Core Viewpoint - Focusing solely on high dividend yields can lead to overlooking strong investment opportunities with lower yields but significant dividend growth potential [1] Group 1: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's sales increased from $28.5 billion in 2022 to over $45 billion in the past year [4] - The company offers a low yield of 0.8%, attributed to a stock price increase of over 370% in five years [5] - Eli Lilly has raised its dividend by an average of 15% annually for seven years, with a current quarterly dividend of $1.50, up from $0.74 in 2020 [6][7] Group 2: TJX Companies - TJX Companies provides a dividend yield of 1.4%, slightly above the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [8] - The company's revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 rose by 5% year-over-year, totaling $13.1 billion [9] - TJX has increased its dividend by 13% this year, marking the 28th increase in 29 years, with an average annual increase of 20% [10][11] Group 3: American Express - American Express has a modest dividend yield of 1%, with revenue net of interest expense reaching nearly $17 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase [12] - The company raised its quarterly dividend by 17% in March, with the current dividend at $0.82, which is 91% higher than the $0.43 paid five years ago, reflecting a compounded annual growth rate of 13.8% [13][14]

Core Insights - The article discusses the best credit card sign-up bonuses for 2025, highlighting various cards that offer attractive rewards and benefits for new cardholders [44][55]. Group 1: Credit Card Offers - Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, with no annual fee and a rewards rate of 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel [3][5]. - Chase Sapphire Preferred provides 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, with a $95 annual fee and valuable redemption options for travelers [7][9]. - Capital One Venture Rewards offers 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, with a $95 annual fee and straightforward earning structure [11][14]. - Capital One Savor provides a limited-time offer of $300 in bonuses, including a $100 travel credit and a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, with no annual fee [15][18]. - Amex Blue Cash Preferred offers a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months, with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 [23][25]. Group 2: Rewards Structures - Chase Freedom Unlimited has a rewards rate of 5% cash back on travel, 3% on drugstore purchases and dining, and 1.5% on all other purchases [5]. - Chase Sapphire Preferred includes benefits like complimentary DashPass and annual statement credits for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel [9]. - Capital One Quicksilver offers 5% cash back on travel bookings and 1.5% on all other purchases, with no annual fee [19][20]. - Amex Gold Card provides 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, with a $325 annual fee [42][46]. Group 3: Sign-Up Bonus Mechanics - Credit card sign-up bonuses typically require new cardholders to meet a spending threshold within a specified timeframe, often ranging from $500 to $4,000 [44][47]. - The bonuses can be in the form of cash back, points, or miles, depending on the card type [49][50]. - Approval for a card is necessary to qualify for its welcome offer, which may include having a sufficient credit score [51][52].

Group 1 - American Express (AXP) closed at $322.53, with a +1.11% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.11% [1] - Prior to the latest trading session, AXP shares had gained 8.01%, surpassing the Finance sector's gain of 3.03% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.17% [1] Group 2 - American Express is scheduled to release its earnings report on July 18, 2025, with an anticipated EPS of $3.85, reflecting a 10.32% increase year-over-year [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $17.7 billion, indicating an 8.35% increase from the same quarter last year [2] Group 3 - For the entire fiscal year, Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $15.21 per share and revenue of $71.28 billion, representing changes of +13.93% and +8.08% respectively from the previous year [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates for American Express reflect evolving short-term business trends, with positive revisions indicating analysts' confidence in business performance [3] Group 4 - The Zacks Rank system, which includes estimate changes, provides a rating system for stocks, with 1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [4][5] - American Express currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5] Group 5 - American Express is trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 20.98, which is a premium compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 11.85 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.55, while the average PEG ratio for the Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is 1.03 [6] Group 6 - The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, part of the Finance sector, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 149, placing it in the bottom 40% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Market Capitalization Summary - Oracle has a market capitalization of 806.88 billion, while Visa stands at 655.99 billion [2] - Procter & Gamble has a market capitalization of 378.02 billion, and ExxonMobil is at 512.70 billion [2] - Mastercard's market capitalization is 470.87 billion, and Bank of America is at 375.11 billion [2] - UnitedHealth has a market capitalization of 308.53 billion, while ASML is at 310.77 billion [2] - Coca-Cola's market capitalization is 295.75 billion, and T-Mobile US Inc is at 273.60 billion [2] Stock Performance - Oracle's stock increased by 0.46 (+0.47%), while Visa's rose by 0.47 (+0.13%) [2] - Procter & Gamble's stock saw a slight increase of 2.68 (+0.48%), while ExxonMobil's stock increased by 1.92 (+1.20%) [2] - Mastercard's stock increased by 1.46 (+1.35%), and Bank of America's stock rose by 3.15 (+2.06%) [2] - UnitedHealth's stock decreased by 11.21 (-1.40%), while ASML's stock increased by 0.93 (+1.31%) [2] - Coca-Cola's stock increased by 14.05 (+4.50%), and T-Mobile US Inc's stock rose by 3.31 (+1.39%) [2] Additional Company Insights - McDonald's has a market capitalization of 212.78 billion, while AT&T is at 207.73 billion [3] - Uber's market capitalization is 192.79 billion, and Verizon's is at 184.08 billion [3] - Caterpillar's market capitalization is 183.87 billion, while Qualcomm is at 174.99 billion [3] - BlackRock has a market capitalization of 163.25 billion, and Citigroup is at 161.13 billion [3] - Boeing's market capitalization is 158.16 billion, while Pfizer is at 142.36 billion [3] Recent Market Movements - Intel's stock increased by 0.45 (+1.99%), while Dell Technologies rose by 0.82 (+0.16%) [4] - Rio Tinto's market capitalization is 746.07 billion, and Newmont is at 654.78 billion [4] - General Motors has a market capitalization of 494.87 billion, while Target is at 472.00 billion [4] - Ford's market capitalization is 451.14 billion, and Valero Energy is at 432.26 billion [4] - Vodafone's market capitalization is 241.45 billion, while Pinterest is at 270.30 billion [5]

Core Viewpoint - The article compares Intercorp Financial Services Inc. (IFS) and American Express (AXP) to determine which stock is more attractive to value investors [1]. Group 1: Company Rankings and Outlook - IFS currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to AXP, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. - The improvement in earnings outlook for IFS is noted to be stronger than that of AXP [3]. Group 2: Valuation Metrics - IFS has a forward P/E ratio of 8.71, significantly lower than AXP's forward P/E of 20.86, suggesting that IFS may be undervalued [5]. - The PEG ratio for IFS is 0.35, while AXP's PEG ratio is 1.54, indicating that IFS has a better valuation relative to its expected earnings growth [5]. - IFS has a P/B ratio of 1.46 compared to AXP's P/B of 7.12, further supporting the notion that IFS is undervalued [6]. - These metrics contribute to IFS earning a Value grade of A, while AXP has a Value grade of C, making IFS a more attractive option for value investors [6].

Group 1 - American Express (AXP) stock increased by 2.92% to $308.38, outperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.11% [1] - Over the past month, AXP shares gained 5.05%, surpassing the Finance sector's gain of 1.91% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.92% [1] Group 2 - American Express is expected to report earnings on July 18, 2025, with a forecasted EPS of $3.85, reflecting a 10.32% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is projected to be $17.7 billion, up 8.35% from the prior-year quarter [2] Group 3 - For the full year, analysts expect earnings of $15.21 per share and revenue of $71.27 billion, indicating increases of 13.93% and 8.08% respectively from last year [3] Group 4 - Recent changes in analyst estimates for American Express indicate a positive outlook for the company's business and profitability [4] Group 5 - The Zacks Rank system, which assesses estimate changes, suggests that these adjustments correlate with stock price performance [5] - American Express currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with a recent consensus EPS projection increase of 0.1% [6] Group 6 - American Express has a Forward P/E ratio of 19.7, which is higher than the industry average of 11.42 [7] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.46, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.01 [7] Group 7 - The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, part of the Finance sector, ranks in the top 39% of all industries according to the Zacks Industry Rank [8]

Core Insights - Metal credit cards serve as both a status symbol and a potential long-term value for spending and travel [1] - It is essential to evaluate the rewards and benefits of metal credit cards beyond their aesthetic appeal [1] Summary by Sections Overview of Metal Credit Cards - Metal credit cards are generally made from materials like stainless steel, titanium, and other metal alloys, making them more durable than plastic cards [13] - The first modern metal card was the American Express Centurion Card, introduced in the early 2000s, which set a precedent for luxury metal cards [14] Benefits of Metal Credit Cards - Many metal credit cards offer travel perks, high welcome bonuses, and exclusive benefits such as airport lounge access and trip insurance [22] - The durability of metal cards means they are less likely to fade or break compared to plastic cards [22] Costs and Considerations - Metal credit cards often come with higher annual fees, which can be justified if the cardholder frequently utilizes the card's benefits [22] - Some metal cards have no annual fees, providing options for consumers who may not travel often [19] Choosing the Right Metal Card - Cardholders should prioritize the value offered by a metal card, including welcome offers and ongoing rewards, rather than choosing based solely on aesthetics [20] - Many premium metal cards require a good credit score for approval, which may limit access for those with lower credit ratings [22]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, has a strong investment track record, particularly in American Express, which constitutes 21.6% of its $281 billion portfolio [2][4]. Company Overview - American Express (Amex) is Berkshire's second-largest holding, known for its strong brand and premium credit card offerings targeting affluent customers [4][5]. - The company has maintained its position in the market for nearly two decades, indicating brand durability and relevance [6]. Competitive Advantages - Amex benefits from a significant network effect, enhancing its value as it expands its merchant and cardholder base [7]. - Buffett's long-term holding of Amex shares for over a decade reflects his confidence in the company's business model [8]. Financial Performance - Over the past five years, Amex has seen a 65% increase in revenue, driven by a 30% rise in active cards and a 39% growth in payment volume [9]. - The company has generated a total return of 213% in the last five years, outperforming the S&P 500's 108% total return [10]. Future Outlook - Analyst estimates project Amex's earnings per share to grow at a compound annual rate of 14.4% from 2024 to 2027, suggesting a positive outlook for market performance [11]. - However, the current price-to-earnings ratio of 20.8 raises concerns about valuation, as it is among the highest in the past three years [11]. Investment Strategy - For investors interested in Amex, dollar-cost averaging over time may be a prudent strategy, especially given the above-average valuation concerns [12].

Core Insights - The current economic cycle has led to a trend where companies are holding Bitcoin in their balance sheets to attract new investors, despite it being unrelated to their core operations [2] - The financial sector is experiencing a sell-off due to the belief that stablecoins will replace traditional payment processors, but long-term fundamentals suggest that established companies like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express will prevail [3][4] Group 1: Visa Inc. - Visa holds a significant market share of 39% in global transaction volume, positioning it favorably for future price action [7] - Institutional investors have increased their holdings in Visa by 9.6%, resulting in a $704 million stake, indicating strong institutional interest during market dips [8] - Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev upgraded Visa's rating to Outperform with a price target of $425, suggesting a potential net rally of up to 25.3% [9] Group 2: Mastercard Inc. - Mastercard, while having a smaller market share, remains a strong second option for investors, with a current price of $536.16 and a price target of $610, indicating a 25% upside potential [10][12] - Investors may view Mastercard as a "catch-up" play, providing a more stable investment compared to the riskier Visa [11] Group 3: American Express Company - American Express has the smallest share of transaction volumes but focuses on quality customers, making it a safer investment choice [13] - The company has seen a 12.9% decline in short interest, indicating that bears do not expect further declines, supported by its stable business model [15] - Voya Investment Management has diversified its investments by holding a $47.1 million stake in American Express, reflecting confidence in its stability during economic uncertainty [14]

Core Insights - American Express Company (AXP) has seen an increase in earnings estimates for 2025, driven by strong first-quarter performance, growing Card Member spending, and a premium customer base [1][2] - Analysts are becoming more optimistic about AXP, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings rising by 1 cent over the past week [2][3] - The company is expected to announce a significant increase in the annual fee for its Platinum card, following a similar move by JPMorgan Chase [4] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a 13.9% year-over-year growth in earnings for both 2025 and 2026, with revenues projected at $71.3 billion for 2025 and $77 billion for 2026, reflecting 8.1% and 8% year-over-year growth respectively [3] - AXP has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.2% [3] - As of the first quarter of 2025, AXP held $52.5 billion in cash and equivalents against $1.6 billion in short-term debt, and returned $7.9 billion to shareholders in 2024 [7] Market Position and Strategy - AXP operates as both a payment network and a bank, allowing it to generate revenue from transaction fees and interest on card balances, which enhances its resilience to economic uncertainty [5] - The company is making strides with younger consumers, with Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z now representing a significant share of its customer base [6] - AXP's stock trades at a forward P/E of 18.31X, above its five-year median of 16.83X, indicating higher market confidence in its growth prospects [9][13] Recent Developments - AXP's stock has gained 9.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry's 6.3% decline [10] - The company plans its largest-ever revamp of the Platinum card this fall, which is expected to enhance its premium offerings [9][4] - Analysts anticipate that rising customer engagement and operating costs may impact profit growth, with total costs having increased significantly in recent years [15][16]