Coal still a challenge for Ameren

Article Excerpt

AMEREN CORP. $75 (New York symbol AEE; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 245.6 million; Market cap: $18.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.1; Dividend yield: 2.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.ameren.com) provides power and natural gas to 3.3 million clients in Illinois and Missouri. Ameren expects to invest a total of $13.3 billion between 2019 and 2023 in its regulated businesses. That includes spending on new wind farms in Missouri as well as upgrades to its existing gas-distribution networks. The company expects those investments will increase its annual earnings per share from $3.05 in 2018 to between $3.25 in 2019. The stock trades at 23.8 times that forecast. That’s a high multiple for a slow-growing utility. As well, Ameren’s high reliance on coal, which generates over 65% of its electricity, adds risk. Ameren Corp. is still a hold. hold…