Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE) Shares Sold by Holocene Advisors LP

Holocene Advisors LP decreased its position in Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE - Free Report) by 52.8% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 58,088 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 65,030 shares during the period. Holocene Advisors LP's holdings in Ameren were worth $5,080,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in Ameren by 392.0% during the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 19,434 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,382,000 after acquiring an additional 15,484 shares during the period. Versor Investments LP purchased a new stake in shares of Ameren during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,417,000. Magnetar Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Ameren during the 2nd quarter valued at about $2,632,000. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of Ameren by 59.8% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,631,580 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $230,158,000 after purchasing an additional 984,879 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lindenwold Advisors INC purchased a new stake in shares of Ameren during the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,682,000. Institutional investors own 79.09% of the company's stock.

Ameren Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AEE traded down $0.15 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $92.28. 1,012,506 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,573,406. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.63 billion, a PE ratio of 21.82, a P/E/G ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.48. The company's 50 day moving average is $89.37 and its 200 day moving average is $81.35. Ameren Co. has a one year low of $67.03 and a one year high of $95.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 0.63 and a quick ratio of 0.41.

Ameren Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 11th will be paid a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, December 11th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.90%. Ameren's payout ratio is 63.06%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ameren news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 6,500 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.15, for a total value of $598,975.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 205,171 shares in the company, valued at $18,906,507.65. The trade was a 3.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.42% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Ameren from $77.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Ameren in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $97.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Ameren from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Ameren from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Ameren to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, September 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.00.

Ameren Company Profile

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.