Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $134.73 Million Stock Holdings in Duke Energy Corporation $DUK

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its position in Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) by 1.7% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,028,960 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 17,583 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc.’s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $134,732,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in DUK. Basso Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Dorato Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 1,111.1% in the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 218 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. KERR FINANCIAL PLANNING Corp acquired a new position in shares of Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Finally, Triumph Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of Duke Energy by 68.6% in the 4th quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 231 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

More Duke Energy News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke Energy raised its quarterly dividend to $1.085 per share from $1.06, signaling confidence in cash flow and providing a higher income yield for investors. Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders
• Positive Sentiment: The company highlighted its Duke Energy Florida EnergyWise Home program, which offers up to $141 in annual bill credits with minimal effort from customers, supporting customer retention and goodwill. Sign up, sit back, save: Duke Energy Florida program offers bill credits with minimal requirements, little effort needed from customers
• Positive Sentiment: Separately, Duke Energy is being discussed favorably for its long-term pivot toward nuclear power as it exits offshore wind, a move intended to support future electricity demand from data centers and industrial customers. Should Duke Energy’s (DUK) Pivot From Offshore Wind to Nuclear Reshape Its Long?Term Strategy?
• Neutral Sentiment: North Carolina regulators are still reviewing Duke’s proposed rate hikes, and related headlines suggest the outcome is not yet fully resolved, keeping some uncertainty around future earnings and returns. Utilities sought record rate increases this spring as Duke’s request remains before NC regulators
• Negative Sentiment: Public scrutiny around Duke Energy’s rate increase plans and customer bill credits may add pressure on sentiment, as investors weigh regulatory risk and affordability concerns. Duke Energy’s rate increase meets a very energized public | Opinion

Duke Energy Stock Performance

DUK stock opened at $124.28 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $124.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $125.36. Duke Energy Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $113.89 and a fifty-two week high of $134.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $96.89 billion, a PE ratio of 19.03 and a beta of 0.38.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last released its earnings results on Monday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.87 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $9.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $8.44 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.73% and a net margin of 15.49%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.76 EPS. Analysts forecast that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.71 EPS for the current year.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be given a $1.085 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from Duke Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.06. This represents a $4.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 65.24%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

DUK has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays dropped their price target on Duke Energy from $143.00 to $134.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, June 18th. Capitol Sec Mgt cut Duke Energy from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Truist Financial lowered their target price on Duke Energy from $142.00 to $137.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, May 18th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $139.00 price target on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Finally, Evercore upped their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $139.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.33.

Insider Activity

In other Duke Energy news, CEO Louis E. Renjel sold 3,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.15, for a total transaction of $438,025.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 21,415 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,680,087.25. The trade was a 14.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Harry K. Sideris sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.37, for a total transaction of $2,487,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 96,102 shares in the company, valued at $11,952,205.74. This trade represents a 17.23% 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 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.