Should you buy the shares as they trade below $315 (as of July 25)? Warren Buffett's stamp of approval The great Warren Buffett has a stringent filter for what Berkshire Hathaway owns in its portfolio. So investors should take notice of the fact that American Express is one of the top holdings for the conglomerate. This means that the company must have some merits. One area worth mentioning is the company's durable performance in these uncertain economic times. Through the first six months of 2025, Amex's r ...

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, has a strong investment track record, particularly in American Express, which constitutes 21.6% of its $281 billion portfolio [2][4]. Company Overview - American Express (Amex) is Berkshire's second-largest holding, known for its strong brand and premium credit card offerings targeting affluent customers [4][5]. - The company has maintained its position in the market for nearly two decades, indicating brand durability and relevance [6]. Competitive Advantages - Amex benefits from a significant network effect, enhancing its value as it expands its merchant and cardholder base [7]. - Buffett's long-term holding of Amex shares for over a decade reflects his confidence in the company's business model [8]. Financial Performance - Over the past five years, Amex has seen a 65% increase in revenue, driven by a 30% rise in active cards and a 39% growth in payment volume [9]. - The company has generated a total return of 213% in the last five years, outperforming the S&P 500's 108% total return [10]. Future Outlook - Analyst estimates project Amex's earnings per share to grow at a compound annual rate of 14.4% from 2024 to 2027, suggesting a positive outlook for market performance [11]. - However, the current price-to-earnings ratio of 20.8 raises concerns about valuation, as it is among the highest in the past three years [11]. Investment Strategy - For investors interested in Amex, dollar-cost averaging over time may be a prudent strategy, especially given the above-average valuation concerns [12].