Analysts Set American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) PT at $97.13

American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) has received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the fifteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $97.13.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on AEP. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Friday, September 20th. They set a “hold” rating and a $107.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $97.00 to $96.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on American Electric Power from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on American Electric Power from $104.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on American Electric Power from $109.00 to $104.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Electric Power

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in American Electric Power by 57.2% in the second quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 283 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC purchased a new stake in American Electric Power during the third quarter valued at about $33,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in American Electric Power during the third quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the third quarter worth about $50,000. 75.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Electric Power Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of AEP stock opened at $90.47 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $48.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.13, a PEG ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.56. American Electric Power has a fifty-two week low of $75.22 and a fifty-two week high of $105.18. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $95.02 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.57.

American Electric Power Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.93 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This is a positive change from American Electric Power’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.11%. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio is currently 74.55%.

American Electric Power Company Profile

American Electric Power Company, Inc, an electric public utility holding company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers in the United States. It operates through Vertically Integrated Utilities, Transmission and Distribution Utilities, AEP Transmission Holdco, and Generation & Marketing segments.