Core Viewpoint - American Express has shown strong performance with a total return of 121% over the past five years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index, attributed to robust fundamental performance [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - The stock has recently experienced a sell-off, trading 22% below its peak from December [2] - The current price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) has decreased from 25.6 to 19.5, making it a more attractive investment opportunity [4] Group 2: Market Sentiment - American Express is a top holding of Berkshire Hathaway, which provides retail investors with confidence due to Warren Buffett's endorsement [3] - The sell-off was influenced by concerns over potential job losses due to artificial intelligence, impacting consumer spending and affecting American Express along with other consumer-financial stocks [6] Group 3: Financial Fundamentals - In the previous year, American Express generated $72.2 billion in net revenue, a 10% increase compared to 2024 and 36% higher than in 2022, with management expecting long-term revenue growth of 10% or more per year [8] - The company anticipates earnings per share to grow at a mid-teens annual rate, suggesting that the share price could reflect these gains if the valuation remains stable [9]

Core Viewpoint - Dividend stocks are in high demand this year as investors seek stability amid stock market volatility, with the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index up nearly 12% year to date, outperforming major market indexes [1] Group 1: Demand for Dividend Stocks - Good dividend stocks are sought after due to their ability to provide income regardless of stock performance, often at elevated yields, and are typically offered by stable, value-oriented companies [2] - Dividend stocks can be reinvested to enhance returns, making them attractive in a negative return market [2] Group 2: Ares Capital (ARCC) - Ares Capital is a business development company that pays out 90% of taxable income as dividends, resulting in a high dividend yield of 10.69% [3][5] - The company has a market cap of $13 billion and has invested $29.5 billion in 603 companies, primarily in senior secured loans [5][6] - Ares Capital maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.48 per share, which has remained unchanged since the end of 2022 [6] Group 3: S&P Global (SPGI) - S&P Global has raised its dividend annually for 53 consecutive years, making it a Dividend King, with a current yield of 0.91% [7][9] - The company has a market cap of $127 billion and has generated an average annualized return of 16.4% over the past 10 years, outperforming the S&P 500 [9][10] - Despite a 17% decline year to date, analysts are optimistic about S&P Global's prospects, with 93% rating it as a buy and a median price target suggesting a 26% upside [10] Group 4: American Express (AXP) - American Express recently increased its dividend by 16% to $0.95 per share, marking the fifth consecutive year of dividend increases [11][12] - The company has a market cap of $203 billion and has seen revenue growth of 10% and earnings growth of 15% in 2025, with similar expectations for 2026 [13][14] - Analysts project a median price target of $393 per share for American Express, indicating a potential 30% upside over the next 12 months [15]

We just covered the 10 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett. American Express Co (NYSE:AXP) ranks #2  (see the 5 best stocks to buy now here). The Federal Reserve recently kept its lending rate unchanged as expected but pointed to potential upside risks to inflation. On Wall Street, attention is shifting to a scenario where the central bank may need to consider raising interest rates instead of cutting them if the Middle East conflict continues to escalate and its economic fallout deepens. W ...

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's tenure as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway culminated in the company reaching a market capitalization of one trillion dollars before his retirement [1] - Buffett's investment strategy focused on long-term holdings, particularly in companies like Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's, which have consistently generated significant returns [2][4] Investment Performance - Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's are highlighted as key investments, with Coca-Cola being held since 1988, American Express since 1991, and Moody's since 2000 [5] - The cost basis for these stocks is notably low due to their lengthy holding periods: Coca-Cola at approximately $3.25, American Express at $8.49, and Moody's at $10.05 per share [5] - These investments have allowed Berkshire Hathaway to double its initial investment every 21 to 30 months through dividends [7] Dividend Growth - Coca-Cola has increased its annual dividend payout for 64 consecutive years, while American Express and Moody's have raised theirs for 17 and 5 years, respectively [6] - Projected annual payouts are $2.06 for Coca-Cola, $3.80 for American Express, and $4.12 for Moody's, resulting in yields on cost of 63%, 45%, and 41% respectively [7] Competitive Advantages - Companies like Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's possess well-defined competitive advantages that contribute to their status as dividend powerhouses [9] - Coca-Cola's global operations and effective marketing strategies have allowed it to maintain strong consumer connections across generations [10] - American Express benefits from transaction fees and annual fees from affluent clientele, which provides stability during economic fluctuations [12] - Moody's has a dual operating model that thrives in varying economic conditions, with its debt-rating segment benefiting from low interest rates and its analytics segment gaining demand during uncertainty [13]

Core Insights - Visa is implementing a tap-to-pay function that utilizes stablecoins, indicating a shift towards digital currency integration in payment systems [1] - Mastercard is also advancing its capabilities in stablecoin development, reflecting a broader trend in the financial services industry towards embracing cryptocurrency solutions [1] Company Developments - Visa's new tap-to-pay feature aims to enhance transaction efficiency and user experience by leveraging stablecoins [1] - Mastercard's focus on developing stablecoin capabilities suggests a strategic move to remain competitive in the evolving digital payment landscape [1] Industry Trends - The integration of stablecoins by major payment processors like Visa and Mastercard highlights a growing acceptance of digital currencies in mainstream finance [1] - This trend may lead to increased adoption of cryptocurrency for everyday transactions, potentially transforming the payment industry [1]

  March 19, 2026 – TheNewswire - Vancouver, British Columbia – South Atlantic Gold Inc. (TSX-V:SAO) (“South Atlantic” or the “Company”) announces that Mr. Rick Brown has resigned from the Board of Directors, effective March 19, 2026.The Board thanks Mr. Brown for his valuable contributions during his tenure. His deep experience in Latin American mining was instrumental in advancing the Company’s strategy at Pedra Branca. The Company also announces the appointment of Mr. Stephen Stow to the Board of Directo ...

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: American Express is integrating its virtual cards into SAP’s Concur expense service, the card giant said in a press release on Tuesday. With the integration, companies can issue virtual cards to their employees, set spending limits, generate card numbers to enhance security, and reconcile business expenses, the companies said. The feature is availab ...

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » When Warren Buffett's hand-picked successor, Greg Abel, took the reins as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB) this year, it was unclear how he would react to Berkshire's large positions in core holdings. In his Feb. 28 letter to shareholders, Abel wrote ...

Core Insights - The digital payments landscape is evolving towards faster, more secure, and digital-first transaction systems, driven by factors such as cross-border recovery, e-commerce penetration, and the emergence of tokenization and alternative payment rails [1] Visa Inc. (V) - Visa operates a network-focused model that allows for high-margin growth without credit risk exposure, benefiting from rising transaction volumes while avoiding balance sheet volatility [4] - The company has a significant scale with over 175 million merchant locations and nearly 14,500 financial institutions, positioning it to benefit from cross-border recovery where fees are higher [5] - In Q1 FY26, Visa reported an 8% year-over-year increase in payments volume and an 11% increase in cross-border volume, with processed transactions up by 9% [6] - Visa is diversifying into broader money movement solutions, with Visa Direct transactions growing 23% and commercial payments volume increasing 10% year-over-year [7] - The company has a strong cash position of $14.8 billion, allowing for substantial share buybacks and dividends, returning $5.1 billion to shareholders in Q1 FY26 [8] - However, Visa faces rising operating expenses, which increased by 16% year-over-year in Q1 FY26 due to higher marketing and administrative costs [9] American Express Company (AXP) - American Express operates a closed-loop model focused on premium customers, allowing for higher spend per user and creating a structurally different earnings profile compared to network peers [12] - In Q4 2025, AXP reported an 8% year-over-year increase in spending, with revenues net of interest expense growing by 10.6% [13] - The company is expanding its customer base by targeting younger demographics and international markets, with international spend growing 12% year-over-year [14] - AXP is investing in technology and data to enhance personalization and efficiency, guiding for 9-10% revenue growth in 2026 [15] - As of Dec. 31, 2025, AXP had $47.8 billion in cash against $1.4 billion in short-term debt, returning $7.9 billion to shareholders in 2024 and $7.6 billion in 2025 [16] - However, total expenses as a share of revenues increased to 73.6% in 2025, reflecting higher customer engagement and rewards-related spending [17] Comparative Analysis - Visa's fiscal 2026 earnings are estimated to grow by 11.9%, while AXP's EPS is expected to grow by 13.8% [18][19] - Visa trades at a forward P/E of 22.63X, while AXP trades at 16.65X, indicating a market preference for Visa's stability [20] - Both companies are trading below their average analyst price targets, with Visa implying a 30% potential upside and AXP a 26.1% potential upside [22] Conclusion - Visa offers a resilient, capital-light model with consistent volume-driven growth and expanding capabilities, while American Express benefits from strong fee growth and premium customer engagement but has higher credit sensitivity [25]

Core Insights - American Express shares have recently declined to around $300 from a 52-week high of over $387, raising questions about market pessimism versus stock valuation [1] - The company's strong business momentum and aggressive capital return strategy suggest this may be a good buying opportunity [1][3] Financial Performance - American Express expects earnings per share for 2026 to be between $17.30 and $17.90, indicating over 14% year-over-year growth [4] - In 2025, the company generated $72.2 billion in total revenue, a 10% year-over-year increase, and returned $7.6 billion to shareholders [5] - The quarterly dividend was increased by 16% to $0.95 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.3% [6] Strategic Focus - The company targets high-spending consumers, which drives reliable growth [7] - A major refresh of the Platinum Card included a fee increase from $695 to $895, accompanied by new lifestyle and travel perks to retain affluent customers [8][9] - Net card fees reached $10 billion in 2025, an 18% year-over-year increase, demonstrating effective engagement strategies [10] Valuation and Market Position - American Express shares are currently trading at about 17 times the $17.60 midpoint of management's 2026 earnings guidance, indicating a reasonable valuation [12] - The company's double-digit earnings growth, recent dividend hike, and active buyback program support the justification of its current valuation [13]