Retirement is complicated, and you only get one chance to do it right. Don't miss out because you didn't know what was out there.The Retirement Forum provides actionable ideas, a high-yield safe retirement portfolio, and macroeconomic outlooks, all to help you maximize your capital and your income. We search the entire market to help you maximize returns.American Express Company (NYSE: NYSE: AXP ) has more than doubled the market's performance since we discussed the company's focus on premium customers in J ...

For years, American Express and Chase have been vying to be the preferred premium credit card of America's richest consumers. In general, these banks are fighting for the loyalty of America's affluent shoppers. Um, we have a situation in the US where um there's a really big disparity in who does consumer spending.Um so if you look at the um highest earning 10% of households, which is um roughly households above $250,000 a year, um they do fully half of all of the consumer spending in the United States. It's ...

Core Viewpoint - Selecting dividend stocks requires identifying firms that not only provide generous payouts but also demonstrate the ability to grow these payouts at a predictable rate over extended periods [1] Group 1 - Companies should be evaluated on their capacity to support substantial dividend payments [1] - The growth rate of dividends is a critical factor for long-term investment success [1] - Predictability in dividend growth is essential for investors seeking stability [1]

Core Insights - Mastercard and American Express are two prominent players in the payments industry, each with distinct business models and strengths [1][2] - The current financial landscape, influenced by interest rates and consumer spending, is drawing investor interest towards payment stocks [2] Group 1: American Express - American Express operates a closed-loop model, issuing cards and acquiring merchants, which provides insights into consumer spending and fosters brand loyalty among affluent users [3] - In the last reported quarter, American Express's total revenues rose 11% year-over-year to $18.4 billion, driven by increased card member spending and higher loan balances [4] - However, American Express's reliance on high-income consumers makes it vulnerable to economic fluctuations, with provisions for credit losses reaching $3.8 billion in the first nine months of 2025 [5][6] Group 2: Mastercard - Mastercard's asset-light model connects banks, merchants, and consumers without direct lending, allowing it to earn transaction fees while avoiding credit risk [7] - In the last reported quarter, Mastercard's revenue grew 16.8% year-over-year to $8.1 billion, with adjusted operating income rising 18% to $4.9 billion [8] - Mastercard's global diversification and strong presence in emerging markets position it for sustained growth, with a return on capital of 55.5%, significantly higher than American Express's 11.9% [9][10] Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Zacks Consensus Estimates project Mastercard's 2025 sales and EPS to grow by 15.2% and 11.9%, respectively, while American Express's estimates indicate 8.8% sales growth and 14.6% EPS growth [12] - Mastercard's forward P/E ratio is 30.64, reflecting its greater earnings visibility and lower balance-sheet risk compared to American Express's 20.56 [13] - Year-to-date, Mastercard shares have increased by 7.6%, while American Express shares have risen by 17.8% [17] Group 4: Conclusion - Both companies are significant in the payments industry, but American Express faces risks due to its lending exposure and economic sensitivity [19] - Mastercard's diversified model and focus on innovation position it as a stronger choice for investors, with greater return on capital and upside potential [20][21]

A blowout quarter and a premium customer mix are forcing the market to revisit what this franchise is worth.American Express (AXP 0.70%) is a global payments company with a different model from the card networks most investors know. Unlike Visa and Mastercard, which mainly run transaction networks and avoid lending, American Express issues cards, extends credit, and earns meaningful fee income from premium customers. That difference mattered on Friday, when shares jumped after the company posted strong thir ...

There's Zions. We show it to you. Up near 3% because it does report after the bell today.Remember last week the stock lost a billion dollars in market cap on Thursday alone. That's after they disclosed $60 million in loans that they said were unlikely to be repaid as regional banks find themselves, as I said before, in the eye of this storm around credit. Wells Fargo says it's a buying opportunity for this group.Joe has at least a dozen of these names, it feel like, in front of me. I'm not going to read the ...

分组1 - Zions Bancorporation's stock rose nearly 3% after reporting a loss of $1 billion in market cap due to $60 million in loans deemed unlikely to be repaid, highlighting the challenges faced by regional banks [1] - Wells Fargo views the current situation as a buying opportunity for regional banks, suggesting potential recovery in the sector [1] - The upcoming earnings reports from Zions and Western Alliance are anticipated to provide further insights into the health of regional banks [2][4] 分组2 - American Express (AMX) is highlighted as a strong performer in the financial sector, with a significant increase in stock price from $168 to $348 since July 2023, driven by a solid balance sheet and favorable market conditions [14] - The company has implemented an aggressive long-term share buyback plan, reducing its float from 1.2 billion shares to under 700 million shares from 2005 to 2025, which has positively impacted its stock value [11][12] - AMX is positioned well with a 20 times earnings multiple and projected 13% earnings growth, making it an attractive investment compared to higher multiple stocks with lower growth [16]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of constructing investment portfolios that focus on generating additional income through dividends, highlighting the significance of companies with competitive advantages and strong financials to achieve attractive Dividend Yield and Dividend Growth [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment strategy involves combining high Dividend Yield and Dividend Growth companies to reduce dependence on broader stock market fluctuations [1]. - A well-diversified portfolio across various sectors and industries is recommended to minimize portfolio volatility and mitigate risk [1]. - Incorporating companies with a low Beta Factor is suggested to further reduce the overall risk level of the investment portfolio [1]. Group 2: Portfolio Composition - Suggested investment portfolios typically consist of a blend of ETFs and individual companies, emphasizing broad diversification and risk reduction [1]. - The selection process for high dividend yield and dividend growth companies is meticulously curated, focusing on total return, which includes both capital gains and dividends [1]. - This approach ensures that the portfolio is designed to maximize returns while considering a full spectrum of potential income sources [1].

It's time for the big three. We've got three stocks, three charts, and three trades for you. Rick Dat, of course, joining us to take us through the charts. And here to take us through the trades is Scott Bower, the CEO of Prosper Trading Academy.Scott, great to have you with us. Rick, great to have you with us as always. Scott, I'd love to kick things off with just a big picture thought on the market and and what we're seeing to start this week.>> I mean, it's a teflon market as as we've talked about. no ma ...

Core Insights - Investors in the Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector may consider Synchrony (SYF) and American Express (AXP) as potential undervalued stocks [1] Valuation Metrics - Synchrony has a forward P/E ratio of 8.34, while American Express has a forward P/E of 22.70 [5] - The PEG ratio for Synchrony is 0.74, indicating a more favorable valuation compared to American Express, which has a PEG ratio of 1.82 [5] - Synchrony's P/B ratio is 1.68, significantly lower than American Express's P/B ratio of 7.44 [6] Earnings Outlook - Synchrony holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a positive earnings outlook, while American Express has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The positive earnings estimate revisions for Synchrony indicate a stronger improvement in earnings outlook compared to American Express [3] Value Grades - Based on valuation metrics, Synchrony has a Value grade of A, while American Express has a Value grade of C, highlighting Synchrony's superior value proposition [6]