Westfuller Advisors LLC Boosts Stock Position in American Express Company $AXP

Westfuller Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 136.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,188 shares of the payment services company’s stock after buying an additional 1,840 shares during the quarter. Westfuller Advisors LLC’s holdings in American Express were worth $1,059,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Gratus Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in American Express by 0.8% during the third quarter. Gratus Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,712 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $1,233,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares during the last quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of American Express by 1.0% during the third quarter. McGlone Suttner Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,910 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $967,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in American Express by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Walkner Condon Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,378 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $458,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the period. Sandy Cove Advisors LLC raised its position in American Express by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Sandy Cove Advisors LLC now owns 1,462 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $485,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bath Savings Trust Co grew its holdings in American Express by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bath Savings Trust Co now owns 2,922 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $971,000 after acquiring an additional 31 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other American Express news, CMO Elizabeth Rutledge sold 50,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $360.21, for a total transaction of $18,010,500.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 85,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,825,691.17. The trade was a 36.88% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

American Express Trading Down 1.7%

AXP opened at $361.76 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $249.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.28, a PEG ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.15. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $368.05 and a 200 day moving average price of $342.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.59. American Express Company has a 12 month low of $220.43 and a 12 month high of $387.49.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported ($11.85) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.56 by ($15.41). The company had revenue of ($17,139.00) million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.91 billion. American Express had a net margin of 14.97% and a return on equity of 33.41%. Sell-side analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Express Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 10th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. American Express’s payout ratio is 22.01%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings raised shares of American Express from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Monday, December 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $420.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $425.00 price target on shares of American Express in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Evercore ISI set a $400.00 price objective on American Express in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Express has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $353.95.

American Express Profile

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and co‑brand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.