Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. Acquires 9,406 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. boosted its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 3.2% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 303,306 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,406 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V.’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $35,550,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on DUK shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Duke Energy from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday. Morgan Stanley set a $139.00 price target on Duke Energy in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Evercore restated an “in-line” rating and set a $139.00 price objective on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Thursday, March 5th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $127.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 15th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $137.80.

Insider Buying and Selling at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total value of $123,001.32. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 3,896 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction 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 stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.67, for a total value of $868,156.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 22,007 shares in the company, valued at $2,809,633.69. This represents a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.12% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Duke Energy Stock Up 1.3%

Duke Energy stock opened at $131.74 on Tuesday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $126.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $123.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $102.51 billion, a PE ratio of 20.84 and a beta of 0.50. Duke Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $111.22 and a fifty-two week high of $134.49.

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

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th were paid a dividend of $1.065 per share. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 13th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is presently 67.41%.

Key Stories Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: State approval for a new $2.5 billion natural‑gas power plant in South Carolina expands Duke’s regulated asset base and future rate‑base earning potential; this is a clear growth and rate‑recovery catalyst. Duke Energy wins approval for new $2.5B natural gas power plant in South Carolina
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst coverage and roundups continue to list Duke as a defensive, dividend‑paying utility to own in volatile markets (low beta, steady cash flow), supporting demand from income‑focused investors. 5 Defensive Stocks to Buy Amid Market’s Recent Bloodbath
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary (Seeking Alpha) highlights Duke’s regulated products as offering a low credit‑risk entry point, reinforcing the stock’s appeal to conservative investors. Duke Energy’s Products Give Us A Credit Risk-Free Opportunity Once Again
• Neutral Sentiment: Market summaries note Duke advanced while broader markets declined, reflecting sector‑specific flows into utilities rather than broad equity strength. Duke Energy (DUK) Advances While Market Declines
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage reiterates utilities’ defensive status amid wider market volatility, a structural narrative that can support multiple trading sessions of inflows. How to Play Defense in This Market: Embrace Utilities
• Negative Sentiment: Rate‑hike filings in North Carolina (potentially up to ~18% for some customers) and public hearings have triggered customer pushback and media scrutiny; sustained political or regulatory backlash could delay approvals or force concessions that weigh on near‑term returns. Duke Energy proposes rate hike in North Carolina; customers could see bills rise up to 18%
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple stories document rising customer complaints and public hearings over bills, increasing the risk of rate‑case pushback or negative publicity that could pressure regulators and the stock if outcomes are unfavorable. Duke Energy seeks rate hike as customers push back on rising bills

Duke Energy 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.