American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) Stock Price Expected to Rise, BMO Capital Markets Analyst Says

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

Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on AEP. Barclays decreased 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $102.00 price target (down from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Scotiabank lowered American Electric Power from a “sector outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $105.00 to $102.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $100.77.

American Electric Power Price Performance

NASDAQ:AEP opened at $102.50 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 0.44 and a quick ratio of 0.31. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $102.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $99.05. American Electric Power has a 1-year low of $79.16 and a 1-year high of $109.52. The firm has a market cap of $54.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.50.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.24. American Electric Power had a return on equity of 11.27% and a net margin of 15.08%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.23 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that American Electric Power will post 5.87 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of American Electric Power

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in American Electric Power during the third quarter worth $25,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ purchased a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new position in American Electric Power during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new position in American Electric Power during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC acquired a new position in American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

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.