Feb 13 (Reuters) - Utility firm Ameren ( AEE ) missed Wall Street estimates for

fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, hurt by higher interest and operating expenses.

The Ameren Missouri unit has been investing heavily in its grid infrastructure upgrades,

increasing borrowings and, in turn, also augmenting its interest expenses.

The St. Louis, Missouri-based company's quarterly interest expenses were up about 12% at

$171 million from a year earlier.

The company's operating expenses for the quarter ended December 31 were also up about 29% at

$1.74 billion from a year earlier, further dragging its earnings.

Ameren ( AEE ) serves about 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas

customers in Missouri and Illinois.

The company reaffirmed its 2025 earnings forecast range of $4.85 to $5.05 per share.

The utility firm reported an adjusted profit of 77 cents per share in the quarter, missing

Wall Street estimates of 79 cents per share.