American Electric Power gets Morgan Stanley lift, shares trade near fresh target

Morgan Stanley has raised its price target for American Electric Power to 136 dollars and reiterated an Overweight rating, while Truist stays positive with a slightly lower target. The utilities name trades on NASDAQ close to the new level.

By Anna Wagner, Analysts & Consensus desk. Reviewed prior to publication on 2026-06-25, 15:40.

American Electric Power (US0255371017) sits in focus after a fresh analyst adjustment. Morgan Stanley raised its price target to 136 dollars and reiterated an Overweight stance on the NASDAQ-listed utility, according to a June 24 research update. Morgan Stanley utilities note cited by InsiderMonkey

What Morgan Stanley changed

Morgan Stanley’s new 136 dollar target for American Electric Power shares marks a modest lift from the previous 129 dollars, keeping the stock in the firm’s Overweight bucket for North American regulated and diversified utilities. Yahoo Finance summary of the Morgan Stanley update The analysts note that utilities recently lagged the S&P 500, positioning selective names such as American Electric Power as potential catch-up plays within the sector.

The same research round-up highlights American Electric Power as part of a group of reliable dividend payers, underlining the regulated earnings profile that tends to support steady cash flows over time. Analyst commentary on dividend stability Alongside Morgan Stanley, Truist updated its view on May 29, trimming its target from 148 to 145 dollars but maintaining a Buy rating on the shares, citing ongoing opportunities from data center-driven grid expansion. Truist research note reference

Consensus and recent earnings picture

Beyond single-house calls, the earnings backdrop for American Electric Power remains relatively robust. For the first quarter of 2026, the utility reported operating earnings of 1.64 dollars per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 1.55 dollars by around 5.8 percent. Zacks earnings analysis for AEP On a GAAP basis, earnings reached 1.61 dollars per share, up from 1.50 dollars a year earlier.

Management currently guides for full-year 2026 earnings in a band of 6.15 to 6.45 dollars per share, while Zacks cites a consensus at around 6.33 dollars, slightly above the midpoint of that range. Zacks on guidance and consensus for American Electric Power The stock carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), reflecting a neutral short-term stance even as longer-term research houses emphasize regulated growth and infrastructure demand.

The business behind the stock

American Electric Power generates most of its revenue by delivering electricity through a large regulated transmission and distribution network across several U.S. states. The group also owns power generation assets, including conventional plants and growing renewable capacity, serving residential, commercial and industrial customers on long-term regulated frameworks. Company profile on the American Electric Power website

Where the stock trades today

The American Electric Power shares (US0255371017) trade on NASDAQ at around 134.96 dollars as of 2026-06-24, 16:00 Eastern Time, according to delayed quotes. Arincen price data for AEP

Key data on the American Electric Power shares

• Company: American Electric Power Company, Inc.
• ISIN: US0255371017
• WKN: 850002
• Ticker: AEP
• Trading venue: NASDAQ
• Price (as of 2026-06-24, 16:00): 134.96 USD
• Market cap: approximately 73.4 billion USD (as of 2026-06-24)
• Sector / industry: Utilities – Electric
• Index membership: S&P 500
• Next earnings date: not officially scheduled

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. All data are based on publicly available sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication, but no guarantee is given for completeness or accuracy. Investors should conduct their own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.