Dana Investment Advisors Inc. Boosts Holdings in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Dana Investment Advisors Inc. grew its position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 36.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,800 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 743 shares during the period. Dana Investment Advisors Inc.’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $258,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in AEP. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 640,029 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,667,000 after purchasing an additional 19,081 shares during the period. Equitable Trust Co. boosted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 15.2% during the 3rd quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 15,555 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,596,000 after purchasing an additional 2,050 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,208,000. Tompkins Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 14.5% during the 3rd quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 1,272 shares of the company’s stock worth $131,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the period. Finally, Essex Savings Bank boosted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 26.6% during the 3rd quarter. Essex Savings Bank now owns 4,274 shares of the company’s stock worth $439,000 after purchasing an additional 897 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power Price Performance

Shares of AEP opened at $104.62 on Monday. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a twelve month low of $79.16 and a twelve month high of $109.52. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $99.21 and its 200-day simple moving average is $98.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.68, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last announced 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 net margin of 15.08% and a return on equity of 11.27%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.93 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.56%. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio is currently 66.43%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on AEP shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $109.00 to $104.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $102.00 price target (down previously from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America raised shares of American Electric Power from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the company from $98.00 to $104.00 in a research report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $100.00 to $99.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $108.00 to $100.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $98.46.

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.