American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) Receives $141.43 Consensus Price Target from Brokerages

Shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-two analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $140.7143.

A number of analysts recently commented on AEP shares. Wall Street Zen lowered American Electric Power from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, May 9th. Barclays decreased their target price on American Electric Power from $138.00 to $129.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered their target price on American Electric Power from $148.00 to $143.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $141.00 to $140.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $141.00 to $142.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Electric Power

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. HITE Hedge Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth $32,032,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 2.9% during the fourth quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH now owns 293,033 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,869,000 after buying an additional 8,302 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 17.7% during the fourth quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 63,526 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,325,000 after buying an additional 9,532 shares during the last quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. increased its holdings in American Electric Power by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. now owns 114,224 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,171,000 after buying an additional 7,833 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Welch Group LLC increased its holdings in American Electric Power by 3,868.6% in the 4th quarter. Welch Group LLC now owns 325,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,497,000 after buying an additional 316,991 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power Stock Down 1.5%

American Electric Power stock opened at $126.47 on Monday. American Electric Power has a fifty-two week low of $105.70 and a fifty-two week high of $140.58. The stock has a market cap of $68.85 billion, a PE ratio of 21.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.52. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $131.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $130.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.50.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.48 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $5.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.34 billion. American Electric Power had a net margin of 13.78% and a return on equity of 9.95%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.43 EPS. American Electric Power has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.250-6.550 EPS. Research analysts predict that American Electric Power will post 6.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 10th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 10th. American Electric Power’s payout ratio is presently 65.18%.

About American Electric Power

American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP) is a major investor-owned electric utility headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company is primarily engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, operating a diverse portfolio of power plants and an extensive high-voltage transmission network. AEP serves retail customers through its regulated utility subsidiaries and provides wholesale power and grid services across multiple regional markets in the United States.

Operations span the full utility value chain: AEP owns and operates generation assets that include fossil-fuel, natural gas, nuclear and hydropower facilities, and it has been adding renewable resources to its mix.