American Express Company (AXP) Anticipates a Strong 2026 Profit as Affluent Spending Continues

Core Insights - American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is recognized as one of the top digital currency and payments stocks to invest in currently [1] - The company forecasts a revenue growth of 9% to 10% and earnings per share between $17.30 and $17.90 for 2026, exceeding analyst expectations [2] - Billed business for Q4 increased by 9% to $445.1 billion, with revenue rising by 10% to $18.98 billion and profit per share increasing from $3.04 to $3.53 year-over-year [2] Spending Trends - AmEx card spending by retail customers in the U.S. surged by 9% during the Thanksgiving holiday week, contributing to an overall spending increase of 7.7% [3] - The affluent consumer base continues to drive strong spending, indicating robust demand for American Express services [2][7] Market Context - Investors are closely monitoring President Trump's proposed one-year restriction on credit card interest rates, which is opposed by industry organizations and is seen as unlikely to pass [3] - The proposal has had a negative impact on financial markets, causing declines earlier in January [3] Company Operations - American Express operates in card issuing, merchant acquiring, and card network services, offering a range of financial products including credit cards, savings accounts, and corporate programs [4]