Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Cuts Stock Position in Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans decreased its holdings in shares of Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE) by 0.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,481 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 138 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in Ameren were worth $1,267,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ameren by 106.1% in the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 2,498,158 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $177,644,000 after buying an additional 1,286,162 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in Ameren by 6.7% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,954,962 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $139,017,000 after acquiring an additional 123,427 shares during the last quarter. Maple Brown Abbott Ltd raised its position in Ameren by 2.3% during the second quarter. Maple Brown Abbott Ltd now owns 1,753,270 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $124,675,000 after purchasing an additional 38,750 shares during the period. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ameren by 8,645.7% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 1,160,998 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,015,410,000 after purchasing an additional 1,147,723 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Ameren by 192.6% in the 2nd quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd now owns 1,103,565 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $78,475,000 after purchasing an additional 726,404 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.09% of the company’s stock.

Ameren Trading Down 0.6 %

AEE opened at $94.39 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $88.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $81.03. The company has a market capitalization of $25.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.21, a PEG ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 0.45. Ameren Co. has a 52 week low of $67.03 and a 52 week high of $95.69.

Ameren Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.67 per share. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, December 11th. Ameren’s payout ratio is 63.06%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AEE has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays increased their price target on Ameren from $77.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Ameren from $91.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Ameren from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Argus raised shares of Ameren to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Ameren in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. They set a “buy” rating and a $97.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $87.78.

Insider Buying and Selling at Ameren

In related news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 6,500 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.15, for a total transaction of $598,975.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 205,171 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,906,507.65. This trade represents a 3.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.42% of the company’s stock.

Ameren Company Profile

Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. It engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution business.