Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Purchases 4,588 Shares of Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in shares of Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE - Free Report) by 29.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,428 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 4,588 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in Ameren were worth $1,821,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of AEE. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in Ameren in the 4th quarter worth approximately $531,000. MML Investors Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Ameren by 6.2% in the fourth quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 16,513 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,472,000 after acquiring an additional 969 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Ameren by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 70,632 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $6,296,000 after purchasing an additional 1,270 shares in the last quarter. Norinchukin Bank The raised its stake in shares of Ameren by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 10,467 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $933,000 after purchasing an additional 282 shares during the period. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S purchased a new stake in Ameren during the 4th quarter worth about $1,106,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.09% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Ameren news, insider Shawn E. Schukar sold 4,743 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.79, for a total transaction of $492,275.97. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 57,486 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,966,471.94. This represents a 7.62 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Chonda J. Nwamu sold 5,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $101.37, for a total transaction of $557,535.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 43,344 shares in the company, valued at $4,393,781.28. The trade was a 11.26 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 12,959 shares of company stock valued at $1,316,712. Insiders own 0.42% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group upped their price target on Ameren from $106.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Ameren from $102.00 to $101.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Ameren from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and raised their price target for the company from $89.00 to $104.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Ameren from $97.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Ameren from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $99.22.

Ameren Price Performance

AEE opened at $99.17 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.44, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.45. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41. Ameren Co. has a 12-month low of $69.39 and a 12-month high of $104.10. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $98.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $93.56.

Ameren (NYSE:AEE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.83 by ($0.06). Ameren had a net margin of 15.51% and a return on equity of 10.34%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.60 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Ameren Co. will post 4.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ameren Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th were issued a $0.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 11th. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.86%. This is an increase from Ameren's previous quarterly dividend of $0.67. Ameren's payout ratio is currently 64.25%.

About Ameren

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.

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