AQR Capital Management 13F: Adds $96M to AXP Stake

AQR Capital Management Expands Position in American Express

AQR Capital Management lifted its investment in American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) during the period, adding 285,172 shares to bring its total ownership to 613,370 shares. That expansion represents an 86.9% increase from the previous quarter, according to the fund's Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reported value of the stake reached roughly $207.4 million.

Inside AQR's Increased Stake

The quantitative investment firm, known for its systematic and factor-based trading models, grew its holdings from 328,198 shares previously. Because Form 13F filings look backward at portfolio snapshots from the end of the reporting period, the figures reflect holdings as of May 15, 2026, and may not represent the firm's exact share count today.

Stock Valuation and Performance

Shares of American Express changed hands at $338.07 on Tuesday. The credit services company has a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.0 and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15.6. It operates with a market capitalization of $212.0 billion and a beta of 1.1, sitting below its 52-week high of $387.49 and above its 52-week low of $290.97.

Dividend and Profitability Fundamentals

The company distributes an annual dividend yielding 1.2%, backed by a low payout ratio of 21.5%. For profitability, American Express reported $70.9 billion in revenue with a net margin of 16.1% and a return on equity of 34.4%. Earnings per share stand at $16.48.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street firms continue to evaluate the payments leader ahead of upcoming updates. On October 12, 2026, Morgan Stanley maintained its Equal-Weight rating while adjusting its price target to $380.00 from $382.00. On the same day, JP Morgan maintained an Overweight rating and moved its target to $360.00 from $400.00. Earlier, on October 9, 2026, RBC Capital kept an Outperform rating with a $400.00 target, down from $415.00, while BMO Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a $380.00 target.

Inside the Payments Business

Headquartered in New York, American Express operates an integrated global payments network serving consumers, small businesses, and large corporations through credit cards, travel services, and merchant processing. Led by CEO Stephen Joseph Squeri, the financial institution connects millions of merchants and cardmembers worldwide.

What to Watch at American Express Company

Investors tracking American Express will look toward the company's next earnings release, scheduled for October 23, 2026. Subsequent regulatory filings from institutional investors will also show whether funds like AQR continue building their positions in the financial services sector.