Winslow Asset Management Inc. Reduces Stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP)

Winslow Asset Management Inc. reduced its stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 3.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 33,705 shares of the payment services company’s stock after selling 1,380 shares during the period. American Express accounts for approximately 2.0% of Winslow Asset Management Inc.’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 14th largest position. Winslow Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in American Express were worth $10,003,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Advocates Investment Management purchased a new position in shares of American Express during the 3rd quarter worth $216,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 41.4% during the 3rd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 5,905 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $1,601,000 after purchasing an additional 1,730 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 4,579 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $1,242,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the period. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 2,550 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $692,000 after purchasing an additional 181 shares during the period. Finally, Optas LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 40.1% during the 3rd quarter. Optas LLC now owns 1,478 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $401,000 after purchasing an additional 423 shares during the period. 84.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Express Price Performance

AXP stock opened at $300.77 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $307.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $287.07. The stock has a market cap of $211.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.47, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.24. American Express has a fifty-two week low of $214.51 and a fifty-two week high of $326.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The payment services company reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.00 by $0.04. American Express had a return on equity of 32.65% and a net margin of 15.36%. Equities research analysts anticipate that American Express will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Express Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 3rd. American Express’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.99%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Ravikumar Radhakrishnan sold 9,485 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $319.17, for a total value of $3,027,327.45. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 13,500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,308,795. The trade was a 41.27 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Raymond Joabar sold 15,179 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $313.94, for a total value of $4,765,295.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 23,866 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,492,492.04. The trade was a 38.88 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.12% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on AXP. William Blair reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, January 27th. Compass Point decreased their target price on American Express from $325.00 to $309.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on American Express from $355.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on American Express from $305.00 to $310.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on American Express from $305.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $296.38.

About American Express

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.