Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA Acquires 3,979 Shares of American Express Company $AXP

Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA increased its holdings in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 2,652.7% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,129 shares of the payment services company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,979 shares during the quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA’s holdings in American Express were worth $1,528,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in AXP. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. increased its holdings in American Express by 153.3% during the 3rd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 76 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of American Express in the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Guerra Advisors Inc purchased a new position in shares of American Express during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Express during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC grew its holdings in American Express by 210.7% during the third quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 87 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

American Express Stock Down 0.1%

AXP stock opened at $294.76 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $202.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $335.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $347.80. American Express Company has a 1-year low of $220.43 and a 1-year high of $387.49.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.54 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.91 billion. American Express had a net margin of 15.00% and a return on equity of 33.49%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.04 earnings per share. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. Analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year.

American Express Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Investors of record on Friday, April 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from American Express’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. American Express’s dividend payout ratio is 21.31%.

Key Headlines Impacting American Express

Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised its quarterly dividend by ~16% and is pushing digital initiatives and partnerships that expand premium customer perks and corporate product integrations — supports recurring revenue and shareholder returns. How Amex’s Dividend Hike And Digital Push At American Express (AXP) Has Changed Its Investment Story
• Positive Sentiment: AmEx expanded its corporate product by adding virtual card features for SAP Concur clients — a sales motion that can increase fee revenue and stickiness in corporate spend. Amex soups up cards for Concur
• Positive Sentiment: Market commentators (Barron’s, The Motley Fool) argue the pullback creates a buying opportunity for long-term investors, citing AmEx’s premium brand, strong returns on equity, and Berkshire Hathaway support — helps buoy contrarian demand. Visa, Mastercard and American Express Have Gotten Roughed Up. The Case for Buying the Dip.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysis pieces consider AXP among top financial stocks to own if rates become volatile due to geopolitical risk (Iran)—this frames AXP as resilient but is macro-dependent. Is American Express (AXP) The Best Financial Stock to Buy Amid Potential Interest Rate Volatility Coming Due to Iran War
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry/tech news (BrightQuery joining FINOS) and an unrelated insurer earnings release were picked up in feeds but have no direct, material impact on AmEx fundamentals. BrightQuery Becomes Gold Member of FINOS, the Fintech Open Source Foundation, and Joins Governing Board
• Negative Sentiment: Governance pressure: the National Legal and Policy Center and anti‑DEI activists have successfully pushed some companies (including calls at firms like AmEx) to remove DEI from board selection processes — heightens regulatory/shareholder friction and could create headline risk. After notable victories, anti-DEI shareholders turn sights on Trump’s SEC
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction pieces note recent share weakness and larger-than-market declines in recent sessions — short-term sentiment and positioning (profit-taking, lower multiple) have pressured the stock. Here’s Why American Express (AXP) Fell More Than Broader Market

Insider Activity at American Express

In other news, insider Anna Marrs sold 27,425 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.01, for a total transaction of $9,599,024.25. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 20,394 shares in the company, valued at $7,138,103.94. This trade represents a 57.35% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Ravikumar Radhakrishnan sold 15,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.58, for a total transaction of $5,348,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 8,945 shares in the company, valued at $3,189,608.10. This trade represents a 62.64% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. Insiders own 0.20% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on AXP shares. Wolfe Research began coverage on American Express in a research report on Monday, December 8th. They issued a “peer perform” rating for the company. BTIG Research reduced their target price on shares of American Express from $328.00 to $285.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 16th. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $395.00 target price on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of American Express from $355.00 to $367.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Finally, Evercore set a $393.00 price target on shares of American Express in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Express currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $354.86.

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.