American Express climbs on Q3 beat

Core Insights - American Express reported a strong quarterly performance, exceeding expectations on both revenue and earnings, driven by increased spending from affluent customers [1][2] Spending Growth - Total spending on American Express cards rose by 8.5% to $421 billion in Q3, up from a 6.5% growth rate in Q2 [2] - Key contributors to this growth included a 12% increase in retail store spending, a 14% jump in business class airfare purchases, and a 5% rise in overall travel spending [2] Financial Provisions and Guidance - The company's loan loss provisions were reported at $1.3 billion, which is $110 million lower than expected, indicating improved credit quality [3] - American Express raised the lower end of its guidance for full-year revenue and earnings per share (EPS), projecting at least a 9% increase in revenue for 2025 [3] Customer Engagement - The reception to the refreshed platinum card has exceeded expectations, with new card signups being approximately double the number prior to the refresh [3]