Trailing Dividend / Share
$3.86
American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) Dividend History
Income profile from 1970 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
2.9%
Payout Ratio
56.1%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
21 years
AEP Dividend Income Check
Safety
56.1% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
21 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 4.6% and trend is rising.
AEP Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield2.9%
Trailing DPS$3.86
FrequencySemi-Annual
Payments / 12M5
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout56.1%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout249.7%
FCF SafetyStretched
Piotroski F-Score7/9
Growth
Growth Streak21 years
3Y CAGR5.7%
5Y CAGR5.7%
Yield on Cost (5Y)4.6%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.0%
Total Shareholder Yield2.9%
1Y Total Return26.9%
5Y Total Return69.8%
Div Contribution (5Y)19.4%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$16,97610Y ago$25,17220Y ago$54,358
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
AEP Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (57 years of payments)
AEP Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
American Electric Power Company, Inc. distributes 56.1% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 249.7%, rated "Stretched".
Piotroski F-Score: 7/9 — strong financial health.
Growth Track Record
AEP has raised its dividend for 21 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 5.7% and 5-year CAGR of 5.7%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, AEP returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 2.9% dividend yield, 2.9% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 4.6% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 69.8%, with dividends contributing 19.4% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $25,172 today.
FCF payout is stretched — the dividend consumes a large share of free cash flow.
AEP Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Semi-Annual
TTM Total$17.27
Avg/Payment$0.8635
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8, 2026Latest | $0.9500 | — | 2.76% | Jun 10, 2026 |
| Feb 10, 2026 | $0.9500 | — | 3.10% | Mar 10, 2026 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | $0.9500 | ↑ +2.2% | 3.05% | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Aug 8, 2025 | $0.9300 | — | 3.31% | Sep 10, 2025 |
| May 9, 2025 | $0.9300 | — | 3.51% | Jun 10, 2025 |
| Feb 10, 2025 | $0.9300 | — | 3.59% | Mar 10, 2025 |
| Nov 8, 2024 | $0.9300 | ↑ +5.7% | 3.70% | Dec 10, 2024 |
| Aug 9, 2024 | $0.8800 | — | 3.61% | Sep 10, 2024 |
AEP Dividend vs Peers
Comparable companies in the same industry
#5 yield in peer group
Div Yield
2.9%
#5 of 9
Safety
Sustainable
56.1% payout
Streak
21Y
5.7% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
2.9%
#5 of 9
| Company | Mkt Cap | Yield | Payout | Streak | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEPAmerican Electric Po… | $72.0B | 2.9% | 56.1% | 21 | Sustainable |
2nd  EXCExelon Corporation | $46.1B | 3.5% | 58.4% | 1 | Sustainable |
3rd  DUKDuke Energy Corporat… | $97.7B | 3.4% | 66.4% | 1 | Watch |
 SOThe Southern Company | $105.4B | 2.9% | 69.5% | 1 | Watch |
1st  DDominion Energy, Inc… | $54.2B | 4.3% | 76.0% | 0 | Watch |
 PCGPG&E Corporation | $35.6B | 0.6% | 8.1% | 1 | Sustainable |
 EDConsolidated Edison,… | $25.2B | 3.0% | — | 0 | Unknown |
 XELXcel Energy Inc. | $50.3B | 2.7% | 63.5% | 17 | Watch |
 ETREntergy Corporation | $51.7B | 2.1% | 60.6% | 11 | Watch |
AEP Annual Dividend History (1970–2026)
57 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $1.90 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 2.3% |
| 2025 | $3.74 | 4.8% | 4 | $6.66 | 56.2% | 1.78x | 4.6% |
| 2024 | $3.57 | 5.9% | 4 | $5.58 | 64.0% | 1.56x | 4.4% |
| 2023 | $3.37 | 6.3% | 4 | $4.24 | 79.5% | 1.26x | 4.1% |
| 2022 | $3.17 | 5.7% | 4 | $4.49 | 70.6% | 1.42x | 3.9% |
| 2021 | $3.00 | 5.6% | 4 | $4.96 | 60.5% | 1.65x | 3.7% |
| 2020 | $2.84 | 4.8% | 4 | $4.42 | 64.3% | 1.56x | 3.5% |
| 2019 | $2.71 | 7.1% | 4 | $3.88 | 69.8% | 1.43x | 3.3% |
| 2018 | $2.53 | 5.9% | 4 | $3.90 | 64.9% | 1.54x | 3.1% |
| 2017 | $2.39 | 5.3% | 4 | $3.88 | 61.6% | 1.62x | 2.9% |
Full AEP Stock Analysis
Analyst consensus, bull case, AI-generated risk factors, and peer comparison — all in one place.
See AEP's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonAEP — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying AEP stock.
How much dividend does AEP pay per share?
American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $3.86 per share, with a current dividend yield of +2.9%. Payments are made Semi-Annual.
When is AEP's next ex-dividend date?
AEP's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. AEP typically pays dividends Semi-Annual.
Is AEP's dividend safe?
AEP's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +56.1% and FCF payout ratio of +249.7%. With 21 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is AEP a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, American Electric Power Company, Inc. is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 21 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +5.7%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does AEP pay dividends?
American Electric Power Company, Inc. pays dividends Semi-Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $3.86 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 56+ years from 1970 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in AEP grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in AEP five years ago would be worth approximately $16,976 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is AEP's yield on cost for long-term holders?
AEP's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +4.6% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +2.9% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.