American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) Given New $111.00 Price Target at BMO Capital Markets

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) had its price target increased by analysts at BMO Capital Markets from $107.00 to $111.00 in a report issued on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “outperform” rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets’ price target points to a potential upside of 8.29% from the company’s previous close.

AEP has been the subject of a number of other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $102.00 price objective (down previously from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Guggenheim raised shares of American Electric Power from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $108.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Barclays cut their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $100.00 to $99.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $100.77.

American Electric Power Stock Performance

NASDAQ:AEP opened at $102.50 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.44. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $102.24 and its 200 day moving average is $99.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $54.70 billion, a PE ratio of 18.30, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.50. American Electric Power has a fifty-two week low of $79.16 and a fifty-two week high of $109.52.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.24. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 15.08%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.23 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that American Electric Power will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of American Electric Power

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in American Electric Power in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ acquired a new stake in American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC acquired a new position in American Electric Power during the third quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

About American Electric Power

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.