American Electric Power Company Inc vs Extra Space Storage, Inc. — how do they compare? American Electric Power Company Inc trades at $123.7 (market cap $66.87B), while Extra Space Storage, Inc. trades at $146.41 (market cap $30.98B). The key difference: American Electric Power Company Inc is far larger — about 2.2× Extra Space Storage, Inc.'s market cap, and Extra Space Storage, Inc. pays the higher dividend (4.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AEP | EXR | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $66.87B | $30.98B |
Sector | Utilities | Real Estate |
52-Week High | $138.69 | $152.85 |
52-Week Low | $106.44 | $126.67 |
Enterprise Value | $119.77B | $44.70B |
Dividend Yield | 3.09% | 4.42% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
American Electric Power (AEP) trades at $125.73, up 0.38% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong analyst support. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.36 per share versus $1.48 expected, though the company raised full-year 2026 operating EPS guidance to $6.25–$6.55, reflecting confidence in AI-driven power demand growth. Fundamentals show robust revenue growth to $21.88B in 2025 and a net income margin of 13.78%, supported by a $78 billion capital plan.
The outlook remains positive due to contracted load growth and infrastructure investments, but risks include execution of large capital expenditures and interest rate sensitivity. With a consensus price target of $140.89 and no sell ratings, Wall Street sentiment is bullish, though technical indicators suggest near-term caution amid bearish moving averages.
EXR trades at $149.54, near its 52-week high, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and strong earnings beats in recent quarters. The company reported Q2 2026 core FFO of $2.15 per share, exceeding estimates, and raised full-year guidance. Revenue growth remains steady, with a net income margin of 27.79% in 2025, though valuation ratios like P/E of 33.01 suggest a premium pricing.
Outlook is positive with analyst consensus price target of $157.25, but risks include high debt levels and competitive pressures in the self-storage sector. The stock offers a dividend yield supported by solid cash flows, making it attractive for income-focused investors amid cautious market sentiment.
Trailing returns across standard periods
American Electric Power is one of the largest regulated utilities in the United States, providing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. About 43% of AEP's of capacity is coal, with the remainder from a mix of natural gas (27%), renewable energy and hydro (19%), nuclear (7%), and demand response (4%). Vertically integrated utilities, transmission and distribution, and generation and marketing support earnings.
Read more on AEP →Extra Space Storage is a fully integrated real estate investment trust that owns, operates, and manages almost 2,100 self-storage properties in 41 states, with over 160 million net rentable square feet of storage space. Of these properties, approximately one half is wholly owned, while some facilities are owned through joint ventures and others are owned by third parties and managed by Extra Space Storage in exchange for a management fee.
Read more on EXR →