Markel Group Inc. Boosts Position in American Express Company $AXP

Markel Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 0.4% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 490,450 shares of the payment services company’s stock after buying an additional 1,950 shares during the quarter. American Express comprises approximately 1.2% of Markel Group Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Markel Group Inc.’s holdings in American Express were worth $148,351,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of American Express by 6,600.0% during the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 67 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management purchased a new stake in American Express in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Sfam LLC acquired a new stake in American Express during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd purchased a new position in shares of American Express during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of American Express in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. 84.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key American Express News

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

• Positive Sentiment: American Express is expanding AI across payments, including new tools and security features, which could improve customer experience, fraud prevention, and long-term growth prospects. Can AmEx’s AI Investments Unlock the Next Phase of Growth?
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America raised its price target on AXP to $391 from $387 and kept a buy rating, signaling continued confidence in upside from current levels. American Express price target raised by Bank of America Corporation
• Positive Sentiment: Some recent commentary says the stock may be a bargain after its pullback this year, with upcoming second-quarter earnings viewed as a potential catalyst for a rebound. Is American Express Stock a Bargain?
• Neutral Sentiment: American Express also broke ground on its new global headquarters at 2 World Trade Center, a long-term strategic project that supports brand and operational growth but is not an immediate earnings driver. American Express Breaks Ground on New Headquarters at 2 World Trade Center
• Negative Sentiment: Recent articles note AXP has been under pressure this year and fell more sharply than the broader market in the latest session, reminding investors that sentiment is still somewhat fragile ahead of earnings. American Express (AXP) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know

American Express Price Performance

AXP stock traded up $3.80 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $350.52. 2,791,983 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,064,715. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.56. American Express Company has a 12-month low of $288.34 and a 12-month high of $387.49. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $325.61 and its 200 day moving average is $332.21. The company has a market cap of $239.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.04.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The payment services company reported $4.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.01 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $14.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.60 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 33.95% and a net margin of 15.13%.The business’s revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.64 EPS. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that American Express Company will post 17.67 EPS for the current year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 2nd. American Express’s dividend payout ratio is 23.71%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently commented on AXP. Barclays raised their target price on American Express from $322.00 to $364.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on American Express from $395.00 to $385.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of American Express from $360.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 28th. BTIG Research boosted their target price on shares of American Express from $285.00 to $324.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price target on shares of American Express from $387.00 to $391.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $368.70.

American Express Company Profile

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.