Bank OZK Cuts Position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Bank OZK trimmed its holdings in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 4.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,638 shares of the company’s stock after selling 270 shares during the quarter. Bank OZK’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $520,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AEP. Diversify Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in American Electric Power by 28.9% during the 3rd quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,955 shares of the company’s stock worth $295,000 after acquiring an additional 663 shares during the period. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter valued at about $203,000. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 23.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 40,710 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,177,000 after buying an additional 7,665 shares during the period. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 521.8% in the 3rd quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 8,326 shares of the company’s stock valued at $854,000 after buying an additional 6,987 shares during the period. Finally, Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the 3rd quarter valued at about $203,000. 75.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Electric Power Price Performance

AEP stock opened at $106.05 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.55 billion, a PE ratio of 18.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.58. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $79.16 and a 1 year high of $107.84. 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 business has a 50 day simple moving average of $97.98 and a 200-day simple moving average of $98.37.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share 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 period last year, the business earned $1.23 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

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 $0.93 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.51%. American Electric Power’s payout ratio is 66.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on AEP. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on American Electric Power from $108.00 to $100.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 10th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on American Electric Power from $97.00 to $96.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Bank of America raised American Electric Power from an “underperform” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $104.00 in a report on Monday, January 13th. Barclays reduced their price target on American Electric Power from $100.00 to $99.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on American Electric Power from $104.00 to $102.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, November 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Electric Power currently 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.