Fintel reports that on September 18, 2023, CFRA maintained coverage of American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) with a Buy recommendation.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 21.44% Upside
As of August 31, 2023, the average one-year price target for American Electric Power is 97.45. The forecasts range from a low of 75.24 to a high of $118.65. The average price target represents an increase of 21.44% from its latest reported closing price of 80.24.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for American Electric Power is 18,347MM, a decrease of 5.77%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 5.35.
American Electric Power Declares $0.83 Dividend
On July 18, 2023 the company declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share ($3.32 annualized). Shareholders of record as of August 10, 2023 received the payment on September 8, 2023. Previously, the company paid $0.83 per share.
At the current share price of $80.24 / share, the stock's dividend yield is 4.14%.
Looking back five years and taking a sample every week, the average dividend yield has been 3.40%, the lowest has been 2.69%, and the highest has been 4.27%. The standard deviation of yields is 0.30 (n=235).
The current dividend yield is 2.44 standard deviations above the historical average.
Additionally, the company's dividend payout ratio is 0.86. The payout ratio tells us how much of a company's income is paid out in dividends. A payout ratio of one (1.0) means 100% of the company's income is paid in a dividend. A payout ratio greater than one means the company is dipping into savings in order to maintain its dividend - not a healthy situation. Companies with few growth prospects are expected to pay out most of their income in dividends, which typically means a payout ratio between 0.5 and 1.0. Companies with good growth prospects are expected to retain some earnings in order to invest in those growth prospects, which translates to a payout ratio of zero to 0.5.
The company's 3-Year dividend growth rate is 0.19%, demonstrating that it has increased its dividend over time.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 2112 funds or institutions reporting positions in American Electric Power. This is a decrease of 167 owner(s) or 7.33% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to AEP is 0.34%, a decrease of 5.45%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 0.73% to 452,175K shares. 
The put/call ratio of AEP is 0.55, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Wellington Management Group Llp holds 25,002K shares representing 4.85% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 24,171K shares, representing an increase of 3.32%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in AEP by 8.66% over the last quarter.
VTSMX - Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund Investor Shares holds 16,086K shares representing 3.12% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 15,913K shares, representing an increase of 1.08%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in AEP by 13.69% over the last quarter.
VFINX - Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares holds 12,257K shares representing 2.38% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 11,990K shares, representing an increase of 2.18%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in AEP by 14.32% over the last quarter.
Geode Capital Management holds 10,362K shares representing 2.01% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 10,054K shares, representing an increase of 2.97%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in AEP by 13.73% over the last quarter.
Ameriprise Financial holds 9,529K shares representing 1.85% ownership of the company. In it's prior filing, the firm reported owning 11,293K shares, representing a decrease of 18.51%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in AEP by 304.69% over the last quarter.
American Electric Power Background Information
(This description is provided by the company.)
American Electric Power , is a major investor-owned electric utility in the United States, delivering electricity to more than five million customers in 11 states.[citation needed] AEP ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes 765 kilovolt ultra-high voltage transmission lines, more than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP's transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the transmission system that covers much of Texas.
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