8-KRegulation FD

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Sep 16, 2013)

Filed September 16, 2013For Securities:AEP

Summary

American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) filed an 8-K on September 16, 2013, to disclose information relevant to investor meetings scheduled between September 16 and September 20, 2013. The primary purpose of this filing was to reaffirm the company's previously issued guidance for its 2013 fiscal year operating earnings, which was set at $3.05 to $3.25 per share. This guidance was originally communicated in a Form 8-K filed on July 25, 2013. The company emphasized that it uses "operating earnings," which are GAAP earnings adjusted for certain items, as its primary performance metric when communicating with investors and analysts. AEP also utilizes operating earnings internally for performance tracking and board reporting, indicating its importance in assessing and communicating the company's financial health and operational success.

Key Highlights

  • 1Reaffirmed 2013 fiscal year operating earnings guidance of $3.05 to $3.25 per share.
  • 2Guidance was previously provided on July 25, 2013, via a Form 8-K.
  • 3Company will be conducting investor meetings from September 16 to September 20, 2013.
  • 4AEP utilizes 'operating earnings' as its primary performance measurement for external communications (investors, analysts).
  • 5Operating earnings are defined as GAAP earnings adjusted for certain items.
  • 6The company uses operating earnings internally for performance measurement and board reporting.
  • 7The filing includes standard forward-looking statements and risk factors inherent in the utility industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main purpose of this 8-K filing is to notify investors that American Electric Power (AEP) representatives will be meeting with investors and to reaffirm the company's previously issued operating earnings guidance for the 2013 fiscal year.

AEP reaffirmed its operating earnings guidance for the 2013 fiscal year to be between $3.05 and $3.25 per share.

AEP's management believes that operating earnings, which are GAAP earnings adjusted for certain items, provide a more meaningful representation of the company's performance. They use it as the primary performance measurement when communicating with analysts and investors, as well as for internal performance tracking.

The filing lists several risk factors, including electric load and customer growth, weather conditions, fuel costs and availability, regulatory decisions, new legislation and government regulation (especially regarding emissions), litigation, operational costs, asset sales, economic climate, financial market changes, and commodity price volatility.