Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Market Beat.com reports.

According to Zacks, “Ameren Corp. continues to invest in infrastructure development projects and smart meter installation, thereby improving service reliability and serving a larger customer base. Systematic asset divestment programs will enable the company to focus on its regulated business. The company's third-quarter 2015 earnings surpassed Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.6%. Earnings also surged 17.5% from the year-ago figure. The earnings beat reflects higher retail electric sales volume due to a warmer summer, and more investments in electric transmission and delivery infrastructure made at its Illinios electric business. However, stringent environmental regulations and operational risks might be potential growth deterrents.”

Separately, Barclays reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $46.00 price objective (up from $45.00) on shares of Ameren Corp in a report on Monday, January 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $47.33.

Several institutional investors recently bought and sold shares of the company. ICON Advisers raised its position in Ameren Corp by 2.6% in the third quarter. ICON Advisers now owns 303,500 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,829,000 after buying an additional 7,600 shares during the last quarter. Churchill Management raised its position in Ameren Corp by 7.9% in the fourth quarter. Churchill Management now owns 322,882 shares of the company’s stock worth $13,958,000 after buying an additional 23,515 shares during the last quarter. Alpha Windward raised its position in Ameren Corp by 4,254.5% in the fourth quarter. Alpha Windward now owns 10,625 shares of the company’s stock worth $459,000 after buying an additional 10,381 shares during the last quarter. Capstone Asset Management Company raised its position in Ameren Corp by 21.1% in the fourth quarter. Capstone Asset Management Company now owns 32,593 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,409,000 after buying an additional 5,670 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning raised its position in Ameren Corp by 27.7% in the fourth quarter. Creative Planning now owns 17,387 shares of the company’s stock worth $752,000 after buying an additional 3,769 shares during the last quarter.

Shares of Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE) opened at 44.92 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $43.27 and its 200-day moving average price is $42.20. Ameren Corp has a 12 month low of $37.26 and a 12 month high of $45.66. The company has a market cap of $10.90 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.84.

Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 6th. The company reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.78 billion. Ameren Corp’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.20 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Ameren Corp will post $2.60 EPS for the current year.

Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE) is a utility holding company. The Company operates in two segments: Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. The Company’s subsidiaries include Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. Ameren also has a subsidiary, ATXI that operates a FERC rate-regulated electric transmission business. Ameren Missouri operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution business and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri. It supplies electric and natural gas service to a 24,000-square-mile area in central and eastern Missouri. Ameren Illinois operates rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses in Illinois. Ameren Illinois supplies electric and natural gas utility service to portions of central and southern Illinois in an area of 40,000 square miles.

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