American Express - American Express reported better-than-expected earnings, with revenue reaching $18.4 billion, an 11% increase year-over-year, and EPS at $4.14, surpassing expectations [2][5] - The growth was driven by higher card member spending and increased card fees, particularly for the premium Platinum card, which has an annual fee of $895 [3][4] - The CEO noted strong demand for the Platinum card, stating it exceeded expectations, indicating robust performance among affluent consumers [4][7] Regional Banks - Zions Bancorporation experienced a rebound after a significant drop due to concerns over alleged loan fraud, with the stock gaining over 2% following an upgrade from analysts [8][10] - The market reaction to Zions' write-off of $50 million was deemed excessive, as it wiped off approximately $1 billion in market value, but analysts see this as a long-term investment opportunity [10][12] - Concerns about credit quality in the regional banking sector persist, with investors cautious following past issues in 2023 [12][13] Alphabet (Google) - Alphabet's stock has seen over 30% gains this year, with Guggenheim raising its price target from $210 to $280, maintaining a buy rating [15][16] - The digital advertising market is expected to remain steady, with Alphabet and Meta anticipated to capture more ad dollars, reflecting growing confidence in advertiser demand [17][18] - The removal of antitrust concerns has positively impacted Alphabet's outlook, contributing to a more bullish sentiment among analysts [18]

Market Overview - U.S. stocks showed mixed performance with the Dow Jones index gaining over 100 points, up 0.25% to 46,067.55, while NASDAQ fell 0.36% to 22,480.34 and S&P 500 dropped 0.15% to 6,619.14 [1] - Energy shares increased by 1% on Friday, while information technology stocks decreased by 0.5% on Thursday [1] American Express Performance - American Express Co reported better-than-expected Q3 2025 results with quarterly revenue growth of 11% year-over-year to $18.43 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $18.05 billion [2] - Adjusted EPS for American Express was $4.14, exceeding projections of $4.00 [2] Revenue and EPS Guidance - American Express raised its full-year 2025 revenue outlook to $71.88 billion-$72.54 billion, indicating a 9%-10% year-over-year increase, compared to the previous guidance of $71.22 billion-$72.54 billion and analyst consensus of $71.60 billion [3] - The company also increased its EPS guidance to $15.20-$15.50 from a prior range of $15.00–$15.50, compared to the analyst consensus of $15.33 [3] Commodity Market - Oil prices increased by 0.1% to $57.46, while gold prices decreased by 0.3% to $4,290.10 [6] - Silver fell by 3.6% to $51.380 and copper dropped by 0.5% to $4.9720 [6] European Market Performance - European shares were mostly lower, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 declining by 0.9% [7] - Notable movements included Spain's IBEX 35 Index rising by 0.1%, while London's FTSE 100 fell by 0.8%, Germany's DAX 40 decreased by 1.6%, and France's CAC 40 slipped [7] Notable Stock Movements - Rani Therapeutics Holdings Inc shares surged by 189% to $1.36 following a collaboration agreement with Chugai Pharmaceutical [7] - Artiva Biotherapeutics Inc shares increased by 95% to $5.40 after receiving FDA Fast Track Designation [7] - VirnetX Holding Corp shares rose by 50% to $25.27 [7] - UTime Ltd shares dropped by 33% to $0.090 after announcing a $25 million registered direct offering [7] - INVO Fertility Inc shares fell by 35% to $0.92 after a significant rise the previous day [7] Asian Market Performance - Asian markets closed mostly lower, with Japan's Nikkei 225 down 1.44%, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index down 2.48%, and China's Shanghai Composite down 1.95% [9] - India's BSE Sensex was the exception, rising by 0.58% [9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a strong quarter with revenues increasing by 11% year over year to a record $18.4 billion and earnings per share (EPS) rising by 19% to $4.14 [4][12] - Card member spending accelerated to 9% or 8% on an FX-adjusted basis, with notable growth in retail spending and a rebound in travel [4][12] - Full-year revenue growth guidance has been raised to 9% to 10%, with EPS expected between $15.20 and $15.50 [4][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Annual card fees are approaching $10 billion, growing at double digits for 29 consecutive quarters [12] - Total spend was up 8.5% FX-adjusted, driven by strong retail spending up 12% and a rebound in travel and entertainment (T&E) [12][13] - Premium T&E bookings showed good momentum, with spending on front-of-cabin airline tickets up 14% [13] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International spend increased by 13% FX-adjusted, with three of the top five countries growing by 18% or more [14] - Millennials and Gen Z now account for 36% of total spend, matching the share of Gen X [14] - The company acquired 3.2 million new cards in the quarter, with over 70% of new accounts being fee-paying products [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to invest in refreshing its product offerings, with over 200 refreshes across its portfolio since 2019 [5][6] - The recent launch of the refreshed U.S. Consumer Platinum Card and Business Platinum Card aims to enhance customer engagement and drive growth [4][10] - The strategy focuses on understanding customer needs and enhancing value propositions with compelling benefits and services [6][8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth through the powerful membership platform and expanding digital capabilities [11][21] - The company noted a stable macroeconomic environment and a positive outlook for the holiday season based on strong retail spending [26][27] - Delinquency rates remain low, and credit performance is stable, indicating a healthy consumer base [57][59] Other Important Information - The company returned $2.9 billion of capital to shareholders, including $0.6 billion in dividends and $2.3 billion in share repurchases [21] - The company expects a step-up in costs related to the Platinum Card refresh, but remains committed to achieving mid-teens EPS growth [32][34] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on the path forward and potential improvements in customer spending - Management noted a recent acceleration in billings and expressed optimism about maintaining this momentum, particularly in retail and travel spending [25][26] Question: Financial impact of the Platinum Card refresh - The refresh is expected to have a delayed impact on card fees, with costs rising in the short term but aiming for mid-teens EPS growth in the long term [31][34] Question: Strength of demand for consumer versus business products - The company reported strong demand for both consumer and business products, with notable growth in premium offerings [36] Question: Insights on small and medium enterprises (SME) growth - Management indicated good acquisition trends in the SME segment and expressed confidence in stabilizing growth moving forward [38][40] Question: Performance of the Platinum Card refresh and competitive takeaways - It is too early to determine the competitive impact of the refresh, but initial results show strong upgrades and new card acquisitions [42][43] Question: Marketing spend strategy - The company plans to continue investing in marketing while ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in spending [61][63] Question: Consumer health and impact of government shutdown - Management reported stable consumer health metrics and no significant impact from the government shutdown at this time [57][58]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenues increased by 11% year over year to a record $18.4 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) rising by 19% to $4.14 [7][19] - Full year revenue growth guidance has been raised to 9% to 10%, with EPS expected between $15.2 and $15.5 [7][34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Annual card fees are approaching $10 billion, growing at double digits for 29 consecutive quarters [19] - Total spend was up 8.5% FX adjusted, driven by strong retail spending up 12% and a rebound in travel and entertainment (T&E) [21][22] - Premium T&E bookings saw spending on front-of-cabin airline tickets increase by 14% [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - International spend was up 13% FX adjusted, with three of the top five countries growing by 18% or more [22][23] - Millennials and Gen Z now account for 36% of total spend, matching the share of Gen X [21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on enhancing its premium product offerings, exemplified by the recent refresh of the U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum Cards [8][9] - The strategy includes continuous product refreshes to drive customer engagement and growth, with over 200 refreshes since 2019 [10][12] - The company aims to expand its digital capabilities and merchant coverage outside the U.S. [17][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth, citing strong initial demand and engagement following the Platinum refresh [17][34] - The operating environment is viewed as stable, with expectations for continued spending growth into the holiday season [42][43] - Management noted that the consumer base remains resilient, with low delinquency rates and strong credit performance [86][90] Other Important Information - The company returned $2.9 billion to shareholders, including $600 million in dividends and $2.3 billion in share repurchases [33] - The company has seen a significant increase in new Platinum account acquisitions, running at twice the level before the refresh [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on the path forward and potential improvements - Management noted a recent acceleration in billings but remains cautious about predicting future trends, emphasizing a stable environment [38][39] Question: Financial impact of the Platinum refresh - Management indicated that while there is a delay in card fee increases, they expect to maintain mid-teens EPS growth despite the refresh costs [50][54] Question: Contribution of the Platinum refresh to billed business growth - Management acknowledged that while the refresh has had a positive impact, macroeconomic factors also play a significant role in spending trends [56] Question: Insights on small and medium enterprises (SME) - Management reported good acquisition trends and organic growth in the SME segment, with expectations for stabilization moving forward [60][62] Question: International strength and coverage - Management highlighted strong performance in international markets, particularly in the top five markets, and ongoing efforts to improve coverage [66] Question: Marketing spend strategy - Management emphasized a disciplined approach to marketing spend, focusing on efficiency while supporting product launches like the Platinum refresh [94] Question: Retention offers and customer engagement - Management indicated that retention offers play a minimal role, as the product's value drives customer loyalty and engagement [80][82]

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 American Express says government shutdown hasn't affected customers yet. ...

Core Insights - American Express reported quarterly earnings of $4.14 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.96 per share, and showing an increase from $3.49 per share a year ago, resulting in an earnings surprise of +4.55% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $18.43 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.42%, compared to $16.64 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - American Express has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates over the last four quarters, achieving this four times [2] Earnings Outlook - The immediate price movement of American Express shares will largely depend on management's commentary during the earnings call [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $3.67 on revenues of $18.67 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $15.26 on revenues of $71.43 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for American Express was mixed prior to the earnings release, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry, to which American Express belongs, is currently ranked in the top 37% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

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Market Overview - US stock index futures showed mixed performance, with Dow futures up by 0.18% while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures down by 0.04% and 0.24% respectively [1] - European indices experienced declines, with Germany's DAX down 1.48%, UK's FTSE 100 down 1.05%, and France's CAC40 down 0.05% [2][3] - WTI crude oil increased by 0.21% to $57.58 per barrel, while Brent crude rose by 0.16% to $61.16 per barrel [3][4] Credit Market Concerns - Goldman Sachs President John Waldron warned of a potential systemic crisis due to a $5 trillion "credit time bomb," highlighting significant growth in high-yield bonds, leveraged loans, and private credit [5] - Recent fraudulent activities in the credit market have raised concerns about underlying risks, particularly involving Zion Bank and Western Alliance Bank [5] Liquidity Issues - US bank reserves fell below $3 trillion, with a decrease of approximately $45.7 billion reported, indicating potential implications for the Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening (QT) strategy [6] Earnings Season Insights - Analysts are optimistic about the upcoming earnings season, particularly for major tech companies and AI-related firms, which are expected to drive continued market highs despite macroeconomic uncertainties [7] - Notable companies reporting strong earnings include: - Schlumberger (SLB.US) reported Q3 profits exceeding expectations, driven by North American demand and acquisition benefits [9] - American Express (AXP.US) exceeded Q3 revenue expectations with a 10.8% year-over-year growth, driven by strong demand for its new Platinum card [10] - Interactive Brokers (IBKR.US) reported Q3 revenue of $1.66 billion, a 21% increase year-over-year, attributed to higher customer trading volumes [11] - Oracle (ORCL.US) projected a 35% gross margin for a $60 billion AI infrastructure project, easing concerns about profitability in this sector [12] Major Financing Developments - Meta (META.US) is finalizing a nearly $30 billion financing deal for a data center project, marking a significant private capital transaction [13]

Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 11% to $18426 million in Q3'25 compared to $16636 million in Q3'24[9] - EPS increased by 19% to $414 in Q3'25 compared to $349 in Q3'24[9] - Net card fees increased by 18% to $2551 million versus Q3'24, driven by growth in premium card portfolios[40, 81] - The company is raising FY2025 guidance to 9-10% revenue growth and EPS of $1520 - $1550[4] Billed Business Growth - Total billed business increased by 8% FX-adjusted in Q3'25[11] - U S Consumer Services billed business increased by 9% year-over-year in Q3'25[14] - International Card Services billed business increased by 13% year-over-year in Q3'25[19] Customer Acquisition and Engagement - Proprietary new cards acquired reached 32 million in Q3'25[24] - 72% of global new accounts acquired were on fee-paying products[24] - American Express cards are accepted at an estimated 160 million merchant locations worldwide, a nearly 5x increase since 2017[4] Credit Metrics - Reserves as a % of total loans & CM receivables is 29%[38] - 30+ Days Past Due is 13% of Card Member Loans and Receivables[33]

Core Insights - The third quarter earnings season has begun, with analysts expecting a 7.9% increase in earnings per share for S&P 500 companies, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of positive growth but a slowdown from the 12% growth in Q2 [1][2] Financial Institutions Performance - Major banks including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and BlackRock reported their quarterly results, with additional reports from Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and others following [2][4] - Ally Financial reported earnings per share of $1.18, exceeding estimates of $0.96, with revenue of $2.17 billion surpassing expectations of $2.10 billion [7][8] - Truist's net income rose to $1.3 billion, or $1.04 per diluted share, beating analyst estimates of $0.99 per share, with noninterest income increasing 11% to $158 million [9][10] - Comerica's net interest income grew over 7% to $574 million, while noninterest income declined to $264 million due to slower capital markets activity [11][12] - Fifth Third reported net interest income of $1.52 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share growing 17% to $0.91, surpassing estimates of $0.86 [14][15] - U.S. Bancorp reported net income of $2.00 billion, or $1.22 per share, beating estimates and achieving record revenue of $7.3 billion [22][23] - Charles Schwab's earnings were $1.26 per share, with record revenue of $6.13 billion, a 27% year-over-year increase [24][25] Technology Sector Insights - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a 39% year-over-year profit surge in Q3 and raised its 2025 revenue outlook, anticipating mid-30% annual sales growth [27][28] - TSMC's revenue reached approximately $32.2 billion, exceeding estimates, with earnings per share of $2.92 also beating expectations [28][29] Other Notable Earnings Reports - Morgan Stanley's profits surged 45% in Q3, driven by a 44% increase in deal-making fees to $2.1 billion and a 24% rise in trading fees [36][37][38] - Citigroup's net income for Q3 was $3.8 billion, or $1.86 per diluted share, with total revenue growing 9% to $22.1 billion, driven by increased deal-making and trading activities [46][47]