Core Insights - The article highlights the best cash-back credit cards for 2025, emphasizing their rewards structures, fees, and potential cash-back earnings. Group 1: Best Overall Card - The Chase Freedom Unlimited is identified as the best overall cash-back credit card, offering a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months and a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months [4][5]. Group 2: Best for Specific Categories - The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is noted for providing 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases annually, with a potential annual cash back of $590.65 after the annual fee [9][10]. - The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card offers 3% cash back on U.S. supermarkets and online retail purchases, with a potential annual cash back of $451.08 [11][17]. - The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards card is highlighted for its unlimited 3% cash back on dining, with a potential annual cash back of $513.90 [19][21]. Group 3: Unique Features - The Citi Custom Cash card automatically adjusts its top 5% reward category based on spending, with a potential annual cash back of $522.10 [22][25]. - The Discover it Cash Back card offers 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter, with a potential annual cash back of $476.88 [27][31]. Group 4: Cash-Back Mechanics - Cash-back credit cards typically offer between 2% and 6% cash back across various bonus categories, with 1% on all non-bonus spending [38][40]. - The article explains that cash back can be redeemed as statement credits, checks, or direct deposits into bank accounts [39][60]. Group 5: Considerations for Card Selection - Factors to consider when choosing a cash-back card include annual fees, welcome offers, cash-back rewards categories, and additional benefits [50][55][57]. - The article emphasizes the importance of aligning card rewards with spending habits to maximize cash-back potential [70][72].

We recently published 10 Stocks Everyone’s Discussing Amid Latest Earnings Season. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the stocks everyone's discussing. Josh Brown, CEO of Ritholtz Wealth Management, explained in a recent program on CNBC why he likes American Express. He believes AXP’s wealthy client base is one of the top catalysts for the company’s growth. “American Express Co (NYSE:AXP) is, in addition to being the primary financial to capitalize on the fact that 50% of the spending in this ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the benefits of redeeming credit card points for holiday shopping, highlighting various redemption options that can help consumers save money and earn rewards during the holiday season [1][2]. Redemption Options - Credit card points can be redeemed for various options including gift cards, statement credits, travel, and merchandise, with gift cards often providing straightforward redemption values [2][3]. - For example, Amex offers a redemption value of up to $100 for every 10,000 points, while Chase typically maintains a 1:1 ratio for gift cards [4][5]. - Statement credits and bank deposits are flexible redemption options, usually at a 1:1 ratio, but Amex Membership Rewards may offer less value at $60 for 10,000 points [6][7]. - Travel redemptions also follow a 1:1 ratio, but certain cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® can provide enhanced value through specific bookings [10]. Popular Gift Card Options - Gift cards from retailers such as Apple, Amazon, and Target are highlighted as convenient options for holiday gifting, with most issuers providing clear redemption values [3][4]. Maximizing Rewards - Strategies to maximize credit card rewards during the holiday season include using rewards credit cards for all purchases, earning sign-up bonuses, and checking for targeted shopping offers from card issuers [14][15][17]. - Utilizing online shopping portals can also enhance rewards earned on purchases, as these portals share commissions with users [21][22]. Recommended Credit Cards - The article lists several credit cards that are particularly beneficial for holiday shopping, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Prime Visa, and Chase Freedom Unlimited, each with unique features and welcome offers [27][31][35][38].

Core Insights - The article discusses the best grocery credit cards for 2025, highlighting various options based on their rewards structures and benefits. Group 1: Best Grocery Credit Cards - The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases annually, with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year and a $95 fee thereafter [3][5][6] - The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card provides 3% cash back on grocery purchases with no cap, making it a strong option for frequent grocery shoppers [9][12][13] - The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases annually [17][18] Group 2: Additional Benefits and Offers - The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card includes additional cash-back categories for streaming, transit, and U.S. gas stations, enhancing its overall value [6][10] - The Capital One Savor card features a welcome offer of $300 in bonuses and a $100 credit for travel bookings, making it attractive for new cardholders [11][12] - The American Express Gold Card allows for 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets, which can be beneficial for those looking to convert grocery spending into travel rewards [23][24] Group 3: Spending Limits and Cash Back Potential - The average American spends approximately $5,703 annually on groceries, which influences the potential cash back earned from these cards [54][75] - The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Visa Signature Card offers 6% cash back on the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter with selected retailers, including superstores [39][40] - The Citi Custom Cash Card provides 5% cash back on grocery purchases up to $500 per month, allowing for significant rewards for regular grocery shoppers [44][46]

Core Viewpoint - American Express (AXP) is a diversified financial services company with a market capitalization of $248 billion, offering charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services globally [1] Technical Analysis - AXP has shown strong technical momentum, maintaining a 100% "Buy" opinion from Barchart, with a recent stock price of $361.45 and a 50-day moving average of $336.21 [6][7] - The stock has gained 32.15% over the past year and 9.12% in the last month, with a recent Trend Seeker "Buy" signal intact [6][7] - American Express reached an all-time high of $365.75 in intraday trading on October 1 [4] Financial Performance - Revenue is projected to grow by 9.30% this year and an additional 8.86% next year [8] - Earnings are estimated to increase by 15.83% this year and 12.46% next year [8] Market Indicators - AXP has a Weighted Alpha of +31.70 and a trailing price-earnings ratio of 24.09x [7] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 66.76, indicating strong momentum [7] - There is a technical support level around $357.16 [7] - The stock has made 11 new highs recently [7]

Group 1: American Express - American Express (Amex) has built its business on exclusivity and premium service, attracting affluent customers with its perks and reliability [1] - Amex operates uniquely by issuing its own cards and running its own network, allowing it to capture fees from both merchants and cardholders [6] - The company has faced pushback due to rising fees, but it aims to ensure that its value proposition matches or exceeds these increases, particularly focusing on growth among millennials and Gen-Z [7] Group 2: Apple - Apple remains a leader in consumer tech hardware, maintaining strong brand loyalty despite a lack of groundbreaking new products [2] - The company's total revenue, iPhone revenue, and earnings per share reached record highs in its fiscal third quarter, with services revenue also setting an all-time high [1] - Apple's stock has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 over the past year, attributed to its slower pace in AI development compared to other tech stocks [3] Group 3: Bank of America - Bank of America is the second-largest bank in the U.S. and leads in retail banking, with around $1.2 trillion in consumer deposits and serving 96% of Fortune 1,000 companies [8] - The bank's business is somewhat cyclical, thriving when interest rates rise, but its "too big to fail" status adds a layer of security [9] - Investing in Bank of America is seen as a choice for long-term investors due to its profitability, diversification, and reliable dividend yield above the S&P 500 average [10] Group 4: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola is one of Berkshire Hathaway's oldest holdings, known for its strong brand, unmatched distribution, and resilience in various economic conditions [11][12] - The company is recognized as a "dividend king," having increased dividends for at least 50 consecutive years, making it a reliable income stock [13]

Core Insights - New York Life has appointed Howard Grosfield, Group President of U.S. Consumer Services at American Express, to its board of directors, effective immediately [1] - Grosfield will be a member of the board's Audit and Insurance & Operations committees, bringing expertise in consumer financial services and digital innovation [1] Company Developments - The appointment of Howard Grosfield is seen as a strategic move to enhance New York Life's leadership in consumer financial services [1] - Grosfield's background in large-scale business transformation is expected to contribute positively to the company's operational strategies [1]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's 2023 letter highlights Berkshire Hathaway's impressive 3,787,464% gain since 1965, emphasizing the importance of investing in companies that significantly increase their dividends over time [2][3] Investment Strategy - The secret to Berkshire's success lies in its investments in companies like Coca-Cola and American Express, which have provided substantial dividend income, with Berkshire collecting over $1 billion annually from these two investments [3][4] - Coca-Cola and American Express have raised their dividends by 19% and 91%, respectively, since the letter was written, indicating strong growth in income streams [4] Portfolio Overview - Berkshire Hathaway's largest holding is Apple, comprising 22.3% of its portfolio with 280 million shares, and the company has doubled its dividend since Buffett began purchasing shares in 2016 [6] - Berkshire collects $291.2 million annually in dividends from Apple, based on a total investment of approximately $40 billion [8] - Bank of America is the second-largest holding, making up just over 11% of the portfolio with 605 million shares, and has nearly quadrupled its dividend since Buffett converted preferred shares to common shares in 2017, now paying over $675 million in dividends per year [9]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a significant increase in operating earnings, rising 34% in the third quarter, driven by a substantial surge in insurance profits [1][2]. Financial Performance - Operating earnings for the latest quarter reached $13.49 billion, reflecting a 33.6% increase [2]. - Insurance-underwriting profit saw a remarkable 216% increase, amounting to $2.369 billion, compared to $750 million in the same quarter last year [3]. - Insurance-investment income decreased by 13.18% to $3.181 billion [3]. - Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders totaled $30.796 billion, up from $26.251 billion a year ago [4]. - As of September 30, 2025, Berkshire's shareholders' equity was $698.2 billion, an increase of $48.8 billion since December 31, 2024 [4]. Insurance Float and Cash Holdings - The insurance float was approximately $176 billion, an increase of $5 billion since year-end 2024 [4]. - The company held $354.3 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and U.S. Treasury bills, net of unsettled purchase payables, while investments in equity and fixed-maturity securities totaled $301.2 billion [8]. Equity Portfolio Concentration - Berkshire's equity portfolio remained heavily concentrated, with five companies accounting for 66% of total equity holdings at the end of the third quarter, down from 71% as of December 2024 [5]. Strategic Moves - Berkshire Hathaway announced the acquisition of Occidental Petroleum Corporation's chemicals business for $9.7 billion, marking its largest move since the $11.6 billion purchase of insurer Alleghany in 2022 [6][7]. - The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025 [7]. Leadership Transition - Warren Buffett, at 95 years old, is set to hand off the CEO role to Greg Abel at year-end, while remaining as chair [6].

Core Insights - The American Express® Business Gold Card is highlighted as an optimal choice for businesses looking to earn rewards on software and internet-related expenses, particularly for domain purchases [2][6][11] Card Overview - The card offers 4 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on the top 2 purchase categories each month, with a cap of $150,000 in combined purchases annually [4][9] - Categories eligible for 4x points include U.S. purchases from electronic goods retailers, software and cloud service providers, and advertising [5][9] - A welcome offer allows new cardholders to earn 100,000 points after spending $15,000 within the first 3 months [4][12] Financial Aspects - The card has an annual fee of $375, which can be justified through the rewards and credits it offers [10][17] - Monthly statement credits of up to $20 can be earned for eligible purchases at specific retailers, potentially saving up to $240 annually [10][11] Points Earning Strategy - The cardholder has earned over 20,000 Membership Rewards points through domain purchases, translating to approximately $440 in travel value [15][16] - Domain purchases typically range from $9 to $850, with the majority being hand-registered through registrars like GoDaddy, which qualify for the 4x points category [13][14] Conclusion - The American Express® Business Gold Card is positioned as a valuable tool for businesses engaged in domain flipping, allowing for significant points accumulation through strategic spending [16][17]