NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC Cuts Position in American Express Company $AXP

NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC decreased its stake in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 73.2% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 21,869 shares of the payment services company’s stock after selling 59,781 shares during the quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC’s holdings in American Express were worth $8,306,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC increased its holdings in American Express by 12.0% in the fourth quarter. Gryphon Financial Partners LLC now owns 2,453 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $907,000 after buying an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Genesis Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of American Express during the 4th quarter worth approximately $301,000. Wedmont Private Capital boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 12,295 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $4,650,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Express by 257.0% in the 4th quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 2,767 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $1,024,000 after acquiring an additional 1,992 shares during the period. Finally, Lincoln Capital LLC increased its stake in American Express by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Lincoln Capital LLC now owns 19,260 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $7,125,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Ravikumar Radhakrishnan sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.58, for a total value of $5,348,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 8,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,189,608.10. The trade was a 62.64% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Anna Marrs sold 27,425 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.01, for a total transaction of $9,599,024.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 20,394 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,138,103.94. This trade represents a 57.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. Company insiders own 0.20% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about American Express

Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised its quarterly dividend by ~16% and is pushing digital initiatives and partnerships that expand premium customer perks and corporate product integrations — supports recurring revenue and shareholder returns. How Amex’s Dividend Hike And Digital Push At American Express (AXP) Has Changed Its Investment Story
• Positive Sentiment: AmEx expanded its corporate product by adding virtual card features for SAP Concur clients — a sales motion that can increase fee revenue and stickiness in corporate spend. Amex soups up cards for Concur
• Positive Sentiment: Market commentators (Barron’s, The Motley Fool) argue the pullback creates a buying opportunity for long-term investors, citing AmEx’s premium brand, strong returns on equity, and Berkshire Hathaway support — helps buoy contrarian demand. Visa, Mastercard and American Express Have Gotten Roughed Up. The Case for Buying the Dip.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysis pieces consider AXP among top financial stocks to own if rates become volatile due to geopolitical risk (Iran)—this frames AXP as resilient but is macro-dependent. Is American Express (AXP) The Best Financial Stock to Buy Amid Potential Interest Rate Volatility Coming Due to Iran War
• Neutral Sentiment: Industry/tech news (BrightQuery joining FINOS) and an unrelated insurer earnings release were picked up in feeds but have no direct, material impact on AmEx fundamentals. BrightQuery Becomes Gold Member of FINOS, the Fintech Open Source Foundation, and Joins Governing Board
• Negative Sentiment: Governance pressure: the National Legal and Policy Center and anti‑DEI activists have successfully pushed some companies (including calls at firms like AmEx) to remove DEI from board selection processes — heightens regulatory/shareholder friction and could create headline risk. After notable victories, anti-DEI shareholders turn sights on Trump’s SEC
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction pieces note recent share weakness and larger-than-market declines in recent sessions — short-term sentiment and positioning (profit-taking, lower multiple) have pressured the stock. Here’s Why American Express (AXP) Fell More Than Broader Market

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on AXP shares. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on American Express from $400.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Credit Suisse Group set a $328.00 target price on American Express in a report on Monday, January 12th. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of American Express from $385.00 to $375.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of American Express from $420.00 to $400.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Express currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $354.86.

American Express Price Performance

AXP stock opened at $294.76 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $335.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $347.80. The firm has a market cap of $202.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.15, a PEG ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.58 and a current ratio of 1.59. American Express Company has a 1 year low of $220.43 and a 1 year high of $387.49.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 30th. The payment services company reported $3.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.54 by ($0.01). American Express had a return on equity of 33.49% and a net margin of 15.00%.The company had revenue of ($17,139.00) million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.91 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.04 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Express Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Investors of record on Friday, April 3rd will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. This is a boost from American Express’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. American Express’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.31%.

About American Express

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and co‑brand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.