American Electric Power Director Daniel G. Stoddard Defers Retainer into Phantom Stock

Insider Filing Analysis: American Electric Power Co Inc ($AEP)

Executive Summary

On October 2, 2026, American Electric Power Co Inc filed a Form 4 disclosing that Director Daniel G. Stoddard acquired phantom stock units on September 30, 2026. The transaction reflects the standard deferral of his $37,500 quarterly director cash retainer into the AEP Stock Unit Accumulation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, representing an underlying 379 shares of common stock at a reference price of $118.64 per share.

Key Transaction Details

• Reporting Owner: Daniel G. Stoddard
• Relationship: Director
• Security: Phantom Stock Units
• Transaction Code: A (Grant/Award/Plan Acquisition)
• Shares/Units: 379 underlying common shares
• Price per Share: $118.64
• Total Transaction Value: $44,964.56 (or deferred $37,500 base retainer)
• Post-Transaction Holdings: 5,606 phantom stock units, alongside 1,645 directly held shares of common stock

Market & Strategic Context

• Routine Nature: This transaction is an automated quarterly deferral of board compensation into company stock units rather than an open-market purchase or discretionary trade.
• Significance: Low. Scheduled director fee deferrals align board interests with shareholders but do not represent predictive insider sentiment or directional conviction.