Core Insights - Blue-chip stocks are recommended for their stability and potential for steady financial growth, outperforming traditional bank interest rates and keeping pace with inflation [1] - Investors can achieve better returns by focusing on high-performing stocks within indices and ETFs [1] Company Summaries Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) - Alphabet is valued at $2.2 trillion with a P/E ratio of 27.5 and a yield of 0.45%, showing a 27% increase YTD and over 300% growth in five years [2] - The company reported a 15% YOY revenue growth in Q1 2024, with net income surging by 57% due to cost-cutting measures [2] - Alphabet initiated a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, with analysts rating it as a "Strong Buy" and suggesting a 13% upside [3] Nvidia (NVDA) - Nvidia is the world's most valuable publicly traded company, with shares up 171% YTD and over 3,350% in five years [4] - The company experienced a 262% YOY revenue increase in Q1 2025, with net income rising by 628% [4] - Nvidia announced a 10-for-1 stock split, enhancing options trading accessibility, and maintains a net profit margin exceeding 50% [5] Meta Platforms (META) - Meta's shares increased by 44% YTD and over 160% in five years, with net income more than doubling YOY in Q1 2024 [7] - The company has 3.24 billion daily active users, a 7% YOY increase, and reported a 27% YOY revenue growth [8] - Meta has a strong cash position of $58.12 billion and returned $1.27 billion to investors as dividends [8] American Express (AXP) - American Express trades at a P/E ratio of 19 with a yield of 1.22%, showing a 22% increase YTD and 84% over five years [9] - The company reported an 11% YOY revenue increase and a 34% rise in net income for Q1 2024, achieving a net profit margin of 16.9% [9] - Over 60% of new accounts are from Millennials and Gen Z, indicating strong future growth potential [10] Costco (COST) - Costco's total revenue increased by 6.4% YOY, with e-commerce sales up by 15.3%, and the stock has gained 34% YTD and 227% over five years [11] - The stock is rated as a "Strong Buy" with a price target suggesting an additional 10% upside [11] Chipotle (CMG) - Chipotle plans to open 285-315 new restaurants in 2024, with Q1 2024 revenue increasing by 14.1% YOY to $2.7 billion [12] - The company’s net income rose by 23.2% YOY, resulting in a net profit margin of 13.3% [12] - Chipotle's stock has gained 43% YTD and 342% over five years, currently rated as a "Moderate Buy" [13] Waste Management (WM) - Waste Management reported a 5.5% YOY revenue increase in Q1 2024, with net income up by 32.8% and a net profit margin of 13.7% [14] - The stock has a projected 7% upside and has gained 16% YTD, with a P/E ratio of 34 [14]

Wall Street analysts do a lot of research before making stock recommendations and assigning price targets. They also have extensive history with navigating various booms and busts within the stock market and across individual sectors.While you shouldn’t buy a stock just because a Wall Street analyst likes it, knowing how they drew their conclusions can help investors understand bullish and bearish narratives for any stock. Some Wall Street analysts like stocks because they have strong momentum and are gener ...

The latest trading session saw American Express (AXP) ending at $230.21, denoting a +0.39% adjustment from its last day's close. The stock's performance was ahead of the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.25%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.77%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.79%.The credit card issuer and global payments company's shares have seen a decrease of 4.49% over the last month, not keeping up with the Finance sector's loss of 1.89% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.59%.The investment commu ...

If you’ve been one of the people looking for tech stocks to buy in the past two years, you’re likely quite happy with your portfolio’s performance. I wrote an article in late 2022 titled “25 Tech Stocks to Buy Before They Take Off in 2023.” Almost all of these tech stocks have been standout performers, even more so than I would have expected back then.Of course, we are at the cusp of an inflection point since the Federal Reserve will likely cut rates in the months ahead. However, there is still time for the ...

Dividend stocks attract many investors due to their passive income. It doesn’t take much effort to generate steady cash flow from these investments. You just have to find attractive dividend stocks, collect the dividends, and hold onto your winners.Time in the market beats timing the market. Some dividend stocks keep on giving, with elevated dividend growth rates and rising profits. While some investors look at price fluctuations to determine whether to buy or sell stocks, it makes more sense to hold onto l ...

Olivier Le Moal In this series of articles, we focus on selecting and highlighting stocks that have rapidly grown their dividends in the recent past. We also need to ensure that these stocks will likely grow their earnings at a fast pace in the next few years. Due to their hypergrowth, their price generally grows quickly, and they usually do not pay very high current yields. With high-growth stocks, we need to be content with a lower current yield. However, please keep in mind that nothing is permanent, ...

The latest trading session saw American Express (AXP) ending at $224.82, denoting a +1.18% adjustment from its last day's close. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.04%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.15%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.12%.Coming into today, shares of the credit card issuer and global payments company had lost 7.93% in the past month. In that same time, the Finance sector lost 0.72%, while the S&P 500 gained 4.15%.Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of ...

Investing in the top tech stocks has the potential to yield significant returns, paving the way for substantial wealth accumulation by 2035. The technology sector has consistently outperformed the market, and holds the largest weighting in the S&P 500 Index. Companies at the forefront of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, biotechnology and renewable energy are poised for rapid growth. As these technologies evolve, companies that adapt and lead in these domains will likely ...

Dividend income, particularly when it is reinvested, can really add up over time. Many of the world’s best investors are focused on dividend payouts and use them to build their portfolio. Look at Warren Buffett’s investment in Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO). The Oracle of Omaha will earn $784 million this year in dividend payments on the 400 million shares of KO stock that he owns.Coca-Cola is one of 47 stocks Buffett currently holds in his massive investment portfolio. Dividend payments are largely responsible for th ...

Summary of American Express Company Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) - **Event**: U.S. Financials, Payments & CRE Conference on June 12, 2024 Key Points Industry and Economic Context - The current economic environment is characterized by slow growth, with American Express (AmEx) experiencing a continuation of trends observed in the previous quarter [3][4] - Billing growth for Q1 was approximately 7%, while Q2 is trending around 6% [3][4] - U.S. consumer billing grew by 8% in Q1, and international billing grew by 13% [4] Consumer Behavior and Market Position - High-income consumers using AmEx are holding up better compared to the broader consumer market [2] - The small and medium enterprise (SME) segment is showing low-single-digit growth, indicating softness in that area [4] Premium Card Strategy - AmEx has successfully increased its share in the fee-paying U.S. Premium Card segment from 20% to 25% [5] - The strategy focuses on acquiring more premium card members, ensuring renewals, and injecting value into products to justify fee increases [7][8] - Card fee growth has been in double digits for the past six years, with a notable resilience even during COVID-19 [8] Future Growth Expectations - AmEx expects to accelerate card fee growth as the year progresses, with a target of 9% to 11% revenue growth for the full year [9][32] - The company is on track to refresh 40 card products this year, which is expected to create momentum in member acquisition [11] Credit Quality and Risk Management - The write-off rate for AmEx is reported at 2.1%, which is strong compared to peers, and delinquency rates are also best-in-class [38][39] - The company maintains a disciplined approach to underwriting, focusing on credit profiles rather than age demographics [21][22] Technology and Innovation - AmEx is investing approximately $2.1 billion in technology development, which has increased by 40% over the past three years [49] - The company emphasizes the integration of technology and data to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [50][51] Market Challenges - The recent decision by eBay to stop accepting AmEx is noted, but it is considered not materially impactful, representing less than 20 basis points of network volumes [34][35] - The strength of the U.S. dollar is expected to impact revenue growth, particularly for international operations [33] Investor Outlook - The management expresses confidence in the company's strategy and growth potential, aiming for revenue growth exceeding 10% and mid-teens earnings per share growth [54] - The current trading multiple is viewed as a discount compared to historical performance, with hopes for a revaluation based on growth and credit profile [54] Conclusion - American Express is navigating a slow growth economy with a strong focus on premium card offerings, disciplined credit management, and significant investments in technology, positioning itself for future growth despite market challenges.