Private Advisor Group LLC Increases Stock Position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Private Advisor Group LLC raised its holdings in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 2.7% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 56,880 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,505 shares during the quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $5,246,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of American Electric Power stock opened at $105.33 on Friday. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $79.16 and a fifty-two week high of $105.73. The firm has a market cap of $56.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.58. The business’s fifty day moving average is $96.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 15.08%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.23 EPS. Analysts anticipate that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a $0.93 dividend. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on AEP shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $102.00 price target (down from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $100.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Bank of America raised American Electric Power from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $98.00 to $104.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Guggenheim raised American Electric Power from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Scotiabank lowered American Electric Power from a “sector outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and reduced their target price for the company from $105.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $98.00.

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.