Van Strum & Towne Inc. Increases Stake in American Express

Van Strum & Towne Inc. has raised its ownership in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 15.4% during the fourth quarter. This information was disclosed in the company’s latest Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm now holds 8,240 shares of the payment services company after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during this time. As of the latest report, the value of Van Strum & Towne Inc.'s investment in American Express stands at approximately $2,446,000.

Changes in Institutional Ownership

Recent activity among other institutional investors has also influenced their positions in American Express. For instance, Prospera Private Wealth LLC initiated a new stake valued around $27,000 in shares of American Express during the third quarter. Similarly, True Wealth Design LLC increased its holdings by 332.0% in the same quarter, owning 108 shares valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares. Other institutions, like Financial Life Planners and Sierra Ocean LLC, made new positions valued at around $38,000 and $40,000, respectively. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds currently control 84.33% of the stock.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued new ratings and price targets for AXP in recent weeks. UBS Group has raised its price target from $283.00 to $320.00, while maintaining a “neutral” rating. Citigroup also increased its price target from $305.00 to $320.00 with a “neutral” stance. Conversely, Compass Point adjusted its target downward from $325.00 to $309.00, yet also rated the stock as “neutral.” Wells Fargo & Company raised its target from $355.00 to $370.00, giving it an “overweight” rating. New coverage from Truist Financial includes a “buy” rating and a $350.00 price objective. Currently, market evaluations reflect two sell ratings, fifteen hold ratings, and nine buy ratings, resulting in a consensus rating of "Hold" with an average target price of $299.24.

Stock Performance of American Express

On Friday, shares of American Express (NYSE AXP) opened at $266.04. The company has a market capitalization of $186.90 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.99, a PEG ratio of 1.41, and a beta of 1.21. The stock’s twelve-month low is $214.51, while the high is $326.27. Currently, its fifty-day moving average is $301.59, and the 200-day moving average stands at $287.97. Additionally, American Express has a quick ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 1.58, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64.

Divedends Declaration

American Express has also recently announced a quarterly dividend to be paid on May 9th. Shareholders recorded by April 4th will receive $0.82 per share. This marks an increase from the previous dividend of $0.70, translating to an annualized amount of $3.28 and a yield of 1.23%. The current dividend payout ratio is 23.41%.

Insider Trading Activities

In related insider activities, Director Michael J. Angelakis bought 3,700 shares of American Express on March 7th at an average price of $269.89, totaling about $998,593. Following the transaction, he holds the same amount of shares, equivalent in value to approximately $998,593. Conversely, insider Ravikumar Radhakrishnan sold 9,485 shares on February 5th at an average price of $319.17, amounting to around $3,027,327. Following this sale, he retains 13,500 shares worth approximately $4,308,795. Insiders hold about 0.12% of the company’s stock.

Overview of American Express

American Express Company, along with its subsidiaries, functions as an integrated payments entity globally, with operations spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, and the Caribbean. Their operations segment includes U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.

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