Ameren (NYSE:AEE) Reaches New 52-Week High Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE)’s share price hit a new 52-week high on Thursday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $108.90 and last traded at $108.5960, with a volume of 348085 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $106.02.

The utilities provider reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.01. Ameren had a net margin of 15.75% and a return on equity of 10.92%. The company had revenue of $1.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.69 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.77 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year.

Ameren Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 10th will be paid a $0.75 dividend. This is an increase from Ameren’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 10th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.8%. Ameren’s payout ratio is presently 57.69%.

More Ameren News

Here are the key news stories impacting Ameren this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 beat and stronger-than-expected revenue: Ameren reported $0.78 EPS vs. $0.77 consensus and revenue of $1.78B (above estimates), giving the quarter a mild upside vs. expectations. This supports the near-term earnings narrative. Ameren beats quarterly profit estimates on higher electricity rates
• Positive Sentiment: Company affirmed 2026 guidance and issued long‑term growth targets after reporting strong 2025 GAAP EPS ($5.35 vs. $4.42 in 2024), giving investors clearer forward visibility. Ameren Announces 2025 Results, Affirms Guidance for 2026
• Positive Sentiment: Missouri grid investments and Smart Energy Plan filing: Ameren Missouri filed an updated Smart Energy Plan highlighting infrastructure upgrades that limited storm impacts and sped restoration during the historic 2025 storm season — a constructive development for reliability, customer relations and future rate support. Ameren Missouri is building a stronger grid and delivering reliability for customers
• Positive Sentiment: Regulatory/asset boost: Missouri approved the Big Hollow Energy Center — an 800 MW natural gas plant paired with 400 MW battery storage — improving regional capacity and reliability that should support utility operations and potential ratebase growth. Missouri approves first-of-its kind resource to boost energy reliability
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst writeups and metric dives (Zacks, TipRanks) highlight that while EPS beat was positive, some line‑item trends and metric comparisons are mixed; these pieces provide context but no clear rerating signal yet. Here’s What Key Metrics Tell Us About Ameren (AEE) Q4 Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue declined year‑over‑year (down ~8.2%) and rising O&M/interest costs are a stated headwind — risks that could cap margin expansion and make future guidance sensitive to rate decisions and higher rates. Ameren Press Release / Slide Deck
• Negative Sentiment: Sector caution: some analysts (e.g., Jefferies coverage) warn investors to be selective in utilities as higher interest rates and capital intensity can compress returns — a macro risk for AEE’s valuation. Jefferies Loves 5 Dividend-Paying Utility Stocks but Warns of Caution

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on AEE. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Ameren from $121.00 to $115.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. KeyCorp lowered shares of Ameren from an “overweight” rating to a “sector weight” rating in a report on Friday, December 12th. Barclays cut their target price on Ameren from $111.00 to $104.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Mizuho upped their price target on Ameren from $108.00 to $114.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Argus upgraded Ameren to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $109.60.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Ameren news, insider Michael L. Moehn sold 6,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.60, for a total value of $673,400.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 193,076 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $20,002,673.60. The trade was a 3.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ameren

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Ameren by 22.9% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,077 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $811,000 after buying an additional 1,503 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its position in shares of Ameren by 19.8% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 6,255 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $628,000 after acquiring an additional 1,034 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its position in shares of Ameren by 42.2% during the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 22,802 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,289,000 after acquiring an additional 6,772 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new position in Ameren in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Ameren by 30.7% in the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,949 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $283,000 after acquiring an additional 693 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.09% of the company’s stock.

Ameren Trading Up 2.5%

The firm has a market capitalization of $29.41 billion, a PE ratio of 20.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.57. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $101.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of $102.01. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49.

About Ameren

Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) is an integrated energy company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that provides electric and natural gas delivery and related services in portions of Missouri and Illinois. The company operates regulated utility businesses that serve a broad mix of residential, commercial and industrial customers, and it participates in wholesale energy markets and transmission operations that support reliable service across its service territories.

Ameren’s core activities include generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, distribution of natural gas, and the provision of customer energy solutions such as demand-side management and energy efficiency programs.