ABC Arbitrage SA Takes Position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

ABC Arbitrage SA purchased a new stake in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 17,916 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,652,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. XML Financial LLC lifted its holdings in American Electric Power by 3.8% in the third quarter. XML Financial LLC now owns 2,921 shares of the company's stock valued at $300,000 after acquiring an additional 106 shares during the period. PSI Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 1,113 shares of the company's stock valued at $103,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Garrison Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of American Electric Power by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Garrison Asset Management LLC now owns 19,009 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,950,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares during the last quarter. Roanoke Asset Management Corp NY lifted its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 2.2% in the 3rd quarter. Roanoke Asset Management Corp NY now owns 5,025 shares of the company's stock worth $516,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Finally, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,105 shares of the company's stock worth $286,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. 75.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

American Electric Power Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:AEP traded up $0.89 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $103.09. 2,510,081 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,311,624. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46. The stock has a market cap of $54.97 billion, a PE ratio of 18.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.58. The business's fifty day moving average is $96.03 and its two-hundred day moving average is $97.99. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a one year low of $79.16 and a one year high of $105.18.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.24. American Electric Power had a net margin of 15.08% and a return on equity of 11.27%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.23 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a dividend of $0.93 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $3.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.61%. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio is currently 66.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Bank of America upgraded shares of American Electric Power from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $104.00 in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on American Electric Power from $109.00 to $104.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $102.00 price target (down previously from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Barclays decreased their price objective on American Electric Power from $100.00 to $99.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Scotiabank downgraded American Electric Power from a "sector outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $105.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $98.00.

American Electric Power 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.