American Electric Power Company, Inc. $AEP Stock Sold by D.A. Davidson & CO.

Key Points

• D.A. Davidson reduced its AEP holdings by 16.4% in the third quarter, selling 8,512 shares and retaining 43,367 shares valued at approximately $5.15 million. Institutional investors collectively own 75.24% of the company.
• AEP reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $2.23 versus the $2.04 consensus and revenue of $6.83 billion, up 13.7% year over year.
• The company increased its quarterly dividend from $0.95 to $0.97 per share, equivalent to an annualized $3.88 dividend and a 3.0% yield; analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with a $139 target price.

D.A. Davidson & CO. decreased its holdings in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Free Report) by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 43,367 shares of the company's stock after selling 8,512 shares during the period. D.A. Davidson & CO.'s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $5,145,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Redmond Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 12.0% during the third quarter. Redmond Asset Management LLC now owns 4,466 shares of the company's stock worth $530,000 after buying an additional 478 shares in the last quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board boosted its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. North Dakota State Investment Board now owns 16,685 shares of the company's stock worth $1,980,000 after acquiring an additional 776 shares in the last quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. grew its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 35,944 shares of the company's stock worth $4,264,000 after acquiring an additional 636 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $67,000. Finally, Victory Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in American Electric Power by 27.2% during the third quarter. Victory Financial Group LLC now owns 11,214 shares of the company's stock worth $1,330,000 after purchasing an additional 2,395 shares during the last quarter. 75.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Electric Power Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of AEP stock opened at $130.21 on Friday. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $123.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is $127.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 0.51 and a quick ratio of 0.38. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1-year low of $112.54 and a 1-year high of $140.58. The firm has a market cap of $70.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.04, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.48.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 28th. The company reported $2.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.04 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $6.83 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.55 billion. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 10.52% and a net margin of 14.21%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 13.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.80 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 6.41 EPS for the current year.

American Electric Power Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 10th will be issued a $0.97 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 10th. This represents a $3.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. This is a boost from American Electric Power's previous quarterly dividend of $0.95. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 61.39%.

Insider Transactions at American Electric Power

In other news, CAO Kate Dixon sold 2,000 shares of American Electric Power stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total transaction of $250,000.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 15,856 shares in the company, valued at $1,982,000. This trade represents a 11.20% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 0.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Key American Electric Power News

Here are the key news stories impacting American Electric Power this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AEP reported third-quarter earnings of $2.23 per share, above the $2.04 analyst consensus, while revenue reached $6.83 billion versus expectations of $6.55 billion. Revenue increased 13.7% year over year. AEP Third-Quarter Earnings Results
• Positive Sentiment: The utility raised its long-term operating earnings growth outlook to 9%-11% annually for 2027-2031, backed by a five-year capital plan totaling approximately $100 billion. AEP Growth Outlook and Capital Plan
• Positive Sentiment: AEP is increasing planned investment in generation and transmission by 30% to capitalize on large-load growth, including data-center demand. Management cited 84 gigawatts of contracted load, improving visibility into future electricity sales. AEP Investment Plan Increase
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts responded favorably: Wells Fargo raised its price target to $149 with an overweight rating, while BMO Capital increased its target to $137. Jacobs was also selected to advance AEP’s transmission modernization program. Wells Fargo AEP Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: West Virginia’s push to attract data centers could create additional demand for AEP’s power-generation and transmission assets, although the broader regulatory and political debate around data centers remains a consideration. West Virginia Data-Center Development
• Negative Sentiment: Despite the earnings beat, coverage noted tighter margins, and Mizuho maintained a neutral rating. The scale of AEP’s capital program also increases financing, execution and regulatory risks. AEP Margins and Earnings Reaction

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on AEP. Scotiabank lowered their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $140.00 to $131.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 30th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on American Electric Power from $148.00 to $145.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Wednesday, September 9th. HSBC started coverage on shares of American Electric Power in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $145.90 target price for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $139.00 to $135.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 19th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $139.00.

American Electric Power Profile

American Electric Power NASDAQ: AEP is an electric utility holding company that generates, transmits and distributes electricity to residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers. Through its operating companies, AEP provides regulated electric service and manages power generation assets using a mix of energy resources, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, hydroelectric and renewable energy.

AEP operates one of the largest electric transmission systems in the United States and supplies electricity across portions of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

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