RD Lewis Holdings Inc. Takes $1.81 Million Position in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP)

RD Lewis Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 18,011 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,807,000. American Electric Power accounts for about 2.1% of RD Lewis Holdings Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th biggest holding.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Electric Power in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ purchased a new position in American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new position in American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC purchased a new position in American Electric Power in the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in American Electric Power in the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.24% of the company’s stock.

American Electric Power Stock Performance

Shares of AEP opened at $105.86 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.50. The company’s fifty day moving average is $100.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.91. American Electric Power Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $79.16 and a 1 year high of $109.52.

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting 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 period in the previous year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that American Electric Power Company, Inc. will post 5.87 earnings per share for the current year.

American Electric Power Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a $0.93 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 10th. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.51%. American Electric Power’s dividend payout ratio is currently 66.43%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AEP has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $108.00 to $100.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of American Electric Power from $109.00 to $104.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a “neutral” rating and set a $102.00 price objective (down previously from $109.00) on shares of American Electric Power in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Scotiabank downgraded shares of American Electric Power from a “sector outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $105.00 to $102.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of American Electric Power from $100.00 to $99.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $98.46.

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.