For the quarter ended March 2026, American Electric Power (AEP Quick QuoteAEP - Free Report) reported revenue of $6.02 billion, up 10.2% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $1.64, compared to $1.54 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +6.02% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.68 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $1.55, the EPS surprise was +5.58%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how AEP performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Operating Earnings (non-GAAP)- Vertically Integrated Utilities: $464 million compared to the $432.45 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Operating Earnings (non-GAAP)- Transmission & Distribution Utilities: $237 million versus $179.49 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Operating Earnings (non-GAAP)- Corporate and Other: $-109 million compared to the $-57.34 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Operating Earnings (non-GAAP)- Generation & Marketing: $90 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $57.4 million.
• Operating Earnings (non-GAAP)- AEP Transmission Holdco: $209 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $228.92 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for AEP here>>>

Shares of AEP have returned +1.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.5% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.