Root Financial Partners LLC Makes New $983,000 Investment in American Electric Power Company, Inc. $AEP

Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 8,284 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $983,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of AEP. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in American Electric Power during the second quarter worth approximately $6,980,601,000. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its position in American Electric Power by 43.7% in the first quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 1,688,208 shares of the company’s stock worth $221,290,000 after purchasing an additional 513,305 shares during the period. Silvant Capital Management LLC bought a new position in American Electric Power during the 2nd quarter valued at $2,278,000. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP bought a new position in American Electric Power during the 2nd quarter valued at $8,448,000. Finally, Bellars Harris Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in American Electric Power during the 2nd quarter valued at $10,377,000. Institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at American Electric Power

In other news, CAO Kate Dixon sold 2,000 shares of American Electric Power stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 15,856 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,982,000. The trade was a 11.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AEP. Mizuho lowered their price target on American Electric Power from $141.00 to $135.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on American Electric Power from $148.00 to $145.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Thursday. UBS Group set a $135.00 target price on American Electric Power in a research note on Monday. KeyCorp raised American Electric Power from a “sector weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $133.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, October 12th. Finally, HSBC initiated coverage on American Electric Power in a report on Thursday. They set a “buy” rating and a $145.90 target price on the stock. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $138.70.

American Electric Power Stock Up 2.6%

Shares of NASDAQ:AEP opened at $130.64 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $122.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $128.47. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 52 week low of $112.54 and a 52 week high of $140.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.50. The company has a market cap of $71.12 billion, a PE ratio of 22.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 0.48.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.48 by ($0.12). American Electric Power had a return on equity of 9.95% and a net margin of 13.78%. The firm had revenue of $5.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.34 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.43 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. American Electric Power has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.250-6.550 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current year.

American Electric Power Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 10th will be given a $0.97 dividend. This represents a $3.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.0%. This is a boost from American Electric Power’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 10th. American Electric Power’s payout ratio is 65.18%.

Trending Headlines about American Electric Power

Here are the key news stories impacting American Electric Power this week:

• Positive Sentiment: New Buy ratings support the stock. HSBC initiated coverage with a Buy rating and a $145.90 price target, implying meaningful upside. BTIG also upgraded AEP from Neutral to Buy, citing expectations that growth is poised to accelerate. HSBC initiates coverage on American Electric Power BTIG upgrades American Electric Power to buy
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend increased 2.1%. AEP declared a quarterly dividend of $0.97 per share, up from $0.95, equivalent to $3.88 annually and an approximately 3% yield. The increase reinforces the stock’s appeal to income-oriented investors, although payout sustainability remains a consideration. AEP declares dividend
• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations are constructive. Zacks upgraded AEP to Rank #2 (Buy) and said analysts are anticipating earnings growth, with a potential earnings beat serving as a near-term catalyst. The company’s FY 2026 EPS guidance is $6.25–$6.55. AEP upgraded to Buy by Zacks
• Neutral Sentiment: Jefferies trimmed its target but remains above the market price. The firm reduced its target to $146 from $148, a modestly cautious adjustment that still indicates potential upside. Jefferies adjusts AEP price target
• Neutral Sentiment: Amazon, AEP and X-energy’s proposed nuclear project could create long-term growth from rising data-center power demand, but the project remains subject to approvals, construction and execution risks. Proposed Amazon, AEP nuclear plant
• Negative Sentiment: Some analysts remain cautious. JPMorgan lowered its expectations for AEP’s stock, while other coverage characterizes utility analysts as neutral. Investors also face execution and affordability concerns surrounding the company’s expanding capital needs and dividend commitments.

American Electric Power Company Profile

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) is an electric utility holding company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers. Through its operating companies, AEP provides regulated electric service and manages power generation assets using a mix of energy resources, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable energy.

AEP operates one of the largest electric transmission systems in the United States and supplies electricity across portions of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.