Yahoo Finance Should You Be Adding American Electric Power Company (NASDAQ:AEP) To Your Watchlist Today?
Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes.
In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies like American Electric Power Company (NASDAQ:AEP), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation. Conversely, a loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the sweet milk of external capital may run sour.
See our latest analysis for American Electric Power Company
How Fast Is American Electric Power Company Growing?
The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so share price follows earnings per share (EPS) eventually. It's no surprise, then, that I like to invest in companies with EPS growth. Over the last three years, American Electric Power Company has grown EPS by 4.5% per year. That might not be particularly high growth, but it does show that per-share earnings are moving steadily in the right direction.
One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. Unfortunately, American Electric Power Company's revenue dropped 4.1% last year, but the silver lining is that EBIT margins improved from 18% to 21%. That's not ideal.
You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.
You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for American Electric Power Company's future profits.
Are American Electric Power Company Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a US$43b company like American Electric Power Company. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. To be specific, they have US$34m worth of shares. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Despite being just 0.08% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture.
Should You Add American Electric Power Company To Your Watchlist?
As I already mentioned, American Electric Power Company is a growing business, which is what I like to see. Just as polish makes silverware pop, the high level of insider ownership enhances my enthusiasm for this growth. The combination sparks joy for me, so I'd consider keeping the company on a watchlist. Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for American Electric Power Company (1 can't be ignored) you should be aware of.
You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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