Duke Energy, US26441C2044

Duke Energy stock slips as Morgan Stanley cuts its target

Published on 09/22/2026 at 14:38 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Duke Energy stock closed at USD 117.53 on September 22, 2026, unchanged on the session. Second-quarter EPS reached USD 1.43 versus USD 1.30 expected.

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Duke Energy Corporation (ISIN US26441C2044) closed at USD 117.53 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 22, 2026, unchanged from the prior close. The utility's latest reported quarter delivered EPS of USD 1.43, above the USD 1.30 consensus estimate.

Morgan Stanley lowers its target

According to ad-hoc-news on September 21, 2026, Morgan Stanley reduced its Duke Energy price target from USD 133 to USD 127 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating. The USD 6 reduction equals about 4.5 percent and leaves the new target about 8 percent above the September 18 closing price of USD 117.44.

The revised target matters because it narrows the implied upside from the earlier estimate, even though Duke Energy's regulated utility profile continues to provide a relatively stable earnings base. The market reaction was limited: the September 22 close was USD 0.09 above the September 18 close cited in the report.

Quarterly earnings beat estimates

Duke Energy reported second-quarter 2026 EPS of USD 1.43, exceeding the USD 1.30 consensus by USD 0.13, according to MarketBeat in its September 21, 2026 market overview. Revenue for that quarter increased 1.1 percent year over year, showing a smaller improvement on the top line than the earnings beat.

The latest available annualized data also show trailing EPS of USD 6.64 and a market capitalization of USD 91.64 billion as of September 22, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance. For investors, the contrast between a quarterly earnings beat and a lower external price target is the central tension in the current setup.

Stock remains near yearly low

Duke Energy traded between USD 113.90 and USD 134.49 over the 52 weeks through September 22, 2026. At USD 117.53, the stock stood USD 3.63 above the lower end and USD 16.96 below the upper end of that range.

Trading volume reached 2.67 million shares on September 22, 2026, while the average daily volume was 4.44 million shares, based on the quoted market data. The price therefore remained close to the lower part of its annual range despite the latest quarterly EPS beat.

Price stays at USD 117.53

Duke Energy closed at USD 117.53 on the New York Stock Exchange on September 22, 2026, with a daily change of 0.00 percent. The market capitalization was USD 91.64 billion on the same date.