Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC Reduces Stock Position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 26.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,759 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,350 shares during the period. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $347,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in AEP. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ purchased a new stake in American Electric Power during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in American Electric Power during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. 75.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

American Electric Power Price Performance

American Electric Power stock opened at $109.11 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $58.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.50. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a one year low of $79.16 and a one year high of $110.46. The business has a fifty day moving average of $103.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $99.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.44.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24. American Electric Power had a net margin of 15.08% and a return on equity of 11.27%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.23 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a dividend of $0.93 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio is presently 66.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on AEP shares. Scotiabank cut shares of American Electric Power from a “sector outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $105.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $102.00 target price (down from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on American Electric Power from $107.00 to $111.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $100.77.

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.