Ameritas Advisory Services LLC Buys 237 Shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP)

Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 2.3% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 10,465 shares of the payment services company’s stock after buying an additional 237 shares during the period. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in American Express were worth $2,423,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of American Express by 62.5% in the first quarter. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC now owns 130 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the period. Scarborough Advisors LLC bought a new stake in American Express in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Sachetta LLC bought a new stake in American Express in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Express during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 49 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

American Express Stock Performance

NYSE AXP traded up $2.72 on Thursday, reaching $259.81. 2,422,753 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,961,103. American Express has a fifty-two week low of $140.91 and a fifty-two week high of $261.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a current ratio of 1.66. The firm has a market cap of $186.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.40, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.21. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $241.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $232.08.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 19th. The payment services company reported $3.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.26 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $16.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.60 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 32.94% and a net margin of 15.53%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.89 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that American Express will post 13.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on AXP. Compass Point started 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. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on American Express from $225.00 to $235.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 9th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of American Express from $265.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Citigroup began coverage on shares of American Express in a report on Monday, June 10th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $250.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Monness Crespi & Hardt upped their target price on American Express from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, July 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $230.70.

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.