Average Spend per Account on U.S. Consumer Platinum vs. Blue Cash Everyday New accounts acquired represents the number of new Card Member accounts opened, and excludes supplemental cards issued on those accounts. Average Spend FY'25 ~10x U.S. Consumer Services New Acquisitions $164 $189 $179 $182 $179 $203 $196 $282 Q1'24 Q2'24 Q3'24 Q4'24 Q1'25 Q2'25 Q3'25 Q4'25 Average Fee per New Account Acquired Q1'24 Q2'24 Q3'24 Q4'24 Q1'25 Q2'25 Q3'25 Q4'25 New Cards Acquired (M) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.3 ...

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio includes high-quality companies, but investments are not guaranteed to succeed due to competitive risks [1] - American Express is experiencing significant revenue growth despite potential threats from innovations like BNPL and stablecoins [4] Group 1: Industry Developments - The payments industry has seen the rise of fintech services such as buy now, pay later (BNPL) and stablecoins, appealing to younger consumers and merchants [2] - Major payment processing companies like PayPal, Fiserv, and Stripe are adopting stablecoins, supported by favorable legislation from the Genius Act in 2025 [3] Group 2: American Express Performance - American Express generated $9.9 billion in revenue from merchants and $2.6 billion from card membership fees in Q4 2025, with double-digit growth in revenue and earnings per share reported last year [4] - The brand loyalty among high-income consumers allows American Express to charge higher processing fees to merchants [5] - American Express is successfully attracting younger customers, with millennials and Gen Z now making up the largest share of U.S. consumer spending [6]

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway has a significant investment in American Express, valued at over $53 billion, representing 22.1% of all shares outstanding and 16.4% of Berkshire's equity portfolio, making it the second-largest position after Apple [1]. Investment Thesis - American Express is praised for its global brand and dividend, aligning with Warren Buffett's investment criteria, including its economic role, cash-rich status, and market leadership [2]. - The company continues to invest in its business and competitive advantages, focusing on maintaining its market position in the financial services industry [3]. Financial Performance - In the fourth quarter of 2025, American Express reported a 10% year-over-year increase in revenue and a 16% increase in earnings per share (EPS) [5]. - Card fees rose by 17% year over year, and renewal rates remained stable despite a card refresh that included increased annual fees [5]. Marketing and Investment Strategy - American Express invested $6.3 billion in marketing in 2025, a 75% increase since 2019, resulting in higher customer demand, improved credit quality, and stronger retention [4]. - The company focuses on maintenance and innovation, utilizing technology for a new cloud-based data analytics model to enhance marketing personalization [4]. Consumer Demographics - Gen-Z spending, although only 6% of total spending, grew by 36% year over year, indicating a strong growth potential as this demographic matures [6].

Group 1: Microsoft - Microsoft is a leading tech company with a market cap of $3.1 trillion, experiencing a recent stock decline despite a 17% revenue growth in the last quarter of 2025 [4][6] - The Azure cloud business showed a growth rate of 39%, slightly below the expected 39.4%, which contributed to investor disappointment [4] - The company reported a profit of $38.5 billion, up from $24.1 billion a year ago, indicating strong financial health [7] - Microsoft has a dividend yield of 0.9% and recently announced a 10% increase in its dividend [8] Group 2: American Express - American Express generated $72.2 billion in revenue for 2025, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase, driven by strong card member spending [9] - The company forecasts a revenue growth rate of 9% to 10% for 2026, despite concerns over potential caps on credit card interest rates [10] - American Express has a market cap of $247 billion and a dividend yield of approximately 0.9%, with plans to increase its payout by 16% this year [12]

Core Viewpoint - Investors in the Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector should consider Grupo Financiero Banorte SAB de CV (GBOOY) and American Express (AXP) for potential value investment opportunities [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - GBOOY has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a more favorable earnings estimate revision activity compared to AXP, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The Zacks Rank strategy targets companies with positive earnings estimate revision trends, which is a key factor for value investors [2] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - GBOOY has a forward P/E ratio of 8.80, significantly lower than AXP's forward P/E of 20.25, suggesting GBOOY may be undervalued [5] - GBOOY's PEG ratio is 1.09, while AXP's PEG ratio is 1.50, indicating GBOOY has a better balance of price to expected earnings growth [5] - GBOOY's P/B ratio is 2.31, compared to AXP's P/B of 7.3, further supporting GBOOY's valuation attractiveness [6] Group 3: Overall Investment Conclusion - GBOOY's stronger estimate revision activity and more attractive valuation metrics lead to a Value grade of A, while AXP has a Value grade of C, making GBOOY the superior option for value investors [7]

Financial Performance - For the year ended December 31, 2025, worldwide billed business reached $1,670 billion, with 86.6 million proprietary cards-in-force globally[24]. - Worldwide processed volume for the same period was $227.2 billion, with 66.2 million cards-in-force issued by third parties[28]. - The Delta cobrand portfolio represented approximately 13% of worldwide billed business and about 21% of worldwide Card Member loans as of December 31, 2025[32]. - Approximately 26% of worldwide billed business for the year ended December 31, 2025, was accounted for by cobrand portfolios, with Card Member loans related to these portfolios representing about 36% of total Card Member loans[153]. - Spending at airline merchants constituted approximately 6% of worldwide billed business for the year ended December 31, 2025, highlighting exposure to credit risk in the airline industry[159]. Strategic Initiatives - American Express aims to expand its leadership in the premium consumer space by enhancing membership benefits and developing experiences for high-spending customers[37]. - The company plans to enhance its customer experience through technology and innovation, aiming to improve productivity and customer satisfaction[40]. - American Express continues to invest in its Membership Model, which provides attractive rewards and benefits to Card Members, supporting revenue generation[34]. - The company is enhancing its card products and services, including the 2025 refresh of its U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum cards[24]. - The company is investing in growth initiatives to attract new Card Members and retain existing ones, focusing on increasing consumer and business spending, growing loan balances, and enhancing fee revenue[167]. Competition and Market Position - The company has been facing intense competition in the global payments industry, particularly in the premium space, targeting high-spending customers and key business partners[63]. - The company is the fourth largest general-purpose card network globally based on purchase volume, behind Visa, China UnionPay, and Mastercard[64]. - The payments industry is highly competitive, with the company facing challenges from larger competitors like Visa and Mastercard, which may affect its market position[144]. - The company faces intense competition for partner relationships, which could lead to renegotiations with less favorable terms or loss of partnerships, adversely affecting business operations[152]. Regulatory Environment - The company has been categorized as a Category III firm since 2024, subject to heightened capital, liquidity, and prudential requirements due to total consolidated assets exceeding $250 billion[77]. - The company is subject to extensive government regulation and supervision, which has resulted in increased costs related to regulatory oversight and compliance[70]. - The company has been focusing on evolving its risk management framework and governance structures to comply with regulatory expectations[71]. - The company is required to maintain minimum capital ratios of 4.5% for CET1 capital, 6.0% for Tier 1 capital, and 8.0% for Total capital, with an effective minimum of 7.0%, 8.5%, and 10.5% respectively when including buffers[82][83]. - The company is subject to regulatory actions that may impact its operations and financial condition, including potential fines for noncompliance[71]. Technology and Innovation - American Express is exploring the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance its payments platform and customer experience[21]. - The company must continue to invest in technology to remain competitive, including in areas like AI, data management, and alternative payment mechanisms[174]. - The development of new products and services is complex and costly, and failure to meet customer needs could hinder competitive effectiveness[175]. - The use of AI and ML technologies presents risks, including potential biases and ethical challenges, which could impact brand reputation and demand for products[176]. Risk Management - The company has been adapting to the rapid growth of alternative payment mechanisms and evolving technologies to maintain its market position[66]. - The company faces risks from fraudulent activities, including identity theft and account takeovers, which have been exacerbated by the use of advanced technologies like generative AI[192]. - Increased fraudulent activity could materially affect the company's financial condition, leading to credit losses and regulatory interventions[193]. - The company has experienced a significant increase in cybersecurity risks, including sophisticated cyberattacks such as ransomware and social engineering attacks, which are expected to continue[185]. Compliance and Legal Risks - AENB is subject to significant supervision regarding anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) compliance, with potential material consequences for non-compliance[118]. - The company is required to comply with unclaimed property laws, which mandate payment to states for uncashed or unredeemed products after a specified period[107]. - The company is subject to complex anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act, which could expose it to severe penalties if not complied with[125]. - Ongoing litigation and regulatory actions could result in significant fines and increased expenses, adversely affecting the company's business operations[201]. Operational Challenges - The company faces challenges in managing and expanding Card Member benefits cost-effectively, which could adversely affect profitability if expenses exceed expectations[169]. - The reliance on third-party providers for essential services increases operational complexity and governance challenges, which could result in regulatory actions and reputational harm if not managed properly[209]. - The competitive market for skilled personnel may hinder the company's ability to attract and retain qualified individuals, affecting future performance[212]. - The company may need to increase incentives and concessions to maintain merchant relationships, which could adversely affect profitability and revenues[161].

Core Insights - The largest credit card issuers generated approximately $146 billion in revenue last year, highlighting the significant dependence of Americans on debt [1] Group 1 - The revenue figure of $146 billion reflects the substantial financial impact of credit card usage in the U.S. market [1]

Core Viewpoint - American Express Company (AXP) has shown mixed performance in the market, with a slight underperformance compared to the S&P 500 Index over the past year, but has outperformed the Amplify Digital Payments ETF [2][3]. Financial Performance - AXP's Q4 earnings report revealed an EPS of $3.53, slightly below Wall Street's expectation of $3.54, while revenue reached $19 billion, exceeding forecasts of $18.8 billion [6]. - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts project AXP's EPS to grow by 14% to $17.53 on a diluted basis [7]. Analyst Ratings - Among 30 analysts covering AXP, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with nine "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," 18 "Holds," and one "Strong Sell" [7]. - The mean price target for AXP is $376.67, indicating a 6.5% premium to current price levels, while the highest price target of $462 suggests an upside potential of 30.6% [8].

Core Insights - American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is projected to double in value by 2030, with recent price target adjustments from Truist and JPMorgan following the company's Q4 2025 results [1][6]. Financial Performance - In the full-year 2025 earnings report, American Express recorded revenues of $72 billion, marking a 10% year-over-year increase [2]. - The company reported an EPS of $15.38, driven by an 18% rise in net card fees, which reached a record $10 billion [2]. - Spending across various categories was robust, with luxury retail spending increasing by 15% and international spending rising by 12% [2]. - Millennial and Gen Z customers now represent the largest share of US consumer spending for American Express [2]. Company Structure - American Express operates as an integrated payments company with four segments: US Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant & Network Services [3].

Group 1 - Visa announced a $100 million loan initiative aimed at supporting small businesses, along with additional services such as digital payment acceptance tools, expense management software, marketing support, and fraud mitigation services [3][7] - American Express introduced a flexible payment option for newly approved Business Platinum and Gold cardholders in the UK, allowing them to pay over time with interest [4][5][7] - Both Visa and American Express emphasized their commitment to supporting small businesses, with Visa's regional president highlighting the integration of Visa's products and expertise to provide flexible financing solutions [3][7] Group 2 - Visa's new services became available on Thursday morning, indicating a prompt rollout of their small business support initiatives [4] - The new pay-over-time feature from American Express does not specify the interest rate that will be charged, leaving some details unclear for potential users [5]