American Electric Power increases dividend by 5.7% in 2020

American Electric Power Company (AEP) will raise its quarterly dividend by 5.7 percent to 74 cents per share in 2020. This follows a 4.5 percent increase to $0.70 per share in 2019 and will mark the 11th consecutive year of annual dividend increases by the utility holding company.

The dividend is payable Dec. 10, 2020, to shareholders of record as of Nov. 10, 2020, and is the company's 442nd consecutive quarterly common stock cash dividend. A new annual rate of $2.96 per share yields 3.3% at a stock price of $90.63.

In Today's press release AEP states that the increase is in line with the company's 5% to 7% operating earnings growth range. "AEP remains focused on delivering reliable, affordable and clean energy to our customers, while providing value to our shareholders," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "AEP has paid a cash dividend on its common stock every quarter since 1910, and we're pleased our strategic business decisions continue to provide increased returns to our shareholders."

Also today Whirlpool Corporation announced a dividend increase of 4.2 percent.

American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP's approximately 17,400 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electricity transmission system and more than 221,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.5 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 30,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 5,300 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners, and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.