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Core Insights - American Express reported fourth-quarter earnings per share of $3.53, aligning closely with the consensus forecast of $3.54, while revenue increased by 9% to $18.98 billion, slightly surpassing analyst expectations of $18.92 billion [1][2] Financial Performance - The revenue growth was attributed to higher Card Member spending, increased net interest income from growing revolving loan balances, and strong card fee revenue [2] - Credit loss provisions for the fourth quarter totaled $1.4 billion, an increase from $1.3 billion a year earlier, with the net write-off rate rising to 2.1% from 1.9% [4] - Total expenses increased by 10% year over year to $14.5 billion, primarily due to higher customer engagement costs and the U.S. Platinum Card refresh [4] Future Outlook - For 2026, American Express forecasts earnings per share in the range of $17.30 to $17.90, with the midpoint exceeding consensus estimates of $17.40, and projects revenue growth of 9% to 10% [2] - The company announced plans to increase its regular quarterly dividend by approximately 16% to $0.95 per share from $0.82, starting with the first-quarter 2026 payout [3]

Core Insights - American Express reported strong fourth-quarter performance, driven by retail, restaurants, and premium travel, with millennials and Gen Z now making up the largest share of U.S. consumer spending on its cards [1][4][3] Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter revenues increased by 10% to just under $19 billion, with total billed business rising 8% on a foreign-exchange adjusted basis [4] - Retail spending grew by 10%, luxury retail by 15%, and restaurant spending by 9%, with U.S. restaurant spending by U.S. consumer customers up more than 20% [4] - International markets contributed to growth, with spending up 12% FX-adjusted and transactions growing by 9% [5] Customer Demographics - The average age of new customers is 33 for the U.S. consumer Platinum card and 29 for the Gold card, indicating a long-term growth opportunity with younger customers [4] - Demand for premium products is reshaping the customer base, with younger card members carrying more spending weight [2][3] Business Segment Performance - Small business spending remained strong, while middle-market activity showed softness, consistent with broader industry trends [8][9] - American Express plans to expand digital tools and expense management capabilities for business customers, maintaining competitiveness in the small business and middle-market arena [9] Strategic Focus - The company is redirecting marketing efforts from lower-cost cash-back cards to fee-paying premium products, reflecting a multiyear strategy [5] - Travel bookings surged by 30% in the fourth quarter, attributed to the refresh of the Platinum card and increased cardholder engagement [7] Credit Performance - Delinquency and write-off rates remain below pre-pandemic levels, indicating strong portfolio quality [6] Future Outlook - American Express reaffirmed its revenue growth outlook for 2026, expecting growth of 9% to 10% [9]

Core Insights - Credit card issuers, including Visa and American Express, report strong consumer spending in the last quarter of 2025, indicating a positive outlook for the upcoming holiday season for retailers [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Visa and American Express have demonstrated robust earnings, suggesting that consumer spending remains resilient and is growing at a healthy rate [1] Group 2: Industry Implications - The positive earnings reports from credit card companies signal a strong holiday season ahead for retailers, as consumer confidence and spending are expected to continue [1]

Core Insights - American Express Company (AXP) reported Q4 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of $3.53, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.3%, but showing a 16% year-over-year increase [1][10] - Total revenues reached $19 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.8%, and reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth [1][10] Financial Performance - Elevated customer engagement and operating costs impacted quarterly earnings, although increased Card Member spending partially offset these challenges [2] - Network volumes rose to $506.2 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.7% [3] - Total interest income was $6.6 billion, an 8% year-over-year increase, but fell short of the consensus by 0.9% [3] - Provision for credit losses increased by 9% year over year to $1.4 billion due to higher net write-offs [3] - Total expenses rose 10% year over year to $14.5 billion, driven by higher operating expenses and customer engagement costs [4] Segment Performance - U.S. Consumer Services segment pre-tax income was $1.6 billion, a 0.3% year-over-year increase, but missed estimates by 5.3% [5] - Commercial Services segment pre-tax income increased by 3% year over year to $837 million, exceeding estimates of $758.1 million [6] - International Card Services segment pre-tax income rose to $316 million from $34 million year over year, beating the consensus of $274.9 million [7] - Global Merchant and Network Services segment pre-tax net income was $884 million, a 4% year-over-year increase, but missed estimates of $1.1 billion [8] Balance Sheet - As of December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $47.8 billion, up from $40.6 billion at the end of 2024 [9] - Total assets increased to $300.1 billion from $271.5 billion at the end of 2024 [9] - Long-term debt rose to $56.4 billion from $49.7 billion at the end of 2024 [11] - Shareholders' equity improved to $33.5 billion from $30.3 billion at the end of 2024 [11] Capital Deployment - In Q4 2025, American Express repurchased 2 million common shares and paid a per-share dividend of 82 cents [12] 2026 Outlook - The company projects revenue growth of 9-10% in 2026, with EPS expected to be between $17.30 and $17.90, indicating a 14.4% improvement from the 2025 EPS of $15.38 [10][13]

Core Insights - American Express is focusing its marketing efforts on high-end products, particularly the refreshed Platinum card with an annual fee of $895, moving away from no-fee cash back cards [1][2] - This strategy aims to increase overall spending levels among affluent consumers, leading to higher fee revenue from premium cards and lower loan defaults [2] - The shift reflects the "K-shaped" U.S. economy, where wealthy consumers continue to spend while others cut back, with demand for luxury products and experiences accelerating [3] Spending Trends - Spending at luxury retailers increased by 15% in the quarter, while business and first-class airfare purchases rose by 9%, and luxury hotel spending was up by 12% [4] - Overall spending in the airline and lodging sectors grew by 3% and 5%, respectively, indicating that affluent cardmembers are significantly influencing these results [4]

In a week of stock market newsworthiness, the hits keep coming this Friday morning. President Trump’s new Fed Chair has been announced: former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh. We also see a key wholesale inflation report hitting the tape for December, along with Big Oil companies reporting Q4 earnings results.Ahead of the opening bell, the Dow is -250 points, the S&P 500 is -35, the Nasdaq -180 and the small-cap Russell 2000 -30. This is a rather inauspicious start to the trading day, but we’re thus far flat for t ...

Core Viewpoint - American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) is experiencing a mixed outlook among analysts, with a slight decrease in the average price target but an overall upward trend compared to last year, reflecting growing confidence in the company's future prospects [1][2][5]. Price Target Summary - The average price target for AXP decreased from $387.55 to $381 over the last month, indicating tempered optimism among analysts [2]. - Compared to last year's target of $361.96, the current price target shows a clear upward trend, suggesting increased confidence in the company's performance [2][5]. Earnings Expectations - American Express is expected to announce a 16.8% increase in earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter, driven by rising network volumes, discount revenues, and card growth [3]. - Analysts believe these factors will help offset the increasing costs associated with customer engagement [3]. Analyst Concerns - Some analysts, such as Mark DeVries from Barclays, have set a lower price target of $145 for AXP, indicating caution regarding the company's ability to meet earnings expectations [4]. - The mixed signals from analysts highlight the importance of upcoming earnings reports and strategic announcements in shaping future expectations and stock price targets [4][5].

Management also emphasized continued traction with younger customers. Le Caillec said that as of the fourth quarter, Millennials and Gen Z made up the largest share of U.S. consumer spending and remained the fastest-growing cohorts. He cited an average age of 33 for new U.S. Consumer Platinum customers and 29 for new U.S. Consumer Gold customers.Restaurant spending was up 9% again in the quarter, and spend at U.S. Resy restaurants by U.S. consumer customers rose by more than 20%.Retail spending rose 10% in ...

Core Viewpoint - American Express (NYSE:AXP) stock is declining despite better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue and a 16% dividend increase, as earnings of $3.04 per share fell slightly below estimates [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Shares of American Express are down 3.1% at $347.33, falling below the $350 support level, and are at their lowest since November 21, with a 5% decline since the start of the year [2]. - If the current losses persist, it will mark the sixth post-earnings drop in the last seven quarters for the stock [2]. Group 2: Options Trading Activity - Options traders have been active, with 14,000 calls and 9,666 puts exchanged, which is three times the typical options volume for this time [3]. - The most popular option is the weekly 1/30 382.50-strike call, with new positions being opened [3]. Group 3: Volatility and Options Sentiment - Calls have been more popular than usual leading up to the earnings report, with a 50-day call/put volume ratio of 1.80, ranking higher than 98% of readings from the past year [4]. - Options traders are pricing in low volatility expectations, with the Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) at 35%, ranking in the low 20th percentile of its annual range, indicating reasonably priced premiums [5].