Godsey & Gibb Inc. Raises Position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Godsey & Gibb Inc. grew its stake in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Free Report) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 191,772 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 5,246 shares during the period. Godsey & Gibb Inc.'s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $17,687,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC lifted its stake in American Electric Power by 10,177.1% in the third quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 1,982,444 shares of the company's stock worth $203,399,000 after purchasing an additional 1,963,154 shares during the last quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC lifted its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 109.5% during the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 3,753,250 shares of the company's stock worth $385,079,000 after acquiring an additional 1,962,125 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,902,755 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,760,223,000 after acquiring an additional 1,114,954 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 18.8% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,866,952 shares of the company's stock valued at $704,549,000 after acquiring an additional 1,087,163 shares during the period. Finally, Zacks Investment Management bought a new position in American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter valued at $80,207,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company's stock.

American Electric Power Stock Up 1.8 %

Shares of NASDAQ AEP traded up $1.70 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $96.82. 2,456,521 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,467,992. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $75.22 and a 1 year high of $105.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $94.50 and a 200 day moving average of $96.77. The stock has a market cap of $51.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.40, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47.

American Electric Power Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.93 dividend. This is a boost from American Electric Power's previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. This represents a $3.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.84%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 74.55%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on American Electric Power from $109.00 to $104.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of American Electric Power in a research note on Friday, September 20th. They set a "hold" rating and a $107.00 price target for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $100.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently 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.