"Fetch and other industry disruptors are working with American Express to launch new payment products quickly, seamlessly and securely on our global network, tapping into our Agile Partner Platform as an innovation hub," said Will Stredwick, SVP and GM of Global Network Services for North America at American Express. "With the Fetch Card, customers will be rewarded for everyday spending while enjoying the unique benefits of the American Express network." "Imprint and Fetch share a critical focus on deliveri ...

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway's Q2 2025 report reveals a mixed performance with a significant drop in net profit and a slight decrease in cash reserves, while maintaining a concentrated investment strategy in key stocks [2][3]. Group 1: Investment Portfolio - As of June 30, 2025, the top five holdings of Berkshire Hathaway accounted for 67% of the total fair value of its stock securities, with American Express, Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and Chevron being the primary investments [6]. - The concentration of these top five holdings has slightly decreased from 71% at the end of 2024 [7]. Group 2: Equity Method Investments - Berkshire holds significant equity method investments in Kraft Heinz and Occidental Petroleum, owning 27.4% and 28.1% of their common stock, respectively [8]. - The report indicates a $5 billion impairment loss related to Kraft Heinz during the quarter [11]. Group 3: Changes in Governance - A notable change occurred with Berkshire's representation on the Kraft Heinz board, which may affect the financial information received from the company, leading to a lag in reporting equity method impacts [10]. Group 4: Stock Buyback Activity - The report states that there were no stock buybacks in the first half of 2025, despite the company's ongoing buyback program, which allows repurchases when the stock price is below its intrinsic value [14].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that Berkshire Hathaway's top five holdings account for 67% of the fair value of its portfolio as of June 30, 2025 [1] - The top five holdings include American Express, Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and Chevron [1] - Additionally, the company holds common stock in Occidental Petroleum, which is accounted for using the equity method [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that as of June 30, 2025, the fair value of Berkshire Hathaway's top five holdings accounts for 67% of its total portfolio [1] - The top five holdings as of the end of Q2 include American Express, Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and Chevron [1]

Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway's top five holdings as of the end of Q2 are American Express, Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and Chevron [1]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett has transformed Berkshire Hathaway from a struggling textiles manufacturer into a $1 trillion conglomerate with a diverse portfolio, including subsidiaries like Dairy Queen and GEICO Insurance, and a $294 billion portfolio of publicly traded stocks and securities [1][2] Investment Strategy - Buffett favors companies with steady revenue growth, strong profits, and experienced management, particularly those with active dividend schemes and share buyback programs, which enhance cash flow generation [2] Historical Performance - An investment of $500 in Berkshire stock in 1965 would have grown to approximately $22.3 million by the end of 2024, compared to $171,453 for the same investment in the S&P 500 [3] Dividend Contributions - Three key dividend-paying stocks in Berkshire's portfolio represent 31.7% of its total value, expected to generate $2.1 billion in dividends in 2025 [4] American Express - American Express is projected to provide $479 million in dividends in 2025, with Berkshire holding 151.6 million shares valued at $47.2 billion, accounting for 16.1% of its portfolio [6][8][9] Chevron Corporation - Chevron is expected to contribute $811 million in dividends in 2025, with Berkshire owning 118.6 million shares worth $18.3 billion, representing 6.2% of its portfolio [10][11][13] Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola is anticipated to yield $816 million in dividends in 2025, with Berkshire holding 400 million shares valued at $27.6 billion, making up 9.4% of its portfolio [14][15][17] Leadership Transition - Buffett announced plans to step down as CEO at the end of 2025, passing leadership to Greg Abel, while remaining as chairman, raising questions about the future of Berkshire's investment strategy [18]

Should you buy the shares as they trade below $315 (as of July 25)? Warren Buffett's stamp of approval The great Warren Buffett has a stringent filter for what Berkshire Hathaway owns in its portfolio. So investors should take notice of the fact that American Express is one of the top holdings for the conglomerate. This means that the company must have some merits. One area worth mentioning is the company's durable performance in these uncertain economic times. Through the first six months of 2025, Amex's r ...

Dividends - Mastercard will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.76 per share, requiring an investment of $56,822 for 100 shares at the current price of $568.22 [1] - American Express offers a higher dividend of $0.82 per share, with a total investment of $31,161 for 100 shares at a share price of $311.61 [2] - Ex-dividend dates for qualification were July 9 for Mastercard and July 3 for American Express [2] Earnings Reports - Mastercard is expected to report Q2 earnings on July 31, with projected sales of $7.99 billion, a 15% increase year-over-year, and earnings expected to rise 13% to $4.05 per share [3] - The company has consistently exceeded earnings expectations for 18 consecutive quarters, with a historical success rate of 93% in beating EPS estimates [4] - Annual earnings for Mastercard are projected to increase by 10% in fiscal 2025 and by another 16% in FY26 to $18.71 per share [4] American Express Performance - American Express reported record Q2 revenue of $17.86 billion, a 9% year-over-year increase, despite a 4% decline in net income to $2.89 billion [5] - Earnings per share for American Express dropped 2% to $4.08, influenced by a prior gain from the sale of Accertify [5] - On an adjusted basis, earnings increased by 17% year-over-year, surpassing estimates of $3.87 per share, indicating strong underlying business performance [6]

Group 1 - American Express has surpassed a market capitalization of $200 billion and continues to secure additional contracts, indicating strong growth potential [2] - The company has been recommended for investment during market downturns, suggesting confidence in its resilience and performance [2] - The Value Portfolio employs a fact-based research strategy, analyzing extensive financial documents and market reports to identify investment opportunities [2] Group 2 - The Retirement Forum aims to provide actionable ideas and a high-yield safe retirement portfolio, focusing on maximizing capital and income for investors [1]

Core Viewpoint - American Express is considered a reliable long-term investment, particularly within Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, which is closely monitored by investors due to Warren Buffett's endorsement [1][2][4]. Company Overview - American Express accounts for 15.9% of Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, making it the second largest holding after Apple, with Berkshire owning 21.6% of the company [2]. - The company has not bought or sold shares since 2012, indicating a stable investment strategy [4]. Business Model - Unlike Visa and Mastercard, American Express operates as both a card issuer and a bank, which allows it to target lower-risk, higher-income consumers [5][6]. - This exclusivity limits growth but reduces credit risk and enhances its status as a premium brand [6]. Financial Performance - As of the end of 2024, only 0.8% of American Express' consumer and small business loans were delinquent by more than 30 days, a decrease from 1% at the end of 2023 [7]. - The company allocated only 8% of its total revenue to credit loss provisions in 2024, indicating strong financial health [7]. Economic Resilience - American Express is better insulated from inflation and interest rate fluctuations compared to its competitors, benefiting from higher net interest income during rising rates [8]. - The company has demonstrated stable growth rates, with revenue and diluted EPS growing at CAGRs of 7% and 10% from 2014 to 2024 [9]. Future Growth Prospects - Analysts project revenue and diluted EPS growth at CAGRs of 8% and 12% from 2024 to 2027, driven by increased spending among affluent customers and expansion of travel-related services [10]. Valuation - Despite a 290% stock price increase over the past decade, American Express is valued at 20 times next year's earnings, which is lower than Visa and Mastercard [11].