American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 7,810,000 shares, a drop of 18.0% from the January 15th total of 9,530,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,970,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days.
Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AEP. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ bought a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in American Electric Power in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company's stock.
A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on AEP shares. Guggenheim upgraded American Electric Power from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. UBS Group lifted their price objective on American Electric Power from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Barclays lowered their price objective on American Electric Power from $100.00 to $99.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on American Electric Power from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a "neutral" rating and set a $102.00 price objective (down previously from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a report on Thursday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $98.00.
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Shares of AEP stock traded up $0.84 on Friday, reaching $101.83. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,770,820 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,437,045. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $95.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $97.95. The company has a market capitalization of $54.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.58. American Electric Power has a 1 year low of $79.01 and a 1 year high of $105.18.
American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $1.24. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 11.41% and a net margin of 13.48%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.23 EPS. Analysts forecast that American Electric Power will post 5.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $0.93 dividend. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.65%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 10th. American Electric Power's payout ratio is presently 74.55%.
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.
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