Stock Traders Purchase High Volume of Ameren Call Options (NYSE:AEE)

Ameren Co. (NYSE:AEE) saw some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Investors acquired 2,984 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 2,268% compared to the typical volume of 126 call options.

Ameren Trading Up 0.9%

AEE opened at $95.14 on Thursday. Ameren has a one year low of $69.39 and a one year high of $104.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.44. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $98.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $94.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.52, a PEG ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.51.

Ameren (NYSE:AEE) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.08 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $2.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.92 billion. Ameren had a net margin of 15.51% and a return on equity of 10.34%. Ameren’s quarterly revenue was up 15.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.98 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Ameren will post 4.93 EPS for the current year.

Ameren Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, June 10th will be paid a $0.71 dividend. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 10th. Ameren’s payout ratio is currently 62.97%.

Insider Activity

In other Ameren news, insider Shawn E. Schukar sold 4,743 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.79, for a total value of $492,275.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 57,486 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,966,471.94. This trade represents a 7.62% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Craig S. Ivey sold 2,716 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.27, for a total transaction of $266,901.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 14,495 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,424,423.65. The trade was a 15.78% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 12,959 shares of company stock worth $1,316,712. 0.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Ameren

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Synergy Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. MJT & Associates Financial Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in Ameren in the first quarter worth $25,000. Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new position in Ameren during the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Ameren during the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, SouthState Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Ameren in the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. 79.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AEE has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Barclays boosted their target price on Ameren from $101.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. KeyCorp raised Ameren from a “sector weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $103.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Ameren from $106.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Guggenheim reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Ameren in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Ameren from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $101.80.

Ameren Company Profile

Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. It engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution business.