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Shawn E. Schukar, Chairman and President of a subsidiary of Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE), a $28 billion utility company with a FAIR financial health rating according to InvestingPro, recently sold 4,743 shares of the company, according to a recent SEC filing. The shares were sold on March 4th at an average price of $103.79, totaling approximately $492,275. The transaction occurred near the stock’s 52-week high of $104.10, with Ameren maintaining its 28-year streak of consistent dividend payments. Following this transaction, Schukar holds 57,486 shares directly.
Additionally, on February 28th, 2,330 shares were withheld by Ameren to cover tax obligations related to the vesting of performance share units and restricted stock units. These shares were valued at $101.56 each, totaling $236,634. Schukar now has an indirect ownership of 3,049 shares through a 401(K) plan. For deeper insights into insider transactions and comprehensive analysis, access Ameren’s detailed Pro Research Report, available exclusively on InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Ameren Corporation reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, revealing mixed results with earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77, which missed the forecasted $0.81, but revenue exceeded expectations at $1.94 billion against an anticipated $1.92 billion. BMO Capital Markets, Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities, and Jefferies each raised their price targets for Ameren, reflecting positive sentiment towards the company’s strategic growth plans. BMO lifted its target to $105, maintaining an Outperform rating, while Mizuho also set a $105 target, citing Ameren’s revised capital expenditure plan of $26.3 billion for 2025-2029. Jefferies increased its target to $112, emphasizing Ameren’s expanded capital expenditures and anticipated EPS growth near the higher end of its 6-8% target range.
Ameren’s management confirmed its 2025 EPS guidance at $4.85 to $5.05, aligning with analyst expectations. The company also projected a 6-8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for EPS through 2029, supported by a 9.2% rate base growth. Ameren’s updated capital plan includes significant investments in generation, particularly in Missouri, to support large customer loads and enhance grid reliability. Analysts from BMO and Mizuho expressed confidence in Ameren’s financial prospects, with Mizuho highlighting the company’s strong update to its capital plan and Jefferies noting the company’s ability to maintain a strong balance sheet without altering its equity issuance plans.
These developments reflect Ameren’s strategic focus on infrastructure improvements and renewable energy initiatives, which have bolstered investor confidence despite the recent EPS shortfall.
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