursday,Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an equal weight rating on the utilities provider's stock.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on DUK. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $114.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. 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 report on Friday, February 21st. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Scotiabank increased their price target on Duke Energy from $113.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $123.87.

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Duke Energy Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of DUK traded down $0.98 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $118.12. 3,904,744 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,002,480. The company has a market cap of $91.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.48. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $114.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $113.66. Duke Energy has a 12-month low of $92.75 and a 12-month high of $121.47. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK - Get Free Report) last issued 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 net margin of 14.90% and a return on equity of 9.50%. Research analysts forecast that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared 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 of this dividend was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $4.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. Duke Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 73.20%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB boosted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 31,353 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,378,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Duke Energy by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,456 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $372,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Intergy Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Intergy Private Wealth LLC now owns 2,113 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $228,000 after buying an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its stake in Duke Energy by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 7,233 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $779,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cravens & Co Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Duke Energy by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Cravens & Co Advisors LLC now owns 2,624 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $283,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.