Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full-year revenues increased by 10% to a record $72 billion, and EPS was $15.38, up 15% over the previous year, excluding the Accertify gain [5][16] - Net card fees grew 18% to reach a record $10 billion for the year [17] - Revenue was up 10% FX reported for both Q4 and the full year, with net card fees, net interest income (NII), and service fees all growing at double-digit rates [22][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Card member spending was strong throughout the year, with total spend up 8% FX adjusted, and retail spending up 10% [17][19] - Spending at luxury retail merchants was up 15%, and restaurant spending was up 9% [17] - Loans and card member receivables increased by 7% year-over-year, with credit performance remaining strong and stable [21][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International spending increased by 12% FX adjusted, with broad-based growth across consumer and business customers [18] - The average age of new customers is 33 for the U.S. Consumer Platinum Card and 29 for the U.S. Consumer Gold Card, indicating a long runway for growth with younger demographics [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans for 2026 revenue growth of 9%-10% and EPS of $17.30-$17.90, continuing to focus on premium products and high credit standards [7][29] - Investments in marketing and technology are expected to drive growth, with a planned 16% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.95 [8][27] - The company aims to maintain a disciplined focus on premium products while expanding its digital capabilities and partnerships [14][80] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strength and stability of the premium customer base and the ability to drive growth through investments [15][30] - The competitive landscape remains challenging, but the company believes it can stay ahead by focusing on customer service and innovative offerings [74][75] Other Important Information - The company returned $7.6 billion of capital to shareholders, including $2.3 billion in dividends and $5.3 billion in share repurchases [26] - The company expects to continue delivering strong capital returns while investing in growth initiatives [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the comments regarding allocating away from cashback and putting this towards fee-paying products? - Management noted that they have the flexibility to adjust marketing investments based on demand for premium products, particularly the Platinum Card, and emphasized that the focus is on revenue generation rather than just card acquisition [35][36] Question: What gets things going in commercial services, especially with SME spend remaining weak? - Management indicated that small business spending is strong, while middle market shows some slowdown, and they are optimistic about future growth as they continue to refresh products [40][41] Question: Can you discuss the health of the premium consumer and potential for growth? - Management expressed bullishness regarding consumer engagement and spending, particularly with the new Platinum Card, and noted strong momentum in restaurant spending [44][45] Question: How do you see the impact of the 10% credit card cap proposal? - Management believes that a credit card cap would reduce the number of cards in the marketplace and negatively impact small businesses, indicating that affordability is important but the cap is not the solution [68][70] Question: What are the priorities for 2026? - Management highlighted the focus on winning in the premium space, building commercial position, and enhancing digital capabilities as key priorities for the upcoming year [83][84]

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) Q4 2025 Earnings call January 30, 2026 08:30 AM ET Speaker11Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to the American Express Q4 2025 earnings call. At this time, all participants are on a listen-only mode. Later, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. If you wish to ask a question, please press star, then one on your touch-tone phone. You will hear a tone indicating you have been placed in queue. You may remove yourself from the queue at any time b ...

American Express (AXP) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.53 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.54 per share. This compares to earnings of $3.04 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -0.28%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this credit card issuer and global payments company would post earnings of $3.96 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.14, delivering a surprise of +4.55%.Ov ...

Core Insights - The quarter and year were strong for major payment companies, with Mastercard and American Express reporting significant revenue growth, yet their shares fell due to macroeconomic concerns [1][2]. Company Performance - Mastercard reported an 18% increase in net revenue for the fourth quarter year-over-year, translating to a 22% growth in net income, with adjusted earnings per share rising by 25% [4]. - American Express achieved a 10% revenue growth and a 15% increase in earnings per share for the fourth quarter, supported by share buybacks [6]. - Both companies experienced strong consumer spending, with Mastercard noting 4% growth in the U.S. and 9% internationally, while American Express reported a 9% increase in card member spending [3][7]. Macroeconomic Environment - Concerns regarding a potential 10% cap on credit card rates from the White House have created anxiety among investors, despite the lack of legal basis for such a cap [2]. - U.S. credit card debt has reached record highs, exceeding $1.2 trillion, with rising delinquency rates contributing to investor sensitivity [8]. Future Outlook - Mastercard's CEO expressed optimism about continued healthy consumer and business spending, projecting a promising environment for 2026 [5]. - American Express anticipates near-double-digit revenue growth for 2026 and announced a 16% increase in dividends, highlighting advancements in technology [7].

American Express Earnings Conference Call Q4'25 JANUARY 30, 2026 Business Highlights Refer to Slide 31 for notes. 2 • FY 2025 revenue growth of 10%, and EPS of $15.38, up 15% YoY adjusted for the prior year gain on sale from Accertify(1) • FY 2026 guidance of revenue growth of 9% - 10%, and EPS of $17.30 - $17.90(2) • Plan to increase quarterly dividend per common share by 16% to $0.95 • Signed a multi-year extension of our British Airways Cobrand Card partnership • Advanced Gen AI and agentic commerce init ...

American Express on Friday posted steady growth in spending for its fourth quarter, as cardholders leaned into retail and travel purchases. ...

Core Viewpoint - The credit-card company reported quarterly earnings that slightly missed Wall Street expectations [1] Financial Performance - The company's quarterly earnings were below analysts' forecasts, indicating potential challenges in meeting market expectations [1]

American Express posted higher fourth-quarter revenue and profit and said it would boost its shareholder dividend as its card members continued to spend. ...

Financial Performance - Total non-interest revenues for Q4'25 reached $14,458 million, a 10% increase year-over-year from $13,141 million in Q4'24[1] - Net income for Q4'25 was $2,462 million, reflecting a 13% increase compared to $2,170 million in Q4'24[1] - Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for credit losses were $17,566 million, up 11% from $15,887 million in Q4'24[1] - Basic earnings per share for Q4'25 was $3.53, a 16% increase from $3.04 in Q4'24[1] - Total revenues net of interest expense for FY'25 were $16,926 million, reflecting a 7% growth from $15,859 million in FY'24[18] - Net income attributable to common shareholders for Q4'25 was $10,701 million, compared to $9,995 million in Q4'24, marking a 7% increase[27] Assets and Loans - Total assets increased to $300,052 million in Q4'25, an 11% rise from $271,461 million in Q4'24[2] - Card Member loans, less reserves, grew to $145,923 million, a 9% increase from $133,995 million in Q4'24[2] - Total Card Member loans rose to $213.9 billion, a 7% increase from $199.1 billion in Q4'24[9] - Total loans for Q4'25 reached $100,171 million, an 8% increase from $92,632 million in Q4'24[15] - Total loans for International Card Services increased by 20% year-over-year to $20,828 million in Q4'25 from $17,395 million in Q4'24[21] Expenses and Provisions - Total expenses for Q4'25 amounted to $14,476 million, a 10% increase from $13,131 million in Q4'24[1] - Total provisions for credit losses decreased by 1% year-over-year to $773 million in Q4'25 from $784 million in Q4'24[15] - Total provisions for credit losses in Q4'25 were $359 million, a 15% increase from $311 million in Q4'24[18] - Total provisions for credit losses in Q4'25 were $70 million, significantly higher than the $6 million in Q4'24, indicating a 1,066% increase[24] - Operating expenses for Q4'25 totaled $1,085 million, a 17% increase from $927 million in Q4'24[24] Revenue Streams - Non-interest revenues for Q4'25 reached $5,904 million, an 11% increase from $5,314 million in Q4'24[15] - Non-interest revenues for International Card Services in Q4'25 were $3,192 million, a 17% increase from $2,725 million in Q4'24[21] - Non-interest revenues for Q4'25 reached $1,858 million, an increase of 8% compared to Q4'24's $1,723 million[22] Card Member Metrics - Average proprietary basic Card Member spending increased to $6,696, up 5% from $6,378 in Q4'24[6] - Average proprietary basic Card Member spending increased by 3% year-over-year to $5,574 in Q4'25 from $5,387 in Q4'24[15] - Average proprietary basic Card Member spending increased to $9,151 in Q4'25, a 4% rise from $8,804 in Q4'24[18] - Proprietary new cards acquired totaled 2.9 million in Q4'25, representing a 12.5% year-over-year growth[7] Network and Billed Business - Network volumes increased to $506.2 billion in Q4'25, up 9% year-over-year from $464.0 billion in Q4'24[6] - Billed business reached $445.1 billion in Q4'25, reflecting a 9% increase compared to $408.4 billion in Q4'24[6] - Billed business for Q4'25 was $189.2 billion, a 9% increase from $174.0 billion in Q4'24[15] - Billed business for Q4'25 was $140.9 billion, up 4% from $136.0 billion in Q4'24[18] - The company reported a total of 1,897 million in network volumes for FY'25, a 7% increase from FY'24's $1,764.8 million[24] Tax and Equity - The effective tax rate for Q4'25 was 20.3%, compared to 21.3% in Q4'24[1] - Return on average equity for Q4'25 was 33.9%, slightly down from 34.6% in Q4'24[2] - Return on average equity (ROE) for Q4'25 was 33.9%, down from 35.9% in Q4'24[26] - Average shareholders' equity for Q4'25 was $31,934 million, up from $29,266 million in Q4'24[27] Other Metrics - The net write-off rate for Card Member loans was 2.3% in Q4'25, slightly up from 2.2% in Q4'24[9] - The net write-off rate for principal, interest, and fees was 2.6% in Q4'25, compared to 2.4% in Q4'24[15] - Credit loss reserves for Card Member loans stood at 3.9% of total loans, down from 4.1% in Q4'24[9] - Total other loans increased to $10.9 billion, an 18% rise from $9.2 billion in Q4'24[11] - The average fee per card increased to $122 in Q4'25, up 13% from $108 in Q4'24[6]

Core Viewpoint - American Express is expected to report strong fourth-quarter earnings, with a projected increase in both earnings per share and revenue compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Analysts anticipate fourth-quarter earnings of $3.54 per share, an increase from $3.04 per share in the same period last year [1]. - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $18.88 billion, up from $17.18 billion reported last year [1]. Analyst Sentiment - The company has exceeded analyst revenue estimates in three consecutive quarters and in five of the last ten quarters overall [2]. - American Express shares rose by 0.4%, closing at $358.50 on Thursday [2].