Simplicity Wealth LLC Sells 6,194 Shares of Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Simplicity Wealth LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 44.7% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,660 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 6,194 shares during the quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $898,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dorato Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter worth $27,000. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Wiser Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the third quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Bare Financial Services Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 211.1% during the third quarter. Bare Financial Services Inc now owns 280 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 6,800 shares of Duke Energy 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 transaction, the chief executive officer owned 22,007 shares in the company, valued at $2,809,633.69. The trade was a 23.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Regis T. Repko sold 962 shares of Duke Energy stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $127.86, for a total value of $123,001.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 3,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $498,142.56. This represents a 19.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Duke Energy Stock Up 2.6%

DUK stock opened at $129.79 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $100.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.54 and a beta of 0.46. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.82 and a 200 day simple moving average of $124.30. Duke Energy Corporation has a 52 week low of $111.22 and a 52 week high of $134.49. 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 posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 9th. The utilities provider reported $1.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $7.94 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.57 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 15.41%.During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.66 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulator approved a settlement for combining Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress that projects billions in long?term customer savings and includes shareholder guarantees — lowers merger/regulatory execution risk and frames future rate outcomes more predictably. South Carolina customers projected to benefit from billions in long-term savings from approved combination of Duke Energy utilities
• Positive Sentiment: The NRC renewed the operating license for Duke’s H.B. Robinson nuclear plant for 20 years (through 2050), supporting long?lived regulated generation assets and removing near?term replacement power risk. NRC Renews License for Duke Energy (DUK)’s Robinson Nuclear Plant
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst previews and coverage suggest Duke is likely to beat Q1 earnings estimates, supported by rate base growth and grid investments — this helps explain investor optimism around short?term EPS upside. DUK Likely to Beat Q1 Earnings Estimates: How to Play the Stock?
• Neutral Sentiment: Duke is engaging communities on future powerline plans (open houses) and making small philanthropic grants for SC green spaces — helpful for local relations but limited direct financial impact. Duke Energy hosts open house for future powerline plans Duke Energy Foundation awards $275,000 for SC green spaces
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector/peer previews (AEP, Atmos, NiSource, XLU ETF coverage) provide context for utilities fund flows and relative valuation but don’t directly change Duke’s fundamentals. American Electric Power to Release Q1 Earnings: What’s in the Cards?
• Negative Sentiment: Customer rallies and media coverage opposing a proposed rate hike (reports of potential increases up to ~18%) create political and PR headwinds that could complicate rate proceedings and timing of approved increases. Resident in Charlotte rally against Duke Energy rate hike that could reach up to 18% Corporate greed or justified costs? Duke Energy customers rally against proposed rate hike
• Negative Sentiment: Duke is monitoring extreme drought conditions that could force mandatory water restrictions and create operational challenges or higher costs for certain generation assets. Duke Energy continues to monitor extreme drought conditions, mandatory water restrictions possible

Analysts Set New Price Targets

DUK has been the subject of a number of research reports. Capitol Sec Mgt downgraded Duke Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Duke Energy from $142.00 to $141.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Truist Financial initiated coverage on Duke Energy in a report on Monday, April 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $142.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $139.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 22nd. Finally, UBS Group lifted their target price on Duke Energy from $136.00 to $140.00 in a report on Monday, March 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Duke Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $140.25.

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.