Longview Partners Guernsey LTD lowered its position in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 3,466,934 shares of the payment services company’s stock after selling 82,830 shares during the period. American Express accounts for 4.0% of Longview Partners Guernsey LTD’s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Longview Partners Guernsey LTD owned about 0.47% of American Express worth $603,940,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its position in American Express by 127.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 135,098 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $23,534,000 after buying an additional 75,821 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning grew its position in American Express by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 123,390 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $21,494,000 after buying an additional 6,635 shares in the last quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC grew its position in American Express by 5.5% in the 2nd quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC now owns 7,193 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $1,253,000 after buying an additional 376 shares in the last quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC grew its position in American Express by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 19,293 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $3,361,000 after buying an additional 401 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in American Express by 34.2% in the 2nd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 58,477 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $660,000 after buying an additional 14,914 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.08% of the company’s stock.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other American Express news, Vice Chairman Douglas E. Buckminster sold 11,344 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.87, for a total transaction of $1,802,221.28. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 88,376 shares in the company, valued at $14,040,295.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other American Express news, Vice Chairman Douglas E. Buckminster sold 11,344 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.87, for a total transaction of $1,802,221.28. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 88,376 shares in the company, valued at $14,040,295.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Walter Joseph Clayton III purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, October 24th. The shares were bought at an average price of $143.93 per share, for a total transaction of $143,930.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 2,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $287,860. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
American Express Stock Up 0.4 %
Shares of NYSE AXP traded up $0.63 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $164.42. The company had a trading volume of 950,727 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,593,148. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $152.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $160.19. American Express has a 12-month low of $140.91 and a 12-month high of $182.15. The company has a market capitalization of $119.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.42, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a current ratio of 1.60.
American Express (NYSE:AXP – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, October 20th. The payment services company reported $3.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.96 by $0.34. American Express had a return on equity of 30.60% and a net margin of 13.61%. The firm had revenue of $15.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.36 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.47 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that American Express will post 11.21 EPS for the current year.
American Express Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 10th. Investors of record on Friday, October 6th were issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.46%. American Express’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.51%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on AXP shares. Barclays started coverage on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $184.00 price target for the company. Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of American Express from $190.00 to $175.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 11th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of American Express from $194.00 to $188.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, October 23rd. Piper Sandler Companies raised shares of American Express to a “neutral” rating and set a $151.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 24th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of American Express from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $171.42.
American Express Company Profile
American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Global Consumer Services Group, Global Commercial Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. Its products and services include payment and financing products; network services; accounts payable expense management products and services; and travel and lifestyle services.