Group 1 - Major U.S. equities indexes, including the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq, experienced gains as regional bank stocks rebounded following a series of corporate earnings reports [2][5] - American Express shares rose after the company reported quarterly results that exceeded analysts' expectations and improved its outlook due to increased customer usage of its high-end credit cards [3][5] - Truist Financial also reported better-than-expected results driven by higher wealth management fees and interest income, resulting in a rise in its share price [3] Group 2 - Shares of Newmont and other gold miners declined as the price of gold, which had been reaching record highs, experienced a pullback [4] - U.S.-listed shares of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly fell after comments from President Trump indicated intentions to reduce prices for popular weight-loss drugs [4][5]

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]

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) will release earnings results for the third quarter, before the opening bell on Friday, Oct. 17.Analysts expect the New York-based company to report quarterly earnings at $4.00 per share, up from $3.49 per share in the year-ago period. American Express projects quarterly revenue of $18.05 billion, compared to $16.64 billion a year earlier, according to data from Benzinga Pro.The company has beaten analyst estimates for revenue in three straight quarters and in six of the ...

Core Insights - American Express Company is set to release its third-quarter earnings results on October 17, with analysts expecting earnings of $4.00 per share, an increase from $3.49 per share in the same period last year [1] - The projected quarterly revenue is $18.05 billion, up from $16.64 billion a year earlier [1] Financial Performance - The company has exceeded analyst revenue estimates for three consecutive quarters and six out of the last ten quarters [2] - Shares of American Express declined by 2.3%, closing at $323.12 on Thursday [2] Analyst Ratings - UBS analyst Eriks Najarian maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $330 to $340 [4] - JP Morgan analyst Richard Shane also maintained a Neutral rating, increasing the price target from $343 to $355 [4] - Evercore ISI Group analyst John Pancari maintained an In-Line rating and raised the price target from $330 to $365 [4] - Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck maintained an Equal-Weight rating, increasing the price target from $311 to $362 [4] - Wells Fargo analyst Donald Fandetti maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $350 to $375 [4]

Core Insights - U.S. stock futures are trading lower, indicating a cautious market sentiment ahead of key earnings reports [1] Company Earnings and Performance - Slb NV (NYSE:SLB) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share on revenue of $8.97 billion [2] - CSX Corp. (NASDAQ:CSX) reported third-quarter revenue of $3.59 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $3.58 billion, with adjusted earnings of $0.44 per share, beating expectations of $0.43 per share [2] - American Express Co. (NYSE:AXP) is anticipated to post quarterly earnings of $4.00 per share on revenue of $18.05 billion [2] - Truist Financial Corp. (NYSE:TFC) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.00 per share on revenue of $5.20 billion [2] Stock Movements - SLB shares fell 0.3% to $32.82 in after-hours trading [2] - CSX shares rose 2.3% to $36.80 in after-hours trading [2] - American Express shares gained 0.5% to $324.58 in after-hours trading [2] - Newsmax Inc. (NYSE:NMAX) shares increased by 1.5% to $10.99 after announcing a $5 million purchase of Bitcoin and Trump Coin [2] - Truist Financial shares gained 0.6% to $41.33 in after-hours trading [2]

Economic Indicators - The Beige Book indicates rising tariffs are pushing consumer prices higher, leading to increased inflation and consumer fatigue as spending on non-essentials slows down [2][3][4] - Wage growth is reported in some districts, but it is insufficient to offset the impact of higher prices on consumers [4] Cryptocurrency Market - The total crypto market cap has fallen by 2.5% to approximately $3.6 trillion, which is about 10% lower than the previous week [5] - Among the top 100 cryptocurrencies, 94 have seen a decrease in value over the past 24 hours, with weak ETF flows indicating declining institutional demand [5] Trade Relations - China's efforts to reassure global markets about the continuity of rare earth exports are highlighted, with state media emphasizing compliance for civil use while banning military applications [7] Upcoming Earnings - American Express is expected to report a revenue growth of 7.9% year-over-year to $13.45 billion, with EPS estimated at $3.98 per share [8][9] - The performance of American Express is viewed as a proxy for consumer spending health, particularly in the premium segment [9] Energy Sector - The energy sector is under pressure, with oil and natural gas prices declining amid geopolitical developments, including discussions between the US and Ukraine regarding gas imports [11][12][13]

Core Viewpoint - American Express is expected to report strong third-quarter financial results, with analysts anticipating revenue growth and earnings per share increase compared to the previous year [1][2]. Earnings Estimates - Analysts predict third-quarter revenue of $18.05 billion, an increase from $16.64 billion in the same quarter last year [1]. - Expected earnings per share for the third quarter is $4.00, up from $3.49 in the previous year [2]. Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Truist Securities analyst Brian Foran maintains a Buy rating with a price target of $375, noting mixed reviews for the refreshed Platinum card but potential upside based on user surveys [3]. - Other analysts have also raised their price targets: UBS from $330 to $340, JPMorgan from $343 to $355, Barclays from $297 to $336, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $371 to $394, and Evercore ISI Group from $330 to $365 [8]. Key Items to Watch - Analysts will focus on the company's recent upgrades, including higher perks and fees, and their impact on demand and potential customer churn [4][5]. - The demographic shift towards Millennials and Gen Z, who now represent approximately 35% of U.S. consumer spending for the company, is a significant factor [5]. Financial Performance Indicators - In the second quarter, American Express reported a 9% year-over-year increase in revenue, net of interest expense, and a 7% increase in Card Member spending to $416.3 billion [6]. - The International Card Services segment saw a 14.5% year-over-year increase, while Global Merchant and Network Services revenue rose by 3.2% [7]. - The company's expenses increased by 14% year-over-year in the second quarter, and analysts will be looking for revenue growth to outpace these cost increases [7]. Company Holdings and Market Impact - American Express is a significant holding for Berkshire Hathaway, comprising about 16.7% of its investment portfolio [9]. - The company's quarterly results could influence the Dow Jones Industrial Average, as it is one of the largest holdings in the index [10]. Stock Performance - As of Wednesday, American Express stock traded at $333.02, with a year-to-date increase of 11.6% in 2025 [10].

Core Insights - Energy and Financial sectors dominate the deep-value landscape, with Petrobras (PBR) and Equinor (EQNR) leading in Energy, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) and Bank of New York Mellon (BK) are at the forefront of Financials [1][2][5] Energy Sector - Petrobras (PBR) trades at an Acquirer's Multiple (AM) of 4.0 with a free cash flow (FCF) yield of approximately 38.1%, reflecting macro and political risks rather than deteriorating fundamentals [2] - Equinor (EQNR) has an AM of 2.5 and a FCF yield of around 12.3%, indicating strong cash generation despite market skepticism [2] - The broader energy complex continues to offer double-digit cash returns at low- to mid-single-digit AMs, highlighting ongoing doubts about the sustainability of oil and gas profitability [3] Financial Sector - Bank of New York Mellon (BK) has an AM of 2.1 and a FCF yield of about 3.2%, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) shows a higher AM of 2.2 with a remarkable FCF yield of approximately 37.9% [1][2] - The market remains cautious regarding credit and capital markets exposure, impacting valuations in the financial sector [1] Market Sentiment - Investors are discounting cyclical exposure and macro sensitivity over underlying cash strength, with Energy priced as a sunset sector despite strong capital discipline and high free cash flow [4] - The clustering of Energy and Financials suggests that patient capital may find opportunities through buybacks, dividends, and resilient earnings if pessimism proves excessive [4] Investment Outlook - The current market setup indicates that Energy and Financials are central to global value, with disciplined capital allocation, attractive valuations, and strong FCF yields rewarding long-term investors willing to endure volatility [5]

Core Insights - The trend of reporting rent payments to credit bureaus is increasing, with 13% of consumers having their rent reported in 2025, up from 11% in 2024 [1] - This shift is particularly beneficial for younger consumers, immigrants, and those with limited credit history, as it can lead to lower interest rates and better loan approvals [2][3] Importance of Rent Reporting - Rent reporting provides "credit invisible" consumers with better borrowing opportunities, with nearly 7 million consumers in the U.S. classified as "credit invisible" in 2020 [4] - A 2021 TransUnion analysis indicated that credit scores improved by an average of 60 points when rent payments were included, significantly impacting loan qualification [5] Demographic Trends - Gen Z leads in rent reporting, with 18% reporting their payments in 2025, compared to 16% of millennials, 12% of Gen Xers, and 8% of baby boomers [6] - Younger adults and immigrants are particularly poised to benefit from rent reporting, as traditional credit scoring often excludes them [6]

Core Insights - The earnings season has commenced with major companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), JP Morgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), Bank of America (BAC), Goldman Sachs (GS), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), and American Express (AXP) set to report their earnings this week [1] Group 1: Earnings Reporting - Companies reporting earnings include TSM, JPM, WFC, BAC, GS, JNJ, and AXP [1] Group 2: Stock Screener Usage - The Stock Screener can be utilized to identify companies with significant option volume and upcoming earnings [2] - A specific scan can be conducted to find companies with total call volume greater than 1,000 and market capitalization exceeding 10 billion, with earnings dates between October 13 - 17 [3] Group 3: Trading Strategy Example - An example trading strategy involves using an iron condor for TSM, which profits from a drop in implied volatility while keeping the stock within a specified range [5] - The iron condor consists of a bull put spread and a bear call spread, with specific strike prices for options sold and bought [6] - The total premium generated from the iron condor is approximately $1.50 per contract, equating to $150 [6] Group 4: Profit Zone Calculation - The profit zone for the iron condor ranges between $278.50 and $321.50, calculated by adjusting the short strikes with the premium received [7]