American Electric upgraded to Outperform from Peer Perform at Wolfe Research

Wolfe Research analyst Steve Fleishman upgraded American Electric (AEP) to Outperform from Peer Perform with a $142 price target American Electric is targeting 7%-9% long-term EPS growth but sees at least a 9% compound annual growth rate through 2030, supported by a $72B 2026-2030 capital plan focused on Transmission and Distribution, regulated generation, and renewables, alongside significant data center-driven load growth, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Improving regulatory frameworks, manageable equity needs, and a strengthened management team position American Electric among higher-growth utility peers, with potential upside to be detailed later this year, the firm says.