Is American Express Winning the Loyalty Battle Against Fintechs?

Core Insights - American Express Co (AXP) faces challenges in maintaining engagement with loyal cardholders while attracting tech-savvy customers in a digital-first fintech landscape [1] Group 1: Company Performance - AXP has shown resilience, with network volume reaching approximately $1.7 billion, reflecting a 5% year-over-year increase in 2024 and a further 6% increase in the first half of 2025 [2][8] - The company is enhancing customer engagement through digital transformation initiatives, including AI-powered fraud detection and faster onboarding processes [3][8] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Mastercard and Visa are also adapting; Mastercard's purchase transactions rose 9.6% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, while Visa's payments volume increased by 8% year-over-year in Q3 of fiscal 2025 [5][6] - AXP differentiates itself by offering premium perks and fostering strong customer relationships, which may help it maintain loyalty amidst evolving fintech competition [4] Group 3: Valuation and Estimates - AXP's shares have decreased by 0.2% year-to-date, contrasting with the industry's growth of 2.6% [7] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for AXP is 17.88X, lower than the industry average of 20.65, with a Value Score of B [9] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AXP's 2025 earnings is projected at $15.25 per share, indicating a 14.2% increase from the previous year [10]