On Tuesday, BMO Capital Markets adjusted their outlook on Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) shares, increasing the price target to $126 from the previous $120 while maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. The revision follows a recent settlement agreement involving Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy.
Piedmont Natural Gas, along with other key parties, reached a comprehensive settlement with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) on September 13. The agreement allows for a net rate increase of approximately $98 million, a reduction from the originally requested $159 million by the company, accounting for $43 million in pass-through gas costs.
The settlement is significant as it approves an enhanced return on equity (ROE) and equity layer for Piedmont Natural Gas. The new ROE is set at 9.8%, up from the previously authorized 9.6%. Additionally, the equity layer is increased to 52.3% from the former 51.6%.
BMO Capital Markets has updated their target price for Duke Energy to reflect these new developments. The firm cites the mark-to-market (MTM) of peer group multiples as a contributing factor to the new target price, signaling continued confidence in the company's performance.
Duke Energy's stock evaluation by BMO Capital Markets remains positive, as the firm reaffirms its Outperform rating, indicating an expectation that Duke Energy will continue to perform well relative to the market or its peers.
In other recent news, Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, announced a plan to adjust rates, pending approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission. The proposed changes, expected to be implemented in November 2024, could increase the average monthly bill for residential customers by $7.50. This agreement could result in an annual revenue increase of $88 million for Piedmont.
Moreover, Duke Energy has secured a $57 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the reconstruction of a key power line in North Carolina. This project is expected to create around 550 jobs and improve grid reliability.
On the financial front, the company successfully issued $1 billion in junior subordinated debentures as part of its capital management strategy. BMO Capital Markets responded to Duke Energy's recent earnings increase by raising its price target and maintaining an "Outperform" rating. However, Mizuho Securities maintained a neutral stance due to concerns over industrial load forecasts and potential policy changes.
Duke Energy's comprehensive rate plan in Florida was approved, projected to save residential customers about 5% on their electric bills by January 2025. The company also reported significant interest from data centers in its economic development pipeline through 2028. These are some of the recent developments in the company.
InvestingPro Insights
As Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) navigates through its recent settlement and receives an updated outlook from BMO Capital Markets, real-time data and insights from InvestingPro provide additional context for investors. Duke Energy operates with a significant debt burden, which is an important consideration for risk assessment. Nevertheless, the company's commitment to shareholder returns is evident, having raised its dividend for 16 consecutive years and maintained dividend payments for 54 consecutive years. This consistent dividend growth is underscored by a current yield of 3.56%.
In terms of stock performance, Duke Energy has been trading near its 52-week high, with a price that is 99.15% of this peak, reflecting strong investor confidence. Over the last three months, the stock has seen a robust return of 17.46%, and year-to-date, the total return is an impressive 24.64%. These figures highlight the stock's positive momentum in recent times.
InvestingPro data further reveals a P/E ratio of 21.63, with an adjusted P/E ratio for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 at 19.38, which may appeal to value-oriented investors comparing industry multiples. Additionally, the company has shown a revenue growth of 3.47% over the last twelve months, indicating steady financial progress.
For those seeking more detailed analysis, InvestingPro offers additional tips on Duke Energy, which can be accessed for further investment considerations. There are 11 more InvestingPro Tips available for Duke Energy, providing a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market position.
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