Ameren Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:AEE)

Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE - Get Free Report) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Stock traders acquired 2,984 call options on the company. This is an increase of 2,268% compared to the average daily volume of 126 call options.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on AEE shares. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Ameren in a report on Thursday, September 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $97.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Ameren from $86.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Ameren from $93.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 5th. Argus raised Ameren to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Ameren from $77.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ameren currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $89.89.

Insider Activity at Ameren

In other news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.15, for a total transaction of $598,975.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 205,171 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,906,507.65. This represents 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 through this link. Insiders own 0.42% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Jamison Private Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Ameren in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Ameren during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $49,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in shares of Ameren in the third quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Ameren in the second quarter worth $58,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Ameren in the third quarter worth $74,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.09% of the company's stock.

Ameren Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of Ameren stock traded up $1.25 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $89.21. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,476,571 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,160,614. The company has a market capitalization of $23.81 billion, a PE ratio of 20.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.95 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 0.63 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $90.48 and a 200 day moving average of $84.53. Ameren has a 12 month low of $67.03 and a 12 month high of $95.69.

Ameren Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 11th were issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 11th. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. Ameren's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 63.06%.

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.