Community Financial Services Group LLC Makes New $4.38 Million Investment in American Electric Power Company, Inc. $AEP

Community Financial Services Group LLC bought a new position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 38,922 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,379,000.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC increased its holdings in American Electric Power by 12.7% in 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 last quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. increased its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 4,036 shares of the company’s stock valued at $419,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC raised its position in shares of American Electric Power by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Eagle Strategies LLC now owns 5,515 shares of the company’s stock valued at $572,000 after acquiring an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC lifted its stake in American Electric Power by 3.2% during the first quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 3,147 shares of the company’s stock worth $344,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Graves Light Lenhart Wealth Inc. boosted its holdings in American Electric Power by 1.5% in the third quarter. Graves Light Lenhart Wealth Inc. now owns 6,870 shares of the company’s stock worth $773,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Benjamin G. S. Fowke III sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.07, for a total transaction of $575,350.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 25,898 shares in the company, valued at $2,980,082.86. This trade represents a 16.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 15,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,770,850 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.07% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of AEP stock opened at $115.81 on Friday. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $89.91 and a 1 year high of $124.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $61.85 billion, a PE ratio of 16.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $118.54 and a two-hundred day moving average of $113.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.69.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 29th. The company reported $1.80 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.81 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $6.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.65 billion. American Electric Power had a net margin of 17.23% and a return on equity of 11.00%. American Electric Power’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.85 earnings per share. American Electric Power has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.850-5.95 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 EPS for the current year.

American Electric Power Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, November 10th were paid a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 10th. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. This is an increase from American Electric Power’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 55.39%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on AEP shares. Siebert Williams Shank began coverage on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $137.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group cut their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $114.00 to $107.00 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on American Electric Power from $132.00 to $139.00 in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised American Electric Power from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $128.00 to $137.00 in a report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on American Electric Power from $111.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $126.87.

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.