BMO Capital Raises Duke Energy Price Target to $132.00, Maintains "Outperform" Rating

Duke Energy's (DUK) analyst rating has been maintained as "Outperform" by BMO Capital, with a price target raised from $131 to $132, a 0.76% increase. Other recent ratings have varied, with JP Morgan and UBS maintaining a "Neutral" rating, while Goldman Sachs upgraded the rating to "Buy" and raised the price target to $132. The average target price from 14 analysts is $129.23, with an average recommendation of 2.4, indicating "Outperform" status.

Duke Energy (DUK) has seen a mix of analyst ratings and price targets in recent weeks, reflecting the varied views of the market on the utility giant. BMO Capital has maintained its "Outperform" rating on DUK, but raised the price target from $131 to $132, a 0.76% increase [1]. Meanwhile, JP Morgan and UBS have maintained a "Neutral" rating, while Goldman Sachs upgraded the rating to "Buy" and raised the price target to $132. The average target price from 14 analysts is $129.23, with an average recommendation of 2.4, indicating an "Outperform" status [2].

The mixed analyst ratings and price targets reflect the complex nature of Duke Energy's performance. While the company has seen growth in both electric and natural gas revenues, its adjusted EPS fell short of consensus estimates in the second quarter. The company's overall topline increased by 4.8% year-over-year to $7.5 billion, but this growth wasn't fully translated into bottom-line gains due to increased operating and maintenance expenses and interest expense [2].

The stock has a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating overall, with 11 analysts recommending "Strong Buy," one suggesting "Moderate Buy," and nine advocating "Hold" ratings [2]. This configuration is slightly more optimistic than a month ago, when 10 analysts gave "Strong Buy" recommendations. However, the stock has a mixed earnings surprise history, with two missed estimates and two beats over the past four quarters [2].

Duke Energy's stock has gained 11.7% over the past 52 weeks and 15.1% on a YTD basis, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 21.5% gains over the past year and 7.1% returns in 2025. However, it has lagged behind the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLU) 19.6% surge over the past 52 weeks, but slightly outpaced XLU's 14.1% gains in 2025 [2].

In conclusion, Duke Energy's analyst ratings and price targets reflect a mixed picture of the company's performance. While the stock has seen strong gains and has a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating, the mixed earnings surprise history and varied analyst ratings suggest a cautious approach. Investors should carefully consider these factors when evaluating Duke Energy as a potential investment.

References:
[1] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-liberty-wealth-management-llc-has-205-million-holdings-in-duke-energy-corporation-nyseduk-2025-08-04/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/duke-energy-stock-analyst-estimates-083049709.html