American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) Given New $128.00 Price Target at Barclays

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) had its price target upped by Barclays from $121.00 to $128.00 in a report released on Friday morning,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the company. Mizuho lifted their price target on American Electric Power from $123.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of American Electric Power from $123.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 27th. Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of American Electric Power in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of American Electric Power from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $128.00 to $137.00 in a research report on Monday, November 17th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of American Electric Power from a “peer perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $142.00 target price on the stock in a report on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $129.28.

American Electric Power Stock Up 2.8%

Shares of AEP opened at $129.94 on Friday. American Electric Power has a fifty-two week low of $97.46 and a fifty-two week high of $130.07. The company’s fifty day moving average is $117.58 and its two-hundred day moving average is $115.95. The firm has a market cap of $69.40 billion, a PE ratio of 19.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.15 by $0.04. American Electric Power had a net margin of 16.37% and a return on equity of 10.65%. The firm had revenue of $5.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.07 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.24 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 13.2% on a year-over-year basis. American Electric Power has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.150-6.450 EPS. Analysts forecast that American Electric Power will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 10th will be issued a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 10th. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio is 55.39%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Benjamin G. S. Fowke III sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.07, for a total value of $575,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 25,898 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,980,082.86. This represents a 16.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Electric Power

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of AEP. West Family Investments Inc. bought a new position in American Electric Power during the second quarter worth about $256,000. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI raised its stake in American Electric Power by 462.1% in the third quarter. Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft FI now owns 52,953 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,958,000 after buying an additional 43,533 shares during the period. Benjamin Edwards Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Electric Power by 228.6% in the third quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 51,659 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,812,000 after buying an additional 35,938 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 5.9% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 7,802,211 shares of the company’s stock worth $809,557,000 after acquiring an additional 432,441 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Electric Power by 807.5% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 263,751 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,672,000 after acquiring an additional 234,689 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting American Electric Power this week:

• Positive Sentiment: AEP beat Q4 EPS and revenue estimates, reaffirmed FY2026 operating EPS guidance of $6.15–$6.45 and reiterated 7%–9% long‑term earnings growth — supports the rally. AEP Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results
• Positive Sentiment: AEP said contracted large‑load pipeline doubled to 56 GW (data centers) by 2030 — a major demand catalyst that underpins higher transmission/distribution investment and revenue visibility. AEP contracted large load pipeline doubles to 56 GW
• Positive Sentiment: Company expanded its five‑year capital plan (> $72B) and identified $5B–$8B of incremental investment opportunities to meet surging electricity demand — suggests sustained higher capex and regulated rate base growth. AEP expands spending plan, beats profit estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its price target to $141 and maintained a Buy rating, giving additional analyst support for upside. Goldman Sachs adjusts price target on American Electric Power to $141
• Neutral Sentiment: Mizuho nudged its target to $130 with a Neutral rating — less bullish than Goldman, so not a major directional driver. AEP price target raised at Mizuho
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple analyst writeups and presentations highlight data centers as a multi‑year catalyst; useful context but mostly reiterative analysis. Seeking Alpha: Data Centers Are A Catalyst
• Neutral Sentiment: Short‑interest notes in some feeds show odd/zero values (likely reporting artifacts) and are not a reliable driver of today’s move.
• Negative Sentiment: TipRanks flagged a new risk about trade‑policy and geopolitical shifts that could raise procurement costs and pressure cash flows over time — a longer‑term risk to margins and capital program costs. TipRanks: Trade Policy Shifts and Geopolitical Risks Threaten AEP

American Electric Power Company Profile

American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP) is a major investor-owned electric utility headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The company is primarily engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, operating a diverse portfolio of power plants and an extensive high-voltage transmission network. AEP serves retail customers through its regulated utility subsidiaries and provides wholesale power and grid services across multiple regional markets in the United States.

Operations span the full utility value chain: AEP owns and operates generation assets that include fossil-fuel, natural gas, nuclear and hydropower facilities, and it has been adding renewable resources to its mix.