** Utility firm AES Corp's AES.N shares down 2.3% to $10.90 premarket
** Jefferies downgrades company's shares to "hold" from "buy"; cuts PT to $10 from $15
** Brokerage cites slower growth prospects in a difficult market and weakness in company's balance sheet as drivers for downgrade
** Jefferies' $10 PT on AES represents 10.2% downside to stock's last close
** "AES has more insulation from tariffs with its domestic strategy, but the company's international ownership and overall complexity are unlikely to resonate with investors now" -Jefferies
** 9 of 15 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 5 "hold" and 1 "sell" or lower; median PT $15 - LSEG
** As of last close, AES stock down 13% YTD
(Reporting by Kanchana Chakravarty in Bengaluru)
((Kanchana.Chakravarty@thomsonreuters.com))
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