The AES Corporation (AES) Positions for Long-Term Demand Growth in a Power-Hungry, AI-Driven World

The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) is one of the best long-term stocks to invest in for retirement. On February 10, Haven Safety AI launched in partnership with The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) and Andrew Ng’s AI Fund.

AES Chief Product Officer Chris Shelton highlighted the company’s commitment to worker safety, noting that Haven’s AI-native platform enables crews to move rapidly from incident to cause to corrective action, transforming safety programs from reactive reporting into proactive prevention. AES sees the launch as a major step in protecting teams across energy and other high-risk industries.

On February 4, Barclays downgraded AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) to Equalweight from Overweight with a $15 price target, citing the stock’s sharp re-rating over the past year and renewed acquisition speculation after reports that GIP and EQT were in talks to buy the company.

Barclays warned of risks including a potential “take-under,” limited buyers for divested assets, and the need for reinvestment in legacy IPG operations, while noting AES’s high leverage could constrain renewable expansion. The firm cut growth assumptions and expects AES’s revenue to lag peers, with earnings scheduled for release on February 26, 2026.

A day earlier, on February 3, analysts at Jefferies reiterated a Hold rating on AES Corp. and increased the price target from $13 to $16. The price target hike comes amid reports that AES is a potential acquisition target for Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT. While GIP acquired select AES assets in 2025, it indicated it was not planning to acquire the entire company. Sentiment has changed amid reports of a potential joint bid with EQT.

BlackRock’s GIP has reportedly teamed up with EQT AB to acquire AES amid growing demand for renewable energy from tech giants such as Microsoft. Power providers are in strong demand amid surging electricity demand from computer farms running artificial intelligence applications.

Jefferies raised the stock’s price target given the higher renewable energy multiples. Clean energy companies have been trading higher, contributing to a favorable valuation environment.

The AES Corporation (NYSE:AES) is a global power company that generates and distributes electricity, focusing on accelerating the transition to clean energy. As a major independent power producer and utility owner, AES develops and operates renewable, thermal, and battery-storage facilities, providing sustainable energy to businesses, utilities, and communities worldwide.