Covea Finance Increases Position in American Express Company $AXP

Covea Finance increased its holdings in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 23.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 108,000 shares of the payment services company’s stock after acquiring an additional 20,700 shares during the quarter. American Express makes up 1.3% of Covea Finance’s portfolio, making the stock its 21st biggest position. Covea Finance’s holdings in American Express were worth $39,955,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in American Express during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,897,335,000. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of American Express by 31,595.9% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,742,009 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $555,666,000 after buying an additional 1,736,513 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in shares of American Express by 27.0% during the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 3,970,416 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $1,310,515,000 after buying an additional 845,283 shares in the last quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its position in shares of American Express by 46,746.2% during the second quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 542,479 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $173,040,000 after buying an additional 541,321 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi increased its stake in shares of American Express by 23.9% in the third quarter. Amundi now owns 2,787,580 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $925,449,000 after buying an additional 537,205 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

American Express Stock Performance

American Express stock opened at $294.76 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.58. American Express Company has a 12 month low of $220.43 and a 12 month high of $387.49. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $335.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $347.69. The company has a market cap of $202.38 billion, a PE ratio of 19.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.14.

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

American Express Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 3rd will be issued a $0.95 dividend. This is an increase from American Express’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 2nd. American Express’s dividend payout ratio is 24.69%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

AXP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays upped their price target on shares of American Express from $355.00 to $367.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. BTIG Research decreased their price objective on shares of American Express from $328.00 to $285.00 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 16th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $395.00 target price on shares of American Express in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Thursday, January 8th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price target on American Express from $420.00 to $400.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Express has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $354.86.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Express

In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 8,134 shares of American Express stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $346.73, for a total value of $2,820,301.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,433 shares in the company, valued at $3,270,704.09. The trade was a 46.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Denise Pickett sold 23,385 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.91, for a total value of $8,346,340.35. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,754 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,767,480.14. This trade represents a 75.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. 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

American Express 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.