Company Update (NYSE:AXP): Business Services is Fastest Growing Segment of Middle Market, According to New Research from American Express and Dun & Bradstreet

[Business Wire] – The burgeoning service economy is significantly outpacing more traditional industry sectors in its rate of business growth among middle market companies , according to the Middle Market Power Index: Exploring Generational Changes in Middle Market Industries from American Express and Dun & Bradstreet . Read more on this. American Express Company (AXP) , valued at $51.80B, started trading this morning at $54.68. Shares have traded today between $53.06 and $54.68 per share with its 52-week range being $53.06 to $86.18. Priced at 10.05x this year’s forecasted earnings, AXP shares are relatively inexpensive compared to the industry’s 13.27x forward p/e ratio. And for income investors, the company pays shareholders $1.16 per share annually in dividends, yielding 2.11%. In a review of the consensus earnings estimate this quarter, 29 sell-side analysts are looking at $1.33 per share, which would be $0.15 worse than the year-ago quarter and a $0.06 sequential decrease. Investors should also note that the full-year EPS estimate of $5.48 is a $0.10 better when compared to the previous year’s annual results. The quarterly earnings estimate is predicated on a consensus revenue forecast of $8.15 Billion. If reported, that would be a 2.52% increase over the year-ago quarter. More recently, Oppenheimer upgraded AXP from Underperform to Perform (Jan 25, 2016). Previously, Argus downgraded AXP from Buy to Hold. With the above information in mind, readers should note that the average price target is $68.43, which is 25.15% above where the stock opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:AXP) Similar Articles: Stock Update: American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) – American Express Will Bring Apple Pay to Card Members in Key Global Markets Market Update: American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) – U.S. judge rejects American Express class action settlement Company Update: American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) – American Express sued for misleading investors about Costco business