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].

Core Insights - A 30-year-old Reddit user is actively following financial advice to manage credit card debt but is still struggling due to high-interest rates [3][4][9] - The user earns $50,000 annually but takes home about $37,000 after deductions, while carrying approximately $28,000 in credit card debt with interest rates between 24% and 25% [4][9] - Despite taking proactive steps like opening a balance transfer card and negotiating lower interest rates, most of the debt continues to compound at high rates [6][7] Financial Situation - The user has $25,000 on a Discover card, $1,800 on an AmEx, and $1,600 on an Apple Card, in addition to $58,000 in student loans and various monthly payments [5] - Monthly obligations include an $800 payment for student loans, a $300 car payment, and $150 for car insurance [5] Debt Management Strategies - The user has opened a $3,000 balance transfer card with 0% APR for 21 months, planning to pay it off within eight months [6] - Discover has temporarily lowered the user's interest rate to 9.9% for six months, which is a positive step [6] - The upcoming end of the car payment will free up an additional $300 per month, providing some relief [6] Need for Professional Guidance - The situation highlights the importance of consulting a financial advisor to navigate complex debt, income, and cash flow dynamics [8][9] - For individuals managing debt effectively but still facing challenges from high interest, exploring debt-consolidation options may be beneficial [9]

Amex is a fairly cheap-looking stock, but concerns about caps on interest rates could limit its gains.One of the best financial stocks to own in recent years has been American Express (AXP 0.68%). The company is a top credit card issuer and caters to an affluent customer base that's been willing to spend heavily, even amid inflation and growing economic concerns. The stock is up over 210% in just the past five years, which is far better than the S&P 500's gains of around 81% in the same period (returns are ...

Core Insights - American Express Company (AXP) is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results on January 30, 2026, with earnings estimated at $3.55 per share and revenues at $18.82 billion [1][6] Earnings Estimates - The fourth-quarter earnings estimate has seen one upward revision and two downward movements in the past month, indicating a year-over-year increase of 16.8% [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year growth of 9.6% [2] - For the full year 2025, the revenue estimate is $72.06 billion, reflecting a 9.3% year-over-year rise, while the EPS estimate is $15.40, indicating a 15.4% growth [4] Performance History - American Express has exceeded consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 4% [4] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for American Express, as it has an Earnings ESP of -0.97% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5] Factors Influencing Q4 Results - A rise in network volumes is expected, attributed to resilient consumer spending among AXP's premium customer base, with an anticipated growth of 8.3% in network volumes [6][7] - Discount revenues are projected to grow by 7.1% year-over-year, benefiting from increased network volumes [8] - Billed businesses in U.S. Consumer Services and Commercial Services are expected to grow by 7.4% and 3% year-over-year, respectively [8] - Cards-in-force are likely to increase by 4.7% year-over-year, with Average Card Member loans expected to rise by 8% [9] - Net interest income is projected to increase by 11.7% year-over-year due to higher loan receivables [10] Cost Considerations - Client engagement costs are anticipated to rise due to increased Card Member spending and higher usage of travel and lifestyle benefits [11] - Pre-tax income from Commercial Services is expected to decline by 6.9% year-over-year [11]

The fourth quarter earnings season kicks into high gear this week, with Big Tech results from Microsoft (MSFT), Meta (META), Tesla (TSLA), and Apple (AAPL) headlining the earnings calendar. An optimistic consensus is forming: As of Jan. 23, 13% of S&P 500 (^GSPC) companies have reported fourth quarter results, according to FactSet data, and Wall Street analysts estimate an 8.2% increase in earnings per share for the fourth quarter. If that rate holds, it would represent the 10th consecutive quarter of ann ...

Core Insights - Nearly 60% of the largest banks in the U.S. are either already offering Bitcoin-related services or expect to do so, indicating a significant trend towards Bitcoin adoption in the banking sector [1][5] Group 1: Current Offerings and Initiatives - Major U.S. banks such as JPMorgan Chase have launched Bitcoin trading services, while Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley provide Bitcoin exposure primarily to high-net-worth clients [2] - U.S. Bank and BNY Mellon are among the first systemically important banks to offer custody services for Bitcoin [3] - PNC Group has launched both Bitcoin custody and trading services, while State Street and HSBC's U.S. operations have announced custody plans [5] Group 2: Exploratory Stages and Recommendations - Some banks, including Citigroup and Fifth Third, are still in the exploratory stages regarding custody and trading offerings [6] - Bank of America has recommended that clients allocate up to 4% of their portfolios to cryptocurrencies, reflecting a shift in stance even among banks without direct Bitcoin products [4][9] - Bank of America also plans to initiate coverage of four U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which provide direct exposure to Bitcoin [10] Group 3: Banks Yet to Enter the Market - Despite the growing momentum, a significant minority of large U.S. banks have not yet announced Bitcoin-related products or plans, with nine banks remaining on the sidelines [7][8][11]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's 2022 annual letter highlighted Berkshire Hathaway's impressive performance, achieving a 3,787,464% gain since 1964, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 24,708% gain [1] - Buffett emphasized two key investments, each with a $1.3 billion stake, which now yield annual dividends close to half of the initial investment, with expectations for further growth [2] Company Analysis - **Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO)** - Buffett's investment in Coca-Cola began in 1994, accumulating 400 million shares without any sales since then [3] - The annual dividends from Coca-Cola increased from $75 million in 1994 to $704 million in 2022, reflecting a substantial growth in dividend payouts [4] - The current yield on Coca-Cola shares stands at 2.8%, with Buffett's yield on cost reaching nearly 50% due to consistent dividend growth [4] - As of 2022, Coca-Cola's dividends have continued to rise, contributing $206 million annually to Berkshire, with expectations for a 64th consecutive annual dividend increase [5] - **American Express (NYSE: AXP)** - American Express, while not having as long a history of dividend increases as Coca-Cola, has seen its dividends rise significantly, with a 91% increase since Buffett's 2022 letter [6] - The dividend growth for American Express has been robust, with payouts increasing by 91% over the past three years [7]

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the stocks in focus as Jim Cramer shared his weekly game plan. Cramer highlighted the pattern that usually happens after the company reports its earnings, as he stated: Friday can’t come fast enough. Alright, what do we got here? We got American Express. Again, I’m going to tell you what happens. They report. It’s almost always a good quarter. The stock almost always gets hit. That’s been the pattern. You have to buy it right into that weakness. It’s stupid se ...

Key Points Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025. But his investing legacy continues through Berkshire's various holdings. Buffett likes stocks with strong competitive moats and global brand names. 10 stocks we like better than Apple › In just a couple of weeks, we'll see the final moves that Berkshire Hathaway made to its venerable portfolio under the direct guidance of Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who stepped down as CEO at the end of 2025, after ...