Ameren (NYSE:AEE) Price Target Raised to $105.00 at BMO Capital Markets

Ameren (NYSE:AEE - Free Report) had its target price hoisted by BMO Capital Markets from $100.00 to $105.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the utilities provider's stock.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on AEE. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Ameren from $86.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Evercore ISI upgraded Ameren from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $89.00 to $104.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Barclays lowered Ameren from an "overweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $88.00 to $95.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $92.70.

Ameren Trading Up 1.3 %

AEE stock traded up $1.31 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $98.52. 4,003,287 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,657,325. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $92.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $88.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.66. The company has a market cap of $26.59 billion, a PE ratio of 22.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.49. Ameren has a one year low of $69.39 and a one year high of $100.61.

Ameren (NYSE:AEE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.83 by ($0.06). Ameren had a return on equity of 10.34% and a net margin of 15.51%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.60 EPS. Research analysts predict that Ameren will post 4.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ameren Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.71 per share. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.88%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 11th. This is a positive change from Ameren's previous quarterly dividend of $0.67. Ameren's dividend payout ratio is presently 64.25%.

Institutional Trading of Ameren

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. TD Private Client Wealth LLC increased its position in Ameren by 7.1% during the fourth quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 1,846 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $165,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC increased its position in Ameren by 1.5% during the third quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 8,513 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $745,000 after buying an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC increased its position in Ameren by 2.7% during the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 4,786 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $427,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its position in Ameren by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 6,276 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $559,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in Ameren by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 10,107 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $901,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.09% of the company's stock.

About Ameren

Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. It engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution business.