American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Brokerages

Shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus recommendation of "Hold" by the fifteen research firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have given a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $98.27.

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI cut their target price on American Electric Power from $97.00 to $96.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on American Electric Power from $102.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. Wells Fargo & Company cut 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 note on Thursday, November 7th. UBS Group increased their price objective on American Electric Power from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on American Electric Power in a research note on Friday, September 20th. They set a "hold" rating and a $107.00 price objective for the company.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Electric Power

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 60.3% during the first quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 49,762 shares of the company's stock worth $4,285,000 after buying an additional 18,726 shares during the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 14.4% during the second quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 120,489 shares of the company's stock worth $10,572,000 after buying an additional 15,138 shares during the last quarter. MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 13.2% during the second quarter. MainStreet Investment Advisors LLC now owns 42,517 shares of the company's stock worth $3,730,000 after buying an additional 4,971 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 1,140.5% during the second quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 456,686 shares of the company's stock worth $40,070,000 after buying an additional 419,870 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 2.1% during the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 263,368 shares of the company's stock worth $22,697,000 after buying an additional 5,537 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.24% of the company's stock.

American Electric Power Stock Performance

Shares of AEP traded up $2.55 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $96.31. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,558,396 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,162,494. American Electric Power has a one year low of $75.22 and a one year high of $105.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $51.25 billion, a PE ratio of 19.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.55. The stock's 50-day moving average is $99.74 and its two-hundred day moving average is $95.15.

American Electric Power Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th will be issued a $0.93 dividend. This is a boost from American Electric Power's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.86%. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 74.55%.

About American Electric Power

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.