Ladenburg Thalmann Rates American Electric Power (AEP) buy

Analyst Paul Fremont keeps a buy rating on American Electric Power, pointing to a target price of $143 as shares trade around $133.15, a 7.40% upside from the current price.

By EarningsIQ Research Desk · Published Jun 18, 2026, 4:01 PM EDT · Updated Jun 25, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT

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Ladenburg Thalmann rated American Electric Power Company, Inc. ($AEP) "buy" with a $143 price target on June 18, 2026.

Since the rating, $AEP is up 7.3% after 1 week, up 2.6% after 1 month and up 0.3% to date (from the $126.73 close on Jun 18, 2026).

AEP American Electric Power Company, Inc.

$127.14 +12.30% year to date

Daily close · Oct 16, 2026

Key Points

Ladenburg Thalmann analyst Paul Fremont reiterated a buy rating on American Electric Power Company, Inc. with a price target of $143 on June 18, 2026.
Ladenburg Thalmann's $143 price target implies 7.40% upside from American Electric Power Company, Inc.'s ($AEP) current $133.15 share price.
The shares recently changed hands at $133.15, sitting below the firm's target and within a 52-week trading range spanning from $106.78 to $140.58.
Wall Street maintains a general consensus buy recommendation for the utility provider, backed by a mean target price of $143.23 across twenty professional opinions.

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Ladenburg Thalmann Keeps Buy View on American Electric Power

On June 18, 2026, analyst Paul Fremont of Ladenburg Thalmann reaffirmed a buy rating for American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NasdaqGS: AEP), keeping the price target at $143. This update keeps the focus on how the utility provider's current share price compares against professional expectations on Wall Street. Prior reports from earlier in the year showed firms like Quantinno Capital Management growing their positions, while others such as HSBC Holdings and Optiver Holding trimmed their stakes.

Stock Price and Market Position

The company shares recently changed hands at $133.15, placing the stock well inside its 52-week band that stretches from a low of $106.78 up to a high of $140.58. With a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 20.80 and a forward P/E of 17.51, the utility trades above its 50-day moving average of $126.41 and its 200-day moving average of $126.92. The $143 target set by Ladenburg Thalmann sits above the current trading level, leaving room compared to the peak price seen over the past year.

12-month forecast

$AEP price target

American Electric Power Company, Inc. daily closes and this analyst's $143 target. Not advice.

Recent Earnings

For the period, the business posted annual revenues of $22.79 billion alongside a revenue growth rate of 7.0%. Profitability metrics show a net margin of 13.78% and a return on equity of 10.13%, with earnings per share resting at $5.77. Market participants will look toward the company's next earnings report on October 29, 2026, to check on ongoing utility operations.

Earnings drift grade

Outlook vs expectations on the last report — not price action.

B- 69/100

Reported May 5, 2026

Forward outlook
6 target raises vs 1 cuts.
EPS & revenue
EPS beat estimates by 3.5%. Revenue beat estimates by 4.9%.
Profit surprise
EBITDA missed by 11 percent. Operating income missed by 20 percent.
Pre-earnings setup
Expectations were about average.
Analyst signal
6 target raises, 1 target cut.
Earnings quality
Gross margin up 31.5 points. Operating margin down 3.2 points. Positive free cash flow.

Earnings Call Summary

AEP delivered strong first quarter earnings of $1.64 per share, beating consensus of $1.55, driven by positive regulatory outcomes and higher load growth. The company secured 7 additional gigawatts of contracted load in the quarter, bringing total contracted load to 63 gigawatts by 2030, mostly from data centers and industrial customers in Texas, Ohio, Indiana and Oklahoma. Management highlighted concerns about PJM's interconnection speed and is evaluating alternatives to ensure faster load connection, while also noting that customers value AEP's transmission expertise and ability to deliver on aggressive timelines.

Guidance AEP reaffirmed full year 2026 earnings guidance of $6.15 to $6.45 per share. The company raised its 5-year capital plan to $78 billion from $72 billion, expecting 11 percent rate base growth annually. Long-term earnings growth is now expected to exceed 9 percent per year through 2030, up from 7 to 9 percent.

Slightly positive report. The quarter was acceptable, but the forward setup is not strong.

Dividend

Shareholders receive an annual dividend rate of $3.80 per share, which works out to a dividend yield of 3.17%. The payout is supported by a dividend payout ratio of 65.51%, reflecting how much of the firm's earnings flow directly back to investors through regular distributions.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Other financial institutions have also adjusted their views on the stock over recent months. On October 13, 2026, Keybanc upgraded the stock to an overweight rating with a $133 target. Earlier, on October 12, 2026, Barclays maintained an equal-weight rating while lowering its target from $129 to $120. Morgan Stanley also maintained an overweight rating on September 18, 2026, setting a target of $128 after earlier adjustments. Overall, the stock holds a consensus buy rating with a mean price target of $143.23 derived from twenty analyst opinions, where targets stretch from a low of $128 up to a high of $173.

Utility Operations in Columbus

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, American Electric Power operates as an electric public utility holding company that manages generation, transmission, and distribution for retail and wholesale customers. The enterprise maintains extensive circuit miles of distribution and transmission lines while utilizing diverse generation sources including coal, nuclear, natural gas, and renewables to supply energy across its service territories.

What to Watch at American Electric Power Company, Inc.

Investors tracking American Electric Power will want to watch how shares perform relative to the $143 target ahead of the upcoming earnings release in late October. Monitoring broader utility sector trends and further institutional filing disclosures will also help clarify where large institutional capital flows next.