American Electric Power Stock Outlook: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Core Insights - American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) is a major electric utility company focused on generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity, with a market capitalization of $64.1 billion [1] - AEP has made significant investments in renewable energy, grid modernization, and sustainability initiatives to enhance cleaner and more reliable power [1] Performance Overview - AEP's shares have increased by 24.4% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which gained 13.7% during the same period [2] - Year-to-date, AEP's stock has risen by 29.8%, compared to a 14.6% increase in the S&P 500 Index [2] - AEP has also outperformed the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU), which saw a 14.4% return over the past 52 weeks and a 17.2% year-to-date rise [3] Earnings Report - Following the Q3 earnings release, AEP's shares surged by 6.1%, despite an adjusted EPS of $1.80, which was a 2.7% decline from the previous year and below expectations [4] - AEP reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 operating earnings guidance of $5.75 to $5.95 per share, anticipating results in the upper half of this range, which may have positively influenced investor sentiment [4] Analyst Expectations - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts project AEP's EPS to grow by 5% year-over-year to $5.90 [5] - AEP's earnings surprise history is mixed, with three out of the last four quarters meeting or exceeding consensus estimates [5] - Among 22 analysts covering AEP, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with seven "Strong Buy," one "Moderate Buy," 13 "Hold," and one "Strong Sell" rating [5] Price Targets - Citigroup Inc. maintained a "Neutral" rating on AEP and raised its price target to $132, indicating a potential upside of 10.2% from current levels [6] - The mean price target is $127.34, representing a 6.3% premium from AEP's current price, while the highest price target of $139 suggests a 16% upside potential [6]