September 5, 2024
Top 10 Stock American Electric Power Hold Recommendation



How to read the ranks

For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:

Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

Snapshot: American Electric Power – Top 10 Stock in Nuclear Energy


aep.com


American Electric Power is listed as a top 10 stock on September 05, 2024 in the market index Nuclear because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only one consolidated Obermatt Rank is above-average. The company is growing above average, but all other facts speak against a stock purchase, especially the low market sentiment by professional investors. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 48 (48% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for American Electric Power on September 05, 2024.


Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks


Country USA
Industry Electric Utilities
Index Low Emissions, Diversity USA, Nuclear, Recycling, S&P 500
Size class XX-Large
Latest Research


Top 10 Stocks ≠ most popular stocks

When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).

For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).


360° View: Obermatt 360° View American Electric Power Hold

360 METRICS September 5, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 48 (better than 48% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock American Electric Power are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for American Electric Power. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 100, which means that the company experiences above-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth, as well as stock returns. It ranks higher than 100% of competitors in the same industry. The other indicators are below average, namely the Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks.The Value Rank at 45 means that the share price of American Electric Power is on the high side compared with its peers regarding revenues, profits, and invested capital. The stock price is higher than for 55% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 20, which means that the company has a riskier financing structure than 80% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. The consolidated Sentiment Rank also has a low rank of 39, indicating professional investors are more pessimistic about the stock than for 61% of alternative investment opportunities. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 48, American Electric Power is worse than 52% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits excellent performance, namely the above-average growth (Growth Rank of 100), it is a riskier stock investment proposition. Aside from the critical professional market sentiment (Sentiment Rank of 39), the company is rather risky when it comes to financing (Safety Rank of 20). The negative market view on American Electric Power may be due to the high stock price (low value). A growth company like this may get too expensive at one point in time. If too many investors are desperate to join the party, they may drive stock prices above reasonable levels. While it is typical for growth companies to have low value, because investors are willing to pay more for companies that are expected to have high growth, the crucial question is: how much more do you pay for the stock of American Electric Power compared with alternatives? You can use the following rule of thumb: The value rank shouldn’t be lower than one minus the growth rank. For example, if the growth rank is at 75, and the value rank is at 5, you should tread carefully. If the value rank is at 40, it still might be a good value (even though it is lower than 50). As market sentiment is critical, you should be careful with paying more than market-average for this stock and conduct further research into the company's future growth potential. ...read more




Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for American Electric Power only reserved

SENTIMENT METRICS September 5, 2024
ANALYST OPINION
ANALYST OPINION
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 39 (better than 39% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock American Electric Power is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all but one indicator above average for American Electric Power. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 30 (worse than 70% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to warn against investing in the stock of the company. But they are changing their opinions! Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 53, which indicates a shift in stock research experts opinions for the better. In other words, they are getting more optimistic about stock investments in American Electric Power. Even better, the Professional Investors rank is 55, meaning that professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 55% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Furthermore, Market Pulse has a rank of 52, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are upbeat when discussing this company (more positive news than for 52% of competitors). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 39 (less encouraging than 61% compared with investment alternatives), American Electric Power has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. While analysts are still critical of the company, some are changing their minds. In addition, the professional news channels are optimistic, and many institutional investors have already bought stock in the company. These are encouraging signals, despite the still lower level of analyst recommendations. They may be due to a problematic past, and about to change. The positive sentiment signals are stronger than the negative. ...read more



Value Strategy: American Electric Power Stock Price Value below-average critical

VALUE METRICS September 5, 2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with alternatives), American Electric Power shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for American Electric Power. Price-to-Sales is 36 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 64% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning American Electric Power's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 37, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of American Electric Power. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 45 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 51% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation based on American Electric Power's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for American Electric Power? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as American Electric Power? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. American Electric Power may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. ...read more



Growth Strategy: American Electric Power Growth Momentum high

GROWTH METRICS September 5, 2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 100 (better than 100% compared with alternatives) for 2024, American Electric Power shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators above average for American Electric Power. Sales Growth has a value of 63, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 63% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 79 and for Capital Growth with 93. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 99, which means they have been higher than 99% of comparable investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 100, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, American Electric Power exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. ...read more



Safety Strategy: American Electric Power Debt Financing Safety risky

SAFETY METRICS September 5, 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 20 (better than 20% compared with alternatives), the company American Electric Power has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of American Electric Power is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with all three metrics below average for American Electric Power. Liquidity is at 31, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 69% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 26, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 74% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 36 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 64% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 20 (worse than 80% compared with alternatives), American Electric Power has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing.



Combined financial peformance: American Electric Power Above-Average Financial Performance

COMBINED PERFORMANCE September 5, 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 68 (better than 68% compared with investment alternatives), American Electric Power (Electric Utilities, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of American Electric Power are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 45 (worse than 55% of alternatives), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 20, which means above-average debt burdens) but show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 100). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 68, is a buy recommendation based on American Electric Power's financial characteristics. As the company American Electric Power shows low value with an Obermatt Value Rank of 45 (55% of comparable investments are less expensive), investors should look at the other ranks. In this case, growth is expected to be above-average, better than 100% of comparable companies (Obermatt Growth Rank is 100). This is a typical case. Companies with above average growth tend to cost more than stocks with slower growth expectations. If this is a high-growth company, the low Obermatt Safety Rank of 20 is a good sign. The more debt a well-performing company has, the higher the returns to shareholders. However, if growth turns negative or interest rates increase, high debt may become a burden. If you believe the future is bright for American Electric Power, even a low-value company (in terms of its key financial indicators) can be a good investment. ...read more

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