American Express Co (AXP): Today's Featured Real Estate Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

American Express (AXP) pushed the Real Estate industry higher today making it today's featured real estate winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 1.1%. By the end of trading, American Express rose $1.78 (3.1%) to $59.05 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 7.4 million shares of American Express exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.9 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $57.25-$59.29 after having opened the day at $57.30 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $57.27. Other companies within the Real Estate industry that increased today were: Elbit Imaging (EMITF), up 23.9%, American Realty Investors (ARL), up 8.2%, E-House China Holdings (EJ), up 7.2%, and HFF (HF), up 7.1%.

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American Express Company provides charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services to worldwide. American Express has a market cap of $64.88 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.4, equal to the average financial services industry P/E ratio and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 21.3% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 10 analysts that rate American Express a buy, one analyst rates it a sell, and nine rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates American Express as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, revenue growth, notable return on equity and increase in stock price during the past year. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had generally high debt management risk by most measures that we evaluated.

• You can view the full American Express Ratings Report.

On the negative front, American Spectrum Realty (AQQ), down 12.6%, IFM Investments (CTC), down 7.7%, Supertel Hospitality (SPPR), down 4%, and FirstService Corporation (FSRV), down 3.8%, were all laggards within the real estate industry with Annaly Capital Management (NLY) being today's real estate industry laggard.

• Use our real estate section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the real estate industry could consider iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate (IYR) while those bearish on the real estate industry could consider ProShares Short Real Estate Fund (REK).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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For more information on American Express Co click any of the following:

• American Express Co Stock Price

• American Express Co Analyst Ratings

• American Express Co Key Stats & Profile

• American Express Co Earnings

• American Express Co Ratio Comparison

• American Express Co Growth Rates

• American Express Co Balance Sheet

• American Express Co Cash Flow

• American Express Co Income Statement