California Public Employees Retirement System Trims Stake in American Electric Power Company, Inc. $AEP

Key Points

• California Public Employees Retirement System cut its stake in American Electric Power by 17.7% in Q3, selling 355,070 shares and ending the quarter with 1,653,527 shares (about 0.31% of the company) worth $186.0 million.
• American Electric Power topped quarterly expectations with $1.19 EPS versus $1.15 expected and revenue of $5.32 billion (up 13.2% YoY), and set FY 2026 guidance of 6.15–6.45 EPS.
• The company pays a $0.95 quarterly dividend ($3.80 annual, ~2.8% yield) and has seen recent insider sales, while analysts hold a consensus "Moderate Buy" rating with a $135.90 price target.

California Public Employees Retirement System lessened its stake in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP - Free Report) by 17.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,653,527 shares of the company's stock after selling 355,070 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned about 0.31% of American Electric Power worth $186,022,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. PFG Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 24,823 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,793,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 0.3% during the third quarter. Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 26,605 shares of the company's stock worth $2,993,000 after buying an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. grew its position in American Electric Power by 16.2% during the third quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 632 shares of the company's stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 88 shares during the period. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its position in American Electric Power by 12.7% during the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 791 shares of the company's stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 89 shares during the period. Finally, LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA increased its holdings in American Electric Power by 6.8% in the third quarter. LFA Lugano Financial Advisors SA now owns 1,412 shares of the company's stock valued at $159,000 after buying an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company's stock.

American Electric Power Stock Up 1.1%

AEP stock opened at $133.61 on Monday. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 52 week low of $97.46 and a 52 week high of $134.60. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $124.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $118.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $72.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.94, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.61.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.15 by $0.04. American Electric Power had a net margin of 16.37% and a return on equity of 10.46%. The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.07 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.24 EPS. American Electric Power's quarterly revenue was up 13.2% compared to the same quarter last year. American Electric Power has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.150-6.450 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 10th were given a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 10th. American Electric Power's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 56.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $137.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on American Electric Power from $140.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 13th. Scotiabank upped their price target on American Electric Power from $121.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on American Electric Power from $125.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on American Electric Power from $132.00 to $135.00 in a report on Monday, March 9th. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $135.90.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Kelly J. Ferneau sold 1,351 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.46, for a total transaction of $177,602.46. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 15,410 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,025,798.60. The trade was a 8.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Phillip R. Ulrich sold 4,106 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.08, for a total value of $542,320.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 42,263 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,582,097.04. This represents a 8.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders own 0.07% of the company's stock.

About American Electric Power

American Electric Power NASDAQ: AEP is a major investor-owned electric utility headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company is primarily engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, operating a diverse portfolio of power plants and an extensive high-voltage transmission network. AEP serves retail customers through its regulated utility subsidiaries and provides wholesale power and grid services across multiple regional markets in the United States.

Operations span the full utility value chain: AEP owns and operates generation assets that include fossil-fuel, natural gas, nuclear and hydropower facilities, and it has been adding renewable resources to its mix.

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