Jefferies Financial Group Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) Stock Price

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) had its price target cut by equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $126.00 to $125.00 in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The firm currently has a “hold” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. Jefferies Financial Group’s target price points to a potential upside of 5.22% from the company’s current price.

Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $135.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Cowen started coverage on shares of Duke Energy in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $138.00 to $136.00 in a research report on Monday, November 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Duke Energy from $136.00 to $126.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 11th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on Duke Energy from $132.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $135.56.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of Duke Energy stock opened at $118.80 on Wednesday. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $119.03 and its 200 day simple moving average is $121.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The company has a market capitalization of $92.39 billion, a PE ratio of 18.68, a PEG ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.50. Duke Energy has a 12 month low of $105.90 and a 12 month high of $130.03.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.06. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.98% and a net margin of 15.76%.The company had revenue of $8.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.51 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.62 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Duke Energy will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Duke Energy

In other news, EVP Robert Alexander Glenn sold 8,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.80, for a total value of $1,015,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 11,367 shares in the company, valued at $1,407,234.60. This trade represents a 41.91% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.14% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of DUK. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 76,301,165 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $9,442,269,000 after purchasing an additional 584,382 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 1.7% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 18,684,447 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,205,070,000 after buying an additional 319,001 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Duke Energy by 11,417.7% during the second quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 17,668,789 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,084,917,000 after buying an additional 17,515,383 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Duke Energy by 0.4% during the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,691,150 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,025,244,000 after acquiring an additional 34,906 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Duke Energy by 0.4% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,758,700 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $960,139,000 after acquiring an additional 31,703 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Duke Energy

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

• Positive Sentiment: Duke brought a $100M, 50‑MW battery online at the retired Allen coal plant and announced plans for a follow‑on 167‑MW system, accelerating its grid‑scale storage rollout and tapping tax credits that can lower long‑term costs. Duke Energy brings new grid battery on line
• Positive Sentiment: South Carolina regulators approved rate increases for Duke, supporting utility cash flows and regulated earnings in that jurisdiction. Rate increase approved in SC
• Neutral Sentiment: EVP/chief generation officer Preston Gillespie announced his retirement after 40 years; management succession is underway — a routine but watchable governance development. Leadership changes announced
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage note: market commentary flagged DUK rising as broader markets dipped — a contextual price move rather than company‑specific news. Zacks market note
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage questioning Duke’s retreat from a planned pumped‑hydro expansion — strategic pivot that bears monitoring for implications on long‑term renewables mix. Article on pumped‑hydro retreat
• Negative Sentiment: BMO cut its price target to $130 from $136 (but kept an “outperform” rating), trimming upside expectations and signaling slightly more conservative near‑term views. BMO price target note
• Negative Sentiment: Jefferies lowered its price target to $125 from $126 and maintained a “hold,” another modest analyst trim that reduces analyst‑driven upside. Jefferies price target note
• Negative Sentiment: DUK’s Florida unit will remove a storm cost‑recovery charge from customer bills one month early, meaning roughly $33 then $11 reductions for residential customers — good for PR and customer relief but a near‑term hit to recovered storm costs and utility cash flows. Storm charge removal details

About Duke Energy

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.