L & S Advisors Position in American Express Co (AXP) Boosted by $2.83 Million; As Texas Instrs (TXN) Stock Rose, Laffer Investments Lifted Its Holding by $612.69 Million

December 30, 2017 - By Evgen Dobrzhanskiy

Laffer Investments increased its stake in Texas Instrs Inc (TXN) by 18.33% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. Laffer Investments bought 6,835 shares as the company’s stock rose 5.05% with the market. The institutional investor held 44,125 shares of the semiconductors company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $3.96B, up from 37,290 at the end of the previous reported quarter. Laffer Investments who had been investing in Texas Instrs Inc for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $102.93B market cap company. The stock decreased 0.36% or $0.38 during the last trading session, reaching $104.44. About 2.81 million shares traded. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) has risen 40.31% since December 30, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 23.61% the S&P500.

L & S Advisors Inc increased its stake in American Express Co (AXP) by 83.66% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. L & S Advisors Inc bought 31,410 shares as the company’s stock declined 3.65% while stock markets rallied. The institutional investor held 68,953 shares of the consumer services company at the end of 2017Q3, valued at $6.24 million, up from 37,543 at the end of the previous reported quarter. L & S Advisors Inc who had been investing in American Express Co for a number of months, seems to be bullish on the $86.20 billion market cap company. The stock decreased 0.39% or $0.39 during the last trading session, reaching $99.31. About 2.06 million shares traded. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) has risen 22.41% since December 30, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 5.71% the S&P500.

Investors sentiment increased to 0.83 in 2017 Q3. Its up 0.01, from 0.82 in 2017Q2. It improved, as 47 investors sold AXP shares while 434 reduced holdings. 100 funds opened positions while 297 raised stakes. 709.03 million shares or 0.92% less from 715.61 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. Us National Bank De accumulated 487,298 shares or 0.14% of the stock. Moreover, Somerville Kurt F has 0.06% invested in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) for 3,300 shares. Waverton Inv Management Limited holds 0.15% or 26,275 shares. Montgomery Invest owns 3,133 shares. Umb Savings Bank N A Mo owns 0.07% invested in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) for 23,997 shares. Credit Agricole S A, France-based fund reported 922,047 shares. Cambridge, a Nebraska-based fund reported 2,960 shares. Kistler has invested 0.08% of its portfolio in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP). Montag Caldwell Limited Liability has 0.01% invested in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) for 2,400 shares. Zwj Counsel Inc invested in 1.24% or 175,865 shares. Edge Wealth Mgmt Ltd Llc holds 0.02% in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) or 759 shares. Psagot Investment House holds 51,582 shares. Bartlett Co Limited Liability Co holds 0.23% of its portfolio in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) for 61,489 shares. Narwhal Mngmt stated it has 0.85% in American Express Company (NYSE:AXP). Ntv Asset Management Ltd Liability Com holds 9,000 shares or 0.24% of its portfolio.

Since July 31, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 10 insider sales for $37.59 million activity. On Monday, December 11 the insider Buckminster Douglas E. sold $8.79M. $4.53 million worth of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) shares were sold by Williams Anre D. $4.32 million worth of stock was sold by O’Neill Michael John on Monday, December 11. $304,962 worth of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) was sold by Zukauckas Linda on Friday, October 27. $506,340 worth of stock was sold by Sobbott Susan on Thursday, September 7. $5.63M worth of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) shares were sold by Gupta Ashwini.

L & S Advisors Inc, which manages about $330.44M and $597.62 million US Long portfolio, decreased its stake in Waste Management Inc (NYSE:WM) by 22,278 shares to 21,221 shares, valued at $1.66M in 2017Q3, according to the filing. It also reduced its holding in Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) by 4,363 shares in the quarter, leaving it with 34,272 shares, and cut its stake in Healthcare Trust Of America (NYSE:HTA).

Among 34 analysts covering American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), 10 have Buy rating, 4 Sell and 20 Hold. Therefore 29% are positive. American Express Company had 89 analyst reports since July 23, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. The company was downgraded on Thursday, July 23 by S&P Research. The stock has “Equal-Weight” rating by Barclays Capital on Thursday, October 19. The company was upgraded on Thursday, April 27 by Instinet. The stock of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) has “Market Perform” rating given on Thursday, April 21 by Wood. The firm has “Hold” rating by Argus Research given on Monday, January 25. On Wednesday, November 25 the stock rating was reinitiated by Piper Jaffray with “Neutral”. The company was upgraded on Friday, April 28 by Nomura. Morgan Stanley maintained the shares of AXP in report on Thursday, July 20 with “Equal-Weight” rating. Wood maintained American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) rating on Tuesday, April 11. Wood has “Buy” rating and $91 target. Barclays Capital maintained American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) rating on Tuesday, October 13. Barclays Capital has “Equal-Weight” rating and $77 target.

Laffer Investments, which manages about $614.32M and $378.86B US Long portfolio, decreased its stake in Wells Fargo & Co New (NYSE:WFC) by 375 shares to 7,226 shares, valued at $398.51 million in 2017Q3, according to the filing. It also reduced its holding in Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) by 3,810 shares in the quarter, leaving it with 48,685 shares, and cut its stake in Sherwin Williams Co (NYSE:SHW).

Investors sentiment increased to 1.12 in 2017 Q3. Its up 0.02, from 1.1 in 2017Q2. It is positive, as 55 investors sold TXN shares while 333 reduced holdings. 104 funds opened positions while 332 raised stakes. 802.74 million shares or 3.16% more from 778.17 million shares in 2017Q2 were reported. San Francisco Sentry Group (Ca) reported 0.19% stake. Peddock Ltd Llc reported 18 shares. Highstreet Asset Mgmt holds 19,657 shares. Illinois-based Gofen Glossberg Ltd Llc Il has invested 0.03% in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN). Blackrock Inc stated it has 67.13M shares. Reilly Advsrs Ltd has invested 0.04% of its portfolio in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN). Natl Asset Management holds 13,067 shares. D L Carlson Group Incorporated, a New Hampshire-based fund reported 35,146 shares. Boston Family Office Limited Liability Corporation invested 0.04% in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN). Country Tru Savings Bank reported 0% in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN). Spectrum Management invested in 1.06% or 36,312 shares. Nelson Van Denburg Campbell Wealth Management Gru Lc has invested 0% in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN). Btc Mgmt Incorporated has 0.2% invested in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN). 22,111 are held by Azimuth Cap Limited Liability. Guggenheim Limited Com invested in 0.25% or 1.19M shares.

Since July 31, 2017, it had 0 buys, and 13 sales for $125.79 million activity. $9.40M worth of stock was sold by Ilan Haviv on Thursday, October 26. On Friday, October 27 the insider CARP DANIEL A sold $2.13 million. BABB RALPH W JR sold $2.14M worth of stock or 22,158 shares. RITCHIE KEVIN J sold $8.63 million worth of stock or 105,396 shares. On Thursday, October 26 the insider CRUTCHER BRIAN T sold $25.40 million. TEMPLETON RICHARD K sold $43.43M worth of stock.

Among 37 analysts covering Texas Instruments (NASDAQ:TXN), 17 have Buy rating, 2 Sell and 18 Hold. Therefore 46% are positive. Texas Instruments had 92 analyst reports since July 24, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. RBC Capital Markets maintained Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) rating on Friday, September 29. RBC Capital Markets has “Buy” rating and $96.0 target. The firm has “Neutral” rating by B. Riley & Co given on Thursday, April 28. Rosenblatt maintained the stock with “Buy” rating in Wednesday, July 26 report. The firm earned “Neutral” rating on Wednesday, October 25 by B. Riley & Co. RBC Capital Markets maintained the shares of TXN in report on Friday, July 1 with “Outperform” rating. Jefferies maintained Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) rating on Monday, July 10. Jefferies has “Buy” rating and $9400 target. On Wednesday, May 31 the stock rating was maintained by Jefferies with “Buy”. Barclays Capital maintained Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) on Wednesday, October 18 with “Equal-Weight” rating. The stock of Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ:TXN) has “Neutral” rating given on Wednesday, October 25 by Nomura. The company was maintained on Thursday, August 31 by BMO Capital Markets.