BUZZ - U.S. power company shares rise as BTIG turns bullish

October 20 - ** Shares of American Electric Power (AEP.O) rose 1.5% in pre-market trading to $126.52

** BTIG upgraded the stock from “Neutral” to “Buy”; target price set at $147, representing about 18% upside from the previous session’s close

** The report notes that AEP is a key high-load growth enterprise, with contracted load orders reaching 69 gigawatts through 2030

** It pointed out that the company fully leverages its regional coverage advantage and focuses on “rapid power supply”

** The third-quarter financial report is expected to announce a higher capital expenditure plan, with incremental capital potentially exceeding $10 billion

** Earnings per share (EPS) expectations for 2026 and 2027 were raised from $6.40 and $6.93 to $6.45 and $6.95, respectively

** Of 24 brokerages, 15 rate the stock as “Buy” or above, 9 rate it “Hold”; the median target price is $142.91—data compiled by LSEG

** As of the previous session’s close, the stock had gained 8.16% year to date

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