Fee-based Focus a Plus For Ameriprise

Article Excerpt

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC. $61 (New York symbol AMP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 235.3 million; Market cap: $14.4 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) provides brokerage, mutual funds and wealth management services to individuals and institutions through over 12,000 advisors. The stock has gained over 60% since its spin-off from American Express, as the strong performance of the stock market in the past two years has boosted assets under management. Ameriprise now trades at 15.6 times the $3.90 a share it’s forecast to make in 2007. The $0.60 dividend yields 1.0%. Ameriprise now aims to focus more on its asset management businesses. That should increase its fee-based income, which provides it with a steady stream of recurring revenues. Ameriprise Financial is a hold. hold…