American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) Shares Sold by Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lowered its stake in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Free Report) by 1.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,841,564 shares of the company's stock after selling 58,989 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned about 0.91% of American Electric Power worth $529,038,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in American Electric Power by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 51,690,606 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,767,425,000 after buying an additional 763,813 shares during the last quarter. GQG Partners LLC increased its stake in American Electric Power by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. GQG Partners LLC now owns 15,060,525 shares of the company's stock worth $1,389,032,000 after purchasing an additional 543,054 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in American Electric Power by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,808,003 shares of the company's stock worth $1,178,174,000 after purchasing an additional 283,311 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. increased its stake in American Electric Power by 9.1% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 8,603,600 shares of the company's stock worth $793,510,000 after purchasing an additional 716,229 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in American Electric Power by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 7,047,428 shares of the company's stock worth $649,983,000 after purchasing an additional 85,756 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company's stock.

American Electric Power Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ AEP opened at $105.02 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.42 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $102.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $102.48. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1-year low of $89.84 and a 1-year high of $110.48. The company has a market cap of $56.10 billion, a PE ratio of 20.24, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.42.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The company reported $1.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.40 by $0.14. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 11.68% and a net margin of 13.73%. The firm had revenue of $5.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.33 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.27 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 EPS for the current year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a $0.93 dividend. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.54%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. American Electric Power's payout ratio is 71.68%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP David Matthew Feinberg sold 8,058 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.74, for a total value of $819,820.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 10,274 shares in the company, valued at $1,045,276.76. This trade represents a 43.96% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Quinton S. Lies sold 10,141 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.68, for a total value of $1,041,277.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 9,658 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $991,683.44. This represents a 51.22% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 34,314 shares of company stock valued at $3,508,293. Company insiders own 0.07% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AEP has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $102.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $107.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Guggenheim boosted their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, American Electric Power has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $108.31.

American Electric Power Company Profile

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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