American Electric Power Stock (NASDAQ: AEP)

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:AEP) Stock

American Electric Power

American Electric Power is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States, providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. About 42% of AEP's of capacity is coal, with the remainder from a mix of natural gas (27%), renewable energy and hydro (21%), nuclear (8%), and demand response (2%). Vertically integrated utilities, transmission and distribution, and generation and marketing support earnings.

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Wall Street climbed on Thursday, even as the Producer Price Index (PPI) sharply exceeded estimates in January, reigniting concerns over persistent inflationary pressures. 

Stocks Rise Despite Hot Producer Inflation, Intel Soars, Bitcoin Drops Below $96,000: What&#39;s Driving Markets Thursday?

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AEP reports Q4 revenue of $4.70B, missing consensus of $4.88B. Total energy distribution &amp; commercial load rose. FY25 adjusted EPS reaffirmed at $5.75-$5.95.

American Electric Power Misses On Revenue, Tops Profit Forecasts, Reaffirms 2025 Outlook (CORRECTED)

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AI&#39;s impact on electricity demand is uncertain with the emergence of DeepSeek, causing confusion among investors and leading to a sell-off in power stocks. Less sensitive ETFs include XLU, RSPU, and GRID.

3 ETFs To Navigate Utility Stock Volatility As DeepSeek Challenges Power Demand Forecasts

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Wall Street climbed on Thursday, even as the Producer Price Index (PPI) sharply exceeded estimates in January, reigniting concerns <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43692996/inflation-fears-mount-as-producer-prices-soar-to-35-put-fed-interest-rate-cut-on-ice">over persistent inflationary pressures. </a>
Despite the hotter-than-expected PPI reading—up 3.5% year-over-year in January, surpassing the 3.3% forecast—investors found some relief in certain PPI components that influence the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, which showed signs of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/02/43701823/economists-breathe-sigh-of-relief-why-producer-inflation-isnt-as-bad-as-it-seems">cooling compared to December.</a>
Investor risk appetite remained supported by expectations of ceasefire talks in Ukraine following a conversation between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier. 
By midday trading in New York, all major indices were in positive territory, with technology stocks leading the gains. Among semiconductor stocks, Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) continued to rally, surging 10% after strong performances in prior sessions. 
The U.S. chipmaker benefited from renewed buying momentum following comments from Vice President J.D. Vance, who indicated that the Trump administration plans to ease regulations to accelerate AI chip innovation in the U.S.
Intel has now soared over 27% this week, tracking its best weekly performance since 1974. 
The U.S. dollar extended its decline as Treasury yields pulled back sharply, reversing Wednesday&#8217;s surge.
In commodities, gold edged up 0.4% to $2,918 per ounce, oil remained steady at $71 per barrel, and natural gas surged 2.4% to $3.66 per million British thermal units. 
Sentiment in cryptocurrency markets remained subdued, with Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) sliding 2.4% to trade below $96,000.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,903.94</td>
<td>0.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,088.51</td>
<td>0.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,493.13</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,261.64</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021325&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.6% to $606.89.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) rose 0.3% to $445.18.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.9% to $532.98.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.4% to $224.58.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) outperformed, up 1.1%; the&nbsp;Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLI#NYSE">XLI</a>) lagged, down 1.2%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
Stocks reacting to company earnings reports included:
<ul>
<li>Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>): up 2.05%</li>
<li>Zoetis Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZTS#NYSE">ZTS</a>): down 7.8%</li>
<li>Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DUK#NYSE">DUK</a>): down 2.5%</li>
<li>American Electric Power Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>): down 0.6%</li>
<li>Equinix Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQIX#NASDAQ">EQIX</a>): down 1.9%</li>
<li>Moody's Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCO#NYSE">MCO</a>): up 2.9%</li>
<li>Deere &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>): down 1.5%</li>
<li>PPL Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPL#NYSE">PPL</a>): down 1.8%</li>
<li>MGM Resorts International (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MGM#NYSE">MGM</a>): up 17.9%</li>
<li>Paycom Software Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PAYC#NYSE">PAYC</a>): flat</li>
<li>HubSpot Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUBS#NYSE">HUBS</a>): up 1.6%</li>
<li>Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LECO#NASDAQ">LECO</a>): up 11.7%</li>
<li>Curtiss-Wright Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CW#NYSE">CW</a>): down 0.5%</li>
<li>West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WST#NYSE">WST</a>): down 34%</li>
<li>CBRE Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CBRE#NYSE">CBRE</a>): up 1.1%</li>
<li>DTE Energy Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DTE#NYSE">DTE</a>): up 2.4%</li>
<li>AppLovin Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APP#NASDAQ">APP</a>): up 19.9%</li>
<li>Reddit Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RDDT#NYSE">RDDT</a>): down 8.8%. </li>
</ul>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43703014/robert-f-kennedy-confirmed-as-trump-secretary-of-health">Robert F. Kennedy, Vaccine Skeptic, Confirmed As Trump&#8217;s Secretary Of Health: Health Care Stocks To Watch</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Ryan DeBerardinis via Shutterstock

Stocks Rise Despite Hot Producer Inflation, Intel Soars, Bitcoin Drops Below $96,000: What's Driving Markets Thursday?

Editor&#8217;s Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that AEP released earnings on Thursday.
On Thursday, American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) reported fourth quarter revenue of $4.70 billion, missing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/02/n43688479/aep-reports-2024-earnings-results" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the consensus of $4.88 billion</a>.
Total energy distribution rose 4.0%&nbsp;year over year (Y/Y) in the Vertically Integrated Utilities segment and&nbsp;rose&nbsp;10.3% Y/Y&nbsp;in the Transmission &amp; Distribution Utilities segment.&nbsp;
Commercial load rose by 10.6% in 2024, led by economic expansion within the company&#8217;s service area.
Adjusted operating earnings rose to&nbsp;$660.1 million&nbsp;in the quarter from&nbsp;$646.9 million&nbsp;a year ago.&nbsp;
Adjusted operating earnings from Vertically Integrated Utilities rose to&nbsp;$275.5 million&nbsp;from&nbsp;$237.8 million&nbsp;the prior year, and AEP Transmission Holdco grew to&nbsp;$166.3 million&nbsp;from&nbsp;$159.3 million in the prior&nbsp;year's quarter.
Adjusted EPS&nbsp;of&nbsp;$1.24 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the consensus of&nbsp;$1.22</a>.
FY25&nbsp;Outlook: American Electric Power reaffirmed FY25 adjusted EPS of&nbsp;$5.75&nbsp;–&nbsp;$5.95&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance" rel="noreferrer noopener">vs consensus of&nbsp;$5.88</a>.
The company continues to see a long-term growth rate&nbsp;outlook of&nbsp;6%&nbsp;to&nbsp;8%.
Bill Fehrman, AEP president and chief executive officer, said, &#8220;We anticipate 8-9% annual total retail load growth from 2025-2027 and ultimately expect to serve more than 20 gigawatts of new load by the end of the decade.&#8221;
&#8221;Our $54 billion, five-year capital plan that we announced in the fall supports this opportunity as we build infrastructure that meets the needs of our customers, communities and the states that we serve. Further, as we continue to review the full scope of our infrastructure needs, we are evaluating $10 billion of potential incremental investment across our service territory and regional transmission grids,&#8221; he added.
AEP Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Trevor Mihalik said, &#8220;The $2.82 billion minority equity interest transaction we announced in early January for our Ohio and Indiana Michigan Transmission Companies gives us financial flexibility to redeploy the proceeds and support economic growth in our states, while maintaining our commitment to a strong balance sheet.&#8221;
&#8221;This was a creative and effective way to finance the growth we are seeing, equivalent to issuing common stock at $170 per share, a significant premium to our current share price. We recently submitted the necessary regulatory filing and expect to close on the transaction in the second half of the year,&#8221; Mihalik added.
Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;Listed Funds Trust TrueShares Eagle Global Renewable Energy Income ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RNWZ#NYSE">RNWZ</a>)&nbsp;and Themes ETF Trust Themes Uranium &amp; Nuclear ETF (BATS:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/URAN#BATS">URAN</a>).
Price Action: AEP shares were up 0.46% to $102.35 on Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/43356785/3-etfs-to-navigate-utility-stock-volatility-as-deepseek-challenges-power-demand-forecasts" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3 ETFs To Navigate Utility Stock Volatility As DeepSeek Challenges Power Demand Forecasts</a></li>
</ul>
This illustration was generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

EARNINGS GUIDANCE
AEP management reaffirms its 2025 operating earnings guidance range of $5.75 to $5.95 per share. Operating earnings could differ from GAAP earnings for matters such as mark-to-market adjustments, divestitures, impairments or changes in accounting principles. AEP management is not able to forecast if any of these items will occur or any amounts that may be reported for future periods. Therefore, AEP is not able to provide a corresponding GAAP equivalent for earnings guidance.

American Electric Power Affirms FY2025 Adj EPS Guidance Of $5.75-$5.95 vs $5.88 Estimate

American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.24 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.22 by 1.64 percent. This is a 0.81 percent increase over earnings of $1.23 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $4.70 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $4.88 billion by 3.70 percent. This is a 2.60 percent increase over sales of $4.58 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

American Electric Power Q4 2024 Adj EPS $1.24 Beats $1.22 Estimate, Sales $4.70B Miss $4.88B Estimate

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Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital

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Earnings Scheduled For February 13, 2025

As AI develops, a shift in expectations for electricity demand is becoming more evident. The emergence of Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek has led to uncertainty about future electricity consumption, impacting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/utilities">utility and power stocks. </a>
Investors in the traditional power and utilities sector are facing uncertainty after riding last year's wave of soaring demand projections. The rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centers—critical to AI and other tech innovations—had fueled a surge in power stocks. However, the question mark on this forecast has brought <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">power-focused ETFs</a> back into the limelight for the wrong reasons. Although experts believe this is most likely a temporary panic, here are 3 ETFs that may be less sensitive to short-term chaos:
Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>) 
XLU provides exposure to major U.S. utility companies, including American Electric Power Co. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) and Southern Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>). The ETF is a popular choice for investors seeking stable returns and dividend income from regulated utilities, which are less sensitive to short-term market disruptions. The expense ratio is 0.09%.
Invesco S&amp;P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RSPU#NYSE">RSPU</a>)
Traditional utility ETFs are market-cap weighted. On the contrary, this ETF assigns equal weight to its holdings, which allows the investor to spread out risks. It includes companies involved in electricity production, transmission, and renewable energy, making it a potential hedge against volatility in the energy sector. The expense ratio is 0.4%.
First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Smart Grid Infrastructure Index Fund (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GRID#NASDAQ">GRID</a>)
GRID focuses on companies engaged in smart grid technology, electrification infrastructure, and power transmission. As the U.S. accelerates its shift to renewable energy, investments in smart grids and electricity storage could benefit from long-term demand growth, regardless of AI-related fluctuations.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/sector-etfs/25/01/43350500/deepseek-shakes-up-ai-stocks-3-healthcare-tech-etfs-offer-stability-innovation">DeepSeek Shakes Up AI Stocks: 3 Healthcare Tech ETFs Offer Stability, Innovation</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The AI Revolution and Its Impact on Power Demand</h3>
The DeepSeek issue challenges long-standing projections about electricity demand driven by AI data centers. DeepSeek&#8217;s AI model, reportedly uses &#8220;10 to 40 times less energy&#8221; than similar U.S. models, according to a <a href="https://www.eenews.net/articles/game-changer-what-deepseek-ai-means-for-electricity/">report </a>by E&amp;E News. 
Utilities and natural gas companies, which had been soaring on expectations of rising AI-driven electricity demand, suffered steep losses. According to Reuters, independent power provider Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>) plunged by about 20%, Vistra (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VST#NYSE">VST</a>) dropped 30%, and Talen Energy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLN#NASDAQ">TLN</a>) fell 22% after news of DeepSeek&#8217;s advancements hit.
While some experts believe this could reset expectations for power growth, others argue that broader electrification trends, including U.S. manufacturing expansion and cryptocurrency mining, will keep electricity demand high. 
&#8220;Overall electricity demand is still going to surge because other major drivers — particularly U.S. manufacturing and cryptocurrency — are not going to be affected by DeepSeek,&#8221; said Betsy Soehren Jones, managing director at West Monroe, as reported by E&amp;E News.
DeepSeek&#8217;s accomplishment could even cast doubt on nuclear power demand, which tech companies see as a key source of clean energy for AI development. Investors have expected high premiums for nuclear power, over $100/MWh, but new efficiency gains may change that, Jefferies said in a client note, <a href="https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news-and-insights/latest-market-news/2652323-deepseek-undermines-ai-power-demand-forecasts">according </a>to Argus Media. 
Lower AI data center power demand could also weaken support for next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs), backed by companies like Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43267966/deepseeks-low-cost-model-reshapes-ai-landscape-experts-predict-shift-to-application-layer">DeepSeek&#8217;s Low-Cost Model Reshapes AI Landscape: Experts Predict Shift To &#8216;Application Layer&#8217;</a>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What BofA Says About the Power and Utility Sector</h3>
A recent Bank of America (BofA) report suggests that the power and utility sector remains resilient despite the short-term market reaction to DeepSeek&#8217;s AI model. The report maintains a Buy rating on Constellation Energy with a revised price target of $366 and a Neutral rating on Vistra with a target of $183.
BofA analysts see the sell-off as an overreaction and expect data center demand to stay strong once the turbulence subsides.
The report describes DeepSeek as "more evolutionary than revolutionary" and that AI-driven data centers will continue to drive power consumption.
Additionally, BofA notes that supply and demand pressures in the energy market remain tight due to industrial expansion and electrification. The need for stable energy sources like nuclear power remains essential.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Will DeepSeek Really Change The Power Scenario?</h3>
While DeepSeek's AI model has introduced uncertainty in the short term, some analysts believe the sell-off in power stocks may be &#8220;short-sighted and short-lived,&#8221; as energy economist Ed Hirs noted, per a Reuters report. Even with more efficient AI models, demand for electricity is likely to rise due to continued digitalization and electrification.
All said, despite the sharp reaction in the market, broader trends in electrification and technology-driven growth suggest that electricity consumption will keep rising.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/25/01/43315374/ai-etfs-in-focus-as-alibaba-challenges-deepseek-with-new-model">AI ETFs In Focus As Alibaba Challenges DeepSeek With New Model</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Sundry Photography/ Shutterstock.com

American Electric Power's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NYSE">AEP</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.29% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 9.53 million shares sold short, which is 1.79% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.69 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>American Electric Power Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738169116_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for American Electric Power has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing American Electric Power's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, American Electric Power's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.16%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Looking Into American Electric Power's Recent Short Interest

As of Jan. 28, 2025, three stocks in the utilities sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Southern Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Southern Company will release its earnings for the fourth quarter of 2024 on Thursday, Feb. 20. The company's stock surged around 5% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SO">52-week high of $94.45</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 70.4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>SO Price Action: Shares of Southern gained 3.6% to close at $86.50 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Exelon Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXC#NASDAQ">EXC</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Jan. 21, Evercore ISI Group analyst Durgesh Chopra upgraded Exelon from In-Line to Outperform and raised the price target from $43 to $44.. The company's stock gained around 8% over the past month and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EXC">has a 52-week high</a> of $41.18.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 73.6</li>
<li>EXC Price Action: Shares of Exelon gained 3.4% to close at $40.70 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">American Electric Power Company Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Jan. 9, the company announced that a 50/50 strategic partnership between KKR &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) and PSP Investments has agreed to acquire 19.9% non-controlling equity interest in its Ohio and Indiana &amp; Michigan Transmission Companies (Transcos) for $2.82 billion.. The company's stock gained around 11% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP">52-week high</a> of $105.17.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 84.5</li>
<li>AEP Price Action: Shares of American Electric Power gained 4.5% to close at $102.63 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
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Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Top 3 Utilities Stocks You May Want To Dump In January

BofA Securities analyst Ross Fowler upgraded the shares of American Electric Power Company Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) from Underperform to Buy and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">raised the price target from $98 to $104.</a>
The analyst upgraded the stock after the company announced the sale of a 19.9% minority stake in its transmission holding assets for $2.8 billion, along with the appointment of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/25/01/n42844381/aep-names-seasoned-energy-executive-trevor-mihalik-executive-vice-president-chief-financial-office" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trevor Mihalik as CFO</a>.
The analyst sees the asset sale as a strategic move to meet external equity needs and expect AEP to continue addressing the equity overhang in the short term.
The analyst forecasts a more manageable $2 billion in equity issuance for the second half of 2025, with only the internal dividend reinvestment plan (~$100 million annually) needed to achieve 6% &#8211; 8% EPS growth.
The company&#8217;s progress toward strengthening its balance sheet and potential for EPS growth in future years make AEP an attractive investment opportunity, said the analyst.
Last week, AEP announced an agreement with KKR and PSP Investments, under which AEP will sell a 19.9% minority stake in its I&amp;M and Ohio <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42910243/kkr-and-psp-secure-199-stake-in-american-electric-for-282b" rel="noreferrer noopener">transmission businesses for $2.82 billion</a>.
The analyst expects the proceeds to be primarily used to reduce debt in the short term, and the analyst lowered the equity needs forecast to $2 billion in the form of external issuance.
This leaves just $100 million of internal dividend reinvestment plans to meet equity requirements through the 2029 forecast period, noted the analyst.
Following the transaction, the analyst has revised the EPS outlook to $5.83 for 2025, $6.26 for 2026, $6.80 for 2027, and $7.33 for 2028.
This aligns with AEP&#8217;s guidance for an average EPS accretion of $0.11 &#8211; $0.12, with the most significant accretion occurring in 2027-2029.
The analyst values AEP using a sum-of-the-parts approach, leading to a slight discount compared to the industry average 2026 P/E multiple, based on 2026 EPS estimate of $6.26.
Price Action: AEP shares are trading higher by 1.20% at $94.63 on the last check Monday.
Photo by Ground Picture on Shutterstock.

Analyst Color

Upgrades

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

General

American Electric Power Is Attractive Going Forward, Analyst Double-Upgrades Stock

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">analyst ratings page</a>.
<ul>
<li>Needham analyst Bernie McTernan upgraded the rating for Maplebear Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CART#NASDAQ">CART</a>) from Hold to Buy and announced a $56 price target. Maplebear shares closed at $44.23 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CART/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Jefferies analyst John Colantuoni upgraded Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>) from Underperform to Hold and raised the price target from $45 to $55. Etsy shares closed at $52.57 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ETSY/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Evercore ISI Group analyst David Raso upgraded the rating for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) from Underperform to In-Line and announced a $365 price target. Caterpillar shares closed at $351.00 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CAT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst Simeon Gutman upgraded RH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RH#NYSE">RH</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and increased the price target from $435 to $530. RH shares closed at $413.95 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/RH/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>B of A Securities analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith upgraded the rating for American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) from Underperform to Buy and raised the price target from $98 to $104. American Electric Power shares closed at $93.51 on Friday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
</ul>
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CART

ETSY

This Caterpillar Analyst Is No Longer Bearish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Monday

B of A Securities analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith upgrades American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) from Underperform to Buy and raises the price target from $98 to $104.

B of A Securities Upgrades American Electric Power to Buy, Raises Price Target to $104

BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker maintains American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $108 to $100.

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on American Electric Power, Lowers Price Target to $100

American Electric Power Company Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) shares are trading higher in premarket Friday.
The company announced that a 50/50 strategic partnership between KKR &amp; Co Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>) and PSP Investments has agreed to acquire&nbsp;19.9%&nbsp;non-controlling equity interest in its Ohio&nbsp;and&nbsp;Indiana&nbsp;&amp; Michigan Transmission Companies <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/42901587" rel="noreferrer noopener">(Transcos)&nbsp;for&nbsp;$2.82 billion.</a>
The deal is expected to boost AEP&#8217;s ability to finance its $54 billion capital investment plan over the next five years.
The partnership will also allow AEP to improve the reliability of its transmission infrastructure and strengthen its balance sheet, to meet growing customer demand in the Midwest.
The stake acquired represents roughly 5% of AEP&#8217;s overall transmission rate base. The capital raised through this transaction will fund key projects across transmission, distribution, and generation, helping AEP manage its equity financing requirements through 2029.
&#8220;Executing on our five-year capital plan is critical to meeting growing energy demand and bolstering reliability for our customers. Electricity demand is anticipated to grow significantly in AEP&#8217;s footprint by the end of the decade,&#8221; said&nbsp;Bill Fehrman,&#8221; said AEP President and CEO Bill Fehrman.
&#8220;KKR and PSP Investments are experienced investors in the utilities and energy space with a proven track record of successful infrastructure investments.&#8221;
The transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025 and is said to immediately benefit AEP&#8217;s earnings.
The agreement requires approval from FERC and clearance from the Committee on Foreign Investment in&nbsp;the U.S.
Price Action: AEP shares are trading higher by 0.81% at $93.01 in premarket at the last check Friday.
Photo via Shutterstock.

Asset Sales

Movers

American Electric Power Sells 19.9% Stake In Two Transmission Assets For $2.82B: Details

Today, investment funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm, and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board ("PSP Investments"), one of Canada's largest pension investors, announced an agreement to acquire a 19.9% interest in American Electric Power's ("AEP") Ohio and Indiana &amp; Michigan transmission companies for $2.82 billion. Founded in 1906 and one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., AEP has pioneered the country's energy system through the delivery of safe, reliable and affordable energy for millions of homes. The investment will support AEP's ability to meet increasing customer demand and enhance grid reliability. KKR and PSP Investments have formed a 50/50 strategic partnership to pursue the acquisition.

Reported Earlier, KKR and PSP Investments Acquire 19.9% Stake in AEP's Transmission Companies for $2.82B

Management

American Electric Power Appoints Trevor Mihalik As Executive VP & CFO, Effective Jan. 20; Mihalik To Succeed Chuck Zebula, Who Retires In March After Serving As Senior Advisor To The CEO

The most oversold stocks in the utilities sector presents an opportunity to buy into undervalued companies.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered oversold when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is below 30</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Here's the latest list of major oversold players in this sector, having an RSI near or below 30.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">National Grid plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NGG#NYSE">NGG</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Nov. 20, National Grid named Steve Smith as Chief Strategy and Regulation Officer. &#8220;It&#8217;s a privilege to be appointed to this role at the most exciting time for the energy sector in decades,&#8221; said Steve Smith &#8220;The strategy and regulation teams already deliver outstanding work to ensure National Grid is set up for success and that we continue to put our customers first. I am very much looking forward to continuing to build on this, as I take up the role on a permanent basis.&#8221; The company's stock fell around 6% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NGG">52-week low of $55.13</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 24&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>NGG Price Action: Shares of National Grid fell 0.3% to close at $58.86 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">latest NGG news</a>. </li>
</ul>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">American Electric Power Company Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>
<ul>
<li>On Dec. 12, JP Morgan analyst Jeremy Tonet downgraded American Electric Power from Overweight to Neutral and lowered the price target from $109 to $102. The company's stock fell around 7% over the past month and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AEP">has a 52-week low</a> of $75.22.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 29</li>
<li>AEP Price Action: Shares of American Electric Power fell 0.5% to close at $92.37 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s charting tool helped identify the trend in <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">AEP stock</a>. </li>
</ul>
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NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>)
<ul>
<li>On Dec. 12, Scotiabank analyst Andrew Weisel maintained NextEra Energy with a Sector Outperform and raised the price target from $92 to $96. The company's stock fell around 6% over the past month and has a 52-week <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NEE">low of $53.95</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 27</li>
<li>NEE Price Action: Shares of NextEra Energy gained 0.6% to close at $72.91 on Tuesday.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s signals feature notified of a potential <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent122624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">breakout in NEE shares</a>. </li>
</ul>
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Long Ideas

Top 3 Utilities Stocks You'll Regret Missing In December

Scotiabank analyst Andrew Weisel downgrades American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) from Sector Outperform to Sector Perform and lowers the price target from $105 to $102.

Downgrades

Scotiabank Downgrades American Electric Power to Sector Perform, Lowers Price Target to $102

JP Morgan analyst Jeremy Tonet downgrades American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) from Overweight to Neutral and lowers the price target from $109 to $102.

JP Morgan Downgrades American Electric Power to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $102

BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker maintains American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $104 to $108.

BMO Capital Maintains Outperform on American Electric Power, Raises Price Target to $108

Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella maintains American Electric Power (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEP#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) with a Equal-Weight and lowers the price target from $100 to $99.

Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on American Electric Power, Lowers Price Target to $99

Commodities

Contracts

Press Releases

AEP Leveraging Fuel Cell Technology to Power Data Center Growth

I&M and Stakeholders File Large Load Settlement to Advance Grid Reliability and Support Economic Growth

SWEPCO Expands Generation Capacity with New Power Plants

AEP Names Seasoned Energy Executive Trevor Mihalik Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

AEP Secures Minority Equity Interest Investment in Ohio and Indiana & Michigan Transmission Companies

AEP Seeking Grants To Assist With Advanced Nuclear Site Exploration in Indiana and Virginia

Dividends

AEP Declares Quarterly Dividend on Common Stock

AEP Named One of America's Most JUST Companies for Fifth Consecutive Year

AEP Reports 2024 Earnings Results

Indiana Michigan Power Receives Order in Large Load Settlement

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