Citizens National Bank Trust Department Reduces Holdings in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Citizens National Bank Trust Department lowered its stake in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 5.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 25,789 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,433 shares during the quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $2,379,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC purchased a new position in American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of American Electric Power during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the third quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power Trading Up 0.9 %

NASDAQ AEP opened at $103.09 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $54.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.58. 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 Company, Inc. has a 12 month low of $79.16 and a 12 month high of $105.18. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $96.03 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.99.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last issued 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 in the previous year, the business earned $1.23 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 10th. Investors of record on Monday, February 10th will be given a dividend of $0.93 per share. This represents a $3.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.61%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio is presently 66.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on AEP. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $102.00 target price (down from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Bank of America raised American Electric Power from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $104.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Finally, Guggenheim raised shares of American Electric Power from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $98.00.

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.