Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. Has $4.49 Million Stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP)

Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. lowered its holdings in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,547 shares of the payment services company’s stock after selling 132 shares during the quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in American Express were worth $4,488,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. boosted its position in American Express by 42.2% in the second quarter. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. now owns 165 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas purchased a new position in shares of American Express in the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. POM Investment Strategies LLC bought a new position in American Express during the second quarter valued at about $42,000. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in American Express during the second quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC raised its position in American Express by 162.1% in the first quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 228 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

American Express Price Performance

AXP stock opened at $271.22 on Thursday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $263.16 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $244.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.66. The stock has a market cap of $195.09 billion, a PE ratio of 22.34, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.21. American Express has a one year low of $141.02 and a one year high of $286.36.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 18th. The payment services company reported $3.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.27 by $0.22. American Express had a net margin of 15.53% and a return on equity of 32.94%. The company had revenue of $16.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.68 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $3.30 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that American Express will post 13.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Express Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 8th. Investors of record on Friday, October 4th will be given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 4th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.03%. American Express’s payout ratio is 23.06%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on AXP shares. BTIG Research downgraded shares of American Express from a “neutral” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $230.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Compass Point assumed coverage on American Express in a report on Tuesday, July 16th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $260.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on American Express from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd. Bank of America increased their price target on American Express from $263.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 17th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on American Express from $265.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Express presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $244.58.

American Express 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.