American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) Stake Lessened by Guardian Wealth Management Inc.

Guardian Wealth Management Inc. trimmed its position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 13.5% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,740 shares of the company’s stock after selling 428 shares during the period. Guardian Wealth Management Inc.’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $253,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in AEP. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ bought a new position in American Electric Power during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new position in American Electric Power in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in American Electric Power during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in American Electric Power during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Finally, Lee Danner & Bass Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. 75.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

American Electric Power Stock Performance

Shares of AEP stock opened at $107.16 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.43. The business has a fifty day moving average of $105.19 and a 200 day moving average of $99.61. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $84.31 and a 1 year high of $110.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 0.44 and a quick ratio of 0.31.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 EPS for the quarter, hitting 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 posted $1.23 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $95.00 to $106.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective 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. Bank of America increased their target price on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Guggenheim raised shares of American Electric Power from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on American Electric Power from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, American Electric Power presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $101.62.

American Electric Power 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.