Corps Capital Advisors LLC Invests $726,000 in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK)

Corps Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 6,743 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $726,000.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Duke Energy by 27.4% during the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,002 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,960,000 after buying an additional 3,656 shares during the last quarter. Calton & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $277,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Duke Energy by 19.9% in the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 28,436 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,279,000 after buying an additional 4,728 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Eastern Bank purchased a new stake in Duke Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $609,000. Institutional investors own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE DUK opened at $111.78 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $109.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $112.97. The stock has a market cap of $86.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.58, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. Duke Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $90.09 and a 12 month high of $121.25.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $1.66 EPS 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%. As a group, analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be issued a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 14th. Duke Energy’s payout ratio is presently 73.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on DUK. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $119.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Duke Energy from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target on Duke Energy from $113.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $122.08.

Duke Energy 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.