Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) Stock Has Consensus Price Target of $132.19

Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) has been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eighteen brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $132.19.

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank decreased their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $146.00 to $131.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 30th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Thursday, October 29th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $124.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 9th. HSBC started coverage on Duke Energy in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. They set a “hold” rating and a $123.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Mizuho set a $136.00 price target on Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, August 5th.

Key Stories Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy Florida filed plans for four solar sites targeted for completion by mid-2028, projecting $1 billion in customer savings. The projects could support the utility’s generation plans, though they still require regulatory approval. Duke Energy Florida plans four new solar energy sites
• Positive Sentiment: U.S. power demand is expected to set records in 2026 and 2027 as AI use expands. Greater demand could create long-term opportunities for Duke Energy, although the benefit depends on the company’s ability to add capacity and serve large customers. U.S. power demand to beat record highs
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy reached an agreement on customer protections for data centers in North Carolina. The safeguards may address concerns about shifting costs to households, while potentially shaping the terms and economics of serving major new customers. Duke Energy reaches agreement on data center customer protections
• Neutral Sentiment: Davidson County is weighing a large rezoning request for a proposed Duke Energy natural-gas complex. The project could add generation capacity, but its progress depends on local approval. Davidson County weighs rezoning for Duke Energy gas complex
• Negative Sentiment: Florida regulators rejected Duke Energy’s data-center plan, citing risks to consumers. The decision could delay or prevent the company from capturing expected demand from a large customer and highlights regulatory scrutiny over who pays for infrastructure. Florida regulators reject Duke Energy data center plan

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Duke Energy news, EVP Bonnie Titone sold 2,900 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.00, for a total transaction of $371,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 26,111 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,342,208. The trade was a 10.00% 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. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fulcrum Asset Management LLP acquired a new position in Duke Energy during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Evergreen Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the first quarter valued at about $36,000. Livelsberger Financial Advisory acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. grew its position in shares of Duke Energy by 81.9% in the third quarter. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd. now owns 282 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $128.96 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $100.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.70, a PEG ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.33. Duke Energy has a one year low of $112.40 and a one year high of $134.49. The company’s fifty day moving average is $120.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $124.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.68.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $9.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.91 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.94% and a return on equity of 9.82%. The business’s revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.81 EPS. Analysts forecast that Duke Energy will post 6.72 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 16th. Investors of record on Friday, November 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.0850 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 13th. This represents a $4.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is currently 63.45%.

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy is a U.S. energy company focused primarily on regulated electric utilities and natural gas distribution. Its businesses generate, transmit and distribute electricity, and provide natural gas service to residential, commercial and industrial customers. The company serves electric customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its natural gas distribution operations serve customers in several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.