American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Analysts

American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of "Hold" from the fourteen research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $98.00.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on AEP shares. Bank of America raised American Electric Power from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $104.00 in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued 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. UBS Group raised their price objective on American Electric Power from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Evercore ISI lowered their target price on 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.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Electric Power

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of AEP. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC bought a new position in American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter worth $48,000. Institutional investors own 75.24% of the company's stock.

American Electric Power Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of American Electric Power stock traded up $1.51 during trading on Thursday, reaching $99.39. The stock had a trading volume of 2,280,439 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,382,106. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. The company has a market capitalization of $52.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.92, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.58. American Electric Power has a 52 week low of $75.22 and a 52 week high of $105.18. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $95.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $97.67.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $0.93 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.74%. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.