Mizuho Securities USA LLC Increases Stock Holdings in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Mizuho Securities USA LLC raised its stake in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Free Report) by 46.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 50,475 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 15,970 shares during the quarter. Mizuho Securities USA LLC's holdings in American Electric Power were worth $4,655,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of AEP. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the 4th quarter worth about $1,085,000. Sciencast Management LP bought a new position in shares of American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at $1,335,000. Summit Global Investments raised its position in American Electric Power by 180.7% in the 4th quarter. Summit Global Investments now owns 39,111 shares of the company's stock worth $3,607,000 after purchasing an additional 25,178 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLC bought a new stake in American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth $210,000. Finally, Lee Danner & Bass Inc. purchased a new stake in American Electric Power during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $102.00 target price (down previously from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Scotiabank cut shares of American Electric Power from a "sector outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and dropped their price target for the company from $105.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Guggenheim raised shares of American Electric Power from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on American Electric Power from $107.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price target on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $100.77.

Remove Ads

American Electric Power Stock Up 1.2 %

NASDAQ:AEP traded up $1.25 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $105.15. 5,232,599 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,871,880. The company has a market cap of $56.12 billion, a PE ratio of 18.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 0.44 and a quick ratio of 0.31. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a one year low of $79.16 and a one year high of $109.52. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $102.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $99.09.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.24. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 15.08%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.23 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 EPS for the current year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a dividend of $0.93 per share. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio is currently 66.43%.

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.