** Brokerage Siebert Williams Shank & Co initiates coverage on utility American Electric Power AEP.O with a "buy" rating, sets price target at $137

** The new PT represents upside of 19.4% to the stock's last close

** Brokerage expects co's earnings growth over the next five years to be driven by strong retail electricity demand and substantial rate base expansion, supporting steady long-term EPS growth

** Expects EPS growth CAGR of 8.8% through 2030 - brokerage says

** The ongoing clean energy transition and rising demand from AI, data centers, and industrial sectors point to a long-term period of above-average utility load growth that could persist for decades - Siebert Williams

** Including session's moves, shares up 25.3% YTD

(Reporting by Varun Sahay in Bengaluru)

((Varun.sahay@thomsonreuters.com))