WoodTrust Financial Corp Increases Position in American Express Company $AXP

WoodTrust Financial Corp lifted its holdings in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 44.2% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 59,117 shares of the payment services company’s stock after purchasing an additional 18,132 shares during the period. American Express accounts for 2.2% of WoodTrust Financial Corp’s portfolio, making the stock its 10th biggest position. WoodTrust Financial Corp’s holdings in American Express were worth $18,857,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Winthrop Advisory Group LLC acquired a new position in American Express during the second quarter valued at approximately $485,000. Puzo Michael J boosted its position in American Express by 167.6% during the second quarter. Puzo Michael J now owns 7,769 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $2,478,000 after purchasing an additional 4,866 shares during the last quarter. Broderick Brian C boosted its position in American Express by 138.8% during the second quarter. Broderick Brian C now owns 5,868 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $1,872,000 after purchasing an additional 3,411 shares during the last quarter. Kidder Stephen W acquired a new position in American Express during the second quarter valued at approximately $981,000. Finally, Hendley & Co. Inc. boosted its position in American Express by 12.4% during the second quarter. Hendley & Co. Inc. now owns 3,390 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $1,081,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at American Express

In other American Express news, insider Laureen Seeger sold 61,721 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $297.47, for a total value of $18,360,145.87. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,001 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,677,527.47. The trade was a 87.27% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 50,000 shares of American Express stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $309.50, for a total value of $15,475,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 10,957 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $3,391,191.50. This represents a 82.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 269,996 shares of company stock worth $85,261,270. Corporate insiders own 0.20% of the company’s stock.

American Express Stock Performance

NYSE:AXP opened at $327.61 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $227.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.99, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.29. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $320.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $299.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. American Express Company has a 1-year low of $220.43 and a 1-year high of $349.19.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.86 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $17.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.70 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 32.87% and a net margin of 14.78%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.49 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 10th will be issued a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 10th. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. American Express’s payout ratio is currently 23.02%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on American Express from $350.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 5th. Citigroup reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $327.00 target price (up from $300.00) on shares of American Express in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on American Express from $371.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. DZ Bank lowered American Express from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their target price on American Express from $330.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Express currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $323.55.

American Express Company Profile

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.