8-KRegulation FD

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Aug 10, 2011)

Filed August 10, 2011For Securities:AEP

Summary

This 8-K filing from American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP), filed on August 10, 2011, primarily serves as a disclosure regarding investor meetings scheduled between August 10th and August 17th, 2011. During these meetings, AEP management intends to reaffirm its previously issued guidance for ongoing earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal year 2011, which is set at $3.00 to $3.20. The company emphasizes its use of "ongoing earnings," a non-GAAP measure adjusted for certain items, as its primary metric for performance assessment and communication with investors and analysts. Investors should note that while AEP is reiterating its financial outlook, the filing also includes a comprehensive list of risk factors that could materially impact actual results. These risks span various areas, including regulatory decisions, fuel costs, weather, economic conditions in its service territories, litigation, environmental regulations, and financial market volatility. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update this forward-looking information.

Key Highlights

  • 1AEP reaffirms its 2011 ongoing earnings per share guidance of $3.00 to $3.20.
  • 2The reaffirmation of guidance occurs during investor meetings scheduled from August 10 to August 17, 2011.
  • 3AEP highlights its use of "ongoing earnings" (adjusted GAAP earnings) as a key performance indicator for investor communication.
  • 4The filing includes a detailed list of forward-looking statements and associated risk factors that could affect actual results.
  • 5Key risk areas mentioned include regulatory matters, fuel and energy costs, weather, economic conditions, and environmental regulations.
  • 6The company explicitly states no obligation to update forward-looking information.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to inform investors that AEP management will be holding meetings with investors and to reaffirm the company's previously issued financial guidance for the fiscal year 2011.

AEP is reaffirming its guidance for ongoing earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal year 2011, which remains in the range of $3.00 to $3.20.

Ongoing earnings are AEP's non-GAAP measure of earnings, adjusted for certain items that management believes do not provide a meaningful representation of the company's performance. AEP uses this metric internally and externally as its primary performance measurement when communicating its earnings outlook and results to analysts and investors.

The filing lists numerous risks, including: regulatory decisions on rate cases and recovery of costs, fluctuations in fuel and energy costs, weather conditions, economic conditions in AEP's service territory, new legislation and government regulations (especially environmental), litigation, and volatility in financial and energy markets.