Fluent Financial LLC Sells 9,833 Shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

Fluent Financial LLC cut its stake in shares of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) by 17.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 46,451 shares of the company’s stock after selling 9,833 shares during the period. American Electric Power accounts for about 2.3% of Fluent Financial LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Fluent Financial LLC’s holdings in American Electric Power were worth $4,766,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of American Electric Power by 57.2% during the 2nd quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 283 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the period. Denali Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of American Electric Power during the first quarter worth approximately $26,000. Rise Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Electric Power in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in American Electric Power during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, LRI Investments LLC bought a new position in American Electric Power during the 1st quarter worth $37,000. 75.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

American Electric Power Trading Down 1.1 %

AEP traded down $1.09 during trading on Friday, reaching $100.28. 1,900,833 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,178,522. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $100.29 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $92.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.86 billion, a PE ratio of 18.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.54. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a one year low of $69.38 and a one year high of $105.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.53.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $4.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.74 billion. American Electric Power had a net margin of 13.52% and a return on equity of 11.31%. American Electric Power’s revenue for the quarter was up 4.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.13 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Electric Power Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 9th were given a $0.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 9th. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 65.31%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on AEP shares. Bank of America upped their target price on American Electric Power from $97.00 to $98.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $101.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on American Electric Power from $102.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Finally, Guggenheim lifted their target price on American Electric Power from $81.00 to $83.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, July 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $96.79.

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.