Goldman raised its rating on American Express (AXP) on Wednesday morning. Here’s what the move means for mutual fund investors.
Inside the Analyst Move
Goldman Sachs has upgraded American Express from “Neutral” to “Buy” and has given it a $102 price target. This price target suggests a 13% upside from the stock’s current price.
According to analyst Ryan M. Nash: “We upgrade AXP to Buy and see 13% upside, as an improving macro should drive upside to revenue (could reach 7%). Also, (1) increased customer acquisition, (2) share gains in lending, (3) growth from several key long-term initiatives, and (4) opex containment should drive upside to EPS. We are 2% above consensus in 2014 and 3% in 2015.”
Decently Valued Stock
American Express is an attractively priced credit card company at just 15x 2015 earnings estimates. However, investors should be aware that this stock could become risky if there is a downturn in the economy since it depends on consumer spending.
Mutual Funds to Watch
Investors interested in AXP may be interested in the funds listed below. These funds currently hold the largest stakes in the company.
| Symbol | Mutual Fund | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| VTSMX | Vanguard Total Stock Market Index | 1.68% |
| FCNTX | Fidelity Contrafund | 1.30% |
| NYVTX | Davis NY Venture | 1.14% |
The Bottom Line
The funds above allow investors to gain exposure to AXP while remaining diversified. Investors interested in AXP may also be interested in Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA).