WINTON GROUP Ltd Decreases Stake in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

WINTON GROUP Ltd cut its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 38.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 16,100 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 10,200 shares during the period. WINTON GROUP Ltd’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $1,992,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 37.7% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 41,642 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $5,153,000 after purchasing an additional 11,409 shares during the last quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,046,000. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. boosted its position in Duke Energy by 11.3% during the 3rd quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 274,630 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $33,985,000 after purchasing an additional 27,820 shares during the period. Alley Investment Management Company LLC grew its stake in Duke Energy by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. Alley Investment Management Company LLC now owns 88,018 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $10,892,000 after buying an additional 10,108 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Greystone Financial Group LLC increased its position in Duke Energy by 12.7% in the third quarter. Greystone Financial Group LLC now owns 93,766 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $11,604,000 after buying an additional 10,580 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $129.68 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $100.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.50. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $123.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $122.45. Duke Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $111.22 and a fifty-two week high of $132.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.41% and a return on equity of 9.66%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.3%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is presently 67.41%.

More Duke Energy News

Here are the key news stories impacting Duke Energy this week:

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target for DUK to $140 (from $136), signaling analyst confidence in the stock’s upside and supporting buying interest. UBS price target raise
• Positive Sentiment: Duke reached settlement agreements with customer advocates and state attorneys general in North Carolina and South Carolina over the proposed combination of Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress — regulatory clarity and guaranteed customer savings reduce merger uncertainty. NC settlement SC settlement
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader energy-sector weakness is weighing on utilities generally today (NYSE Energy Sector Index down), creating headwinds for DUK even as company-specific items unfold. Sector update
• Neutral Sentiment: Local rate actions: New Bern council to vote on a 2% utility rate hike tied to wholesale increases — mixed signal (possible revenue offset vs. political/regulatory scrutiny). New Bern rate vote
• Negative Sentiment: Duke priced an upsized $1.3B offering of 3.000% convertible senior notes due 2029 (after an earlier $1B announcement). Markets often view large convertibles as potential dilution and a sign of near-term capital needs — the offering coincided with downward pressure on the share price. Convertible notes priced
• Negative Sentiment: Customer backlash: thousands are demanding an audit after reported spikes in power bills, increasing political and regulatory risk. Customer audit demands
• Negative Sentiment: Local opposition to a proposed gas-plant expansion has raised health and environmental concerns, which could delay projects or increase permitting/mitigation costs. Gas plant opposition

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total transaction of $123,001.32. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This trade represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,809,633.69. This trade represents a 23.61% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on DUK shares. Royal Bank Of Canada cut their target price on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $140.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley set a $139.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Friday, February 20th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Duke Energy from $115.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 4th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $137.80.

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation is a U.S.-based electric power holding company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company’s core business is the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy operates a mix of regulated electric utilities and non-regulated energy businesses, providing essential energy infrastructure and services across multiple states.

Its operating activities include owning and operating generation assets across a portfolio that encompasses nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydroelectric and an expanding array of renewable resources, as well as battery storage and grid modernization projects.