Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of Call Options on Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK)

Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Traders bought 5,791 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 51% compared to the typical volume of 3,844 call options.

Duke Energy Trading Down 0.8 %

DUK stock traded down $0.97 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $117.70. The company had a trading volume of 1,579,877 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,358,189. 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 has a one year low of $92.33 and a one year high of $121.25. The business has a 50-day moving average of $111.23 and a 200-day moving average of $113.16. The stock has a market cap of $90.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.61, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.50.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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%. Research analysts predict that Duke Energy will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be paid a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.55%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 14th. Duke Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 73.20%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $119.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Duke Energy from $122.00 to $118.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Duke Energy from $113.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $121.62.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Duke Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Duke Energy in the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Parkworth Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in Duke Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $29,000. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in Duke Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.31% of the company’s stock.

About Duke Energy

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.