Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Has $7.91 Million Stake in Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH increased its stake in Ameren Corporation by 4.3%, owning 78,751 shares worth approximately $7.9 million as of the latest SEC filing.
• Ameren reported earnings per share of $1.07 for the quarter, slightly below the consensus estimate of $1.08, while its revenue rose by 15.5% year-over-year to $2.10 billion.
• The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.71 per share, yielding 2.84%, with a payout ratio of 62.97%.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH boosted its position in shares of Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE - Free Report) by 4.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 78,751 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,263 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH's holdings in Ameren were worth $7,907,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AEE. Choreo LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ameren by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 15,816 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,588,000 after acquiring an additional 642 shares in the last quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Ameren by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 4,172 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $414,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Investment Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ameren by 41.4% in the 1st quarter. Horizon Investment Services LLC now owns 26,239 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,634,000 after purchasing an additional 7,682 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of Ameren in the 1st quarter valued at $13,552,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in shares of Ameren by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 20,615 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,070,000 after purchasing an additional 841 shares during the last quarter. 79.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Ameren Stock Performance

Shares of AEE traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $99.98. 2,111,761 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,374,565. The stock's fifty day moving average is $96.52 and its 200 day moving average is $97.11. The stock has a market cap of $27.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.86. Ameren Corporation has a 1-year low of $78.81 and a 1-year high of $104.10.

Ameren (NYSE:AEE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.08 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $2.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.92 billion. Ameren had a net margin of 15.31% and a return on equity of 10.40%. The business's revenue was up 15.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.98 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Ameren Corporation will post 4.93 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ameren Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 10th were paid a dividend of $0.71 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 10th. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. Ameren's dividend payout ratio is 62.97%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Ameren from $104.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group set a $114.00 price objective on shares of Ameren and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Ameren from $102.00 to $100.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Ameren from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $91.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Finally, Guggenheim reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Ameren in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $101.36.

Ameren 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.