Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Stock Gets Price Target Reduction from KeyCorp

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its price objective cut by KeyCorp from $139.00 to $128.00 in a report released on Tuesday morning, MarketBeat reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the utilities provider’s stock. KeyCorp also issued estimates for Duke Energy’s Q3 2026 earnings at $1.88 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.43 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $6.64 EPS.

Several other research firms also recently weighed in on DUK. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Duke Energy from $133.00 to $127.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, September 18th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Duke Energy from $134.00 to $132.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating and set a $121.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a research note on Monday. Barclays cut their price target on Duke Energy from $132.00 to $124.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Finally, BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Duke Energy in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $132.73.

Duke Energy Trading Down 0.6%

NYSE DUK opened at $118.91 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $119.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $123.80. The company has a market capitalization of $92.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.36. Duke Energy has a 12 month low of $112.40 and a 12 month high of $134.49.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.13. Duke Energy had a net margin of 15.78% and a return on equity of 9.78%. The firm had revenue of $7.59 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.66 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.25 EPS. Duke Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Duke Energy will post 6.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 13th will be paid a $1.0850 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 13th. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.6%. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is currently 65.17%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duke Energy

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DUK. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in Duke Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $605,680,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC raised its stake in Duke Energy by 5,254.4% during the 1st quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 2,735,816 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $358,227,000 after acquiring an additional 2,684,721 shares during the last quarter. Swiss National Bank raised its stake in Duke Energy by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 2,282,341 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $298,850,000 after acquiring an additional 151,400 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Duke Energy by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,092,284 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $273,979,000 after acquiring an additional 58,967 shares during the period. Finally, National Pension Service lifted its position in Duke Energy by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 2,124,004 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $268,856,000 after acquiring an additional 36,835 shares during the period. 65.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: North Carolina officials described Duke Energy’s proposed large-load tariff for data centers as a “massive step forward.” The tariff could help ensure that large new customers bear the costs of infrastructure and electricity demand, limiting potential risks to residential customers and supporting Duke’s long-term growth. North Carolina officials respond to Duke Energy tariff proposal
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts’ average price target for DUK is reported at $133.38, above the stock’s recent trading level, suggesting continued potential upside. Duke Energy average price target
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke Energy recently outperformed the broader market in one session, rising 1.23% to $119.64, but the move was reported as market-performance commentary rather than a company-specific fundamental development. Duke Energy rises despite market decline
• Negative Sentiment: KeyCorp lowered its 2026 EPS forecast to $6.64 from $6.70 and cut its estimates for both the third quarter, to $1.88 from $1.99, and the fourth quarter, to $1.43 from $1.57. The revisions fall below the $6.72 full-year consensus and may weigh on investor sentiment, despite KeyCorp maintaining an “Overweight” rating and a $128 target.
• Negative Sentiment: JPMorgan Chase also reduced its price target for Duke Energy, adding to the recent analyst caution. KeyBanc previously cut its target to $128 from $139, reinforcing concerns about more limited near-term upside. JPMorgan cuts Duke Energy price target

Duke Energy Company Profile

Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE: DUK) is an energy holding company that operates regulated electric and natural gas utilities in the United States. Its electric utilities generate, transmit, distribute and sell electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and other customers.

The company serves customers across the Carolinas, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Duke Energy also operates natural gas utilities and related infrastructure in several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.