American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently covered. Cramer highlighted the company’s quarter, as he said: “… By the time we opened, we heard from a series of banks that were doing fine, and we got a spectacular quarter from American Express that fueled still one more rally.” American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) provides payment, credit, and financing solutions along with travel, lifestyle, and expense management services. Moreover, the company offers merchant processing ...

Earnings season is ramping up as Tesla (TSLA), Netflix (NFLX), General Motors (GM), and Ford Motor Company (F), among others, report results this week. As of Oct. 17, 12% of S&P 500 companies have reported results, according to FactSet data, and analysts are expecting an 8.5% jump in earnings per share during the third quarter. If that figure holds, it would mark the ninth straight quarter of positive earnings growth but a deceleration from the 12% earnings growth reported in Q2 of this year. Expectation ...

Core Insights - The third quarter earnings season has begun, with analysts expecting a 7.9% increase in earnings per share for S&P 500 companies, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of positive growth but a slowdown from the 12% growth in Q2 [1][2] Financial Institutions Performance - Major banks including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and BlackRock reported their quarterly results, with additional reports from Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and others following [2][4] - Ally Financial reported earnings per share of $1.18, exceeding estimates of $0.96, with revenue of $2.17 billion surpassing expectations of $2.10 billion [7][8] - Truist's net income rose to $1.3 billion, or $1.04 per diluted share, beating analyst estimates of $0.99 per share, with noninterest income increasing 11% to $158 million [9][10] - Comerica's net interest income grew over 7% to $574 million, while noninterest income declined to $264 million due to slower capital markets activity [11][12] - Fifth Third reported net interest income of $1.52 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share growing 17% to $0.91, surpassing estimates of $0.86 [14][15] - U.S. Bancorp reported net income of $2.00 billion, or $1.22 per share, beating estimates and achieving record revenue of $7.3 billion [22][23] - Charles Schwab's earnings were $1.26 per share, with record revenue of $6.13 billion, a 27% year-over-year increase [24][25] Technology Sector Insights - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reported a 39% year-over-year profit surge in Q3 and raised its 2025 revenue outlook, anticipating mid-30% annual sales growth [27][28] - TSMC's revenue reached approximately $32.2 billion, exceeding estimates, with earnings per share of $2.92 also beating expectations [28][29] Other Notable Earnings Reports - Morgan Stanley's profits surged 45% in Q3, driven by a 44% increase in deal-making fees to $2.1 billion and a 24% rise in trading fees [36][37][38] - Citigroup's net income for Q3 was $3.8 billion, or $1.86 per diluted share, with total revenue growing 9% to $22.1 billion, driven by increased deal-making and trading activities [46][47]

American Express beat earnings expectations and raised its outlook, amid strong demand for its higher-priced premium Platinum card. ...

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].

Group 1 - Warren Buffett may retire as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of the year, but his investment strategies remain relevant for investors [1] - Buffett emphasizes investing in sectors he understands, particularly the financial sector, highlighting two stocks to consider in October [2] Group 2 - American Express is the second-largest position in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, with over 20% ownership, focusing on premium credit card services for affluent clients [3][4] - In the last quarter, American Express added 3.1 million new cards, bringing the total to nearly 150 million, demonstrating strong demand despite high fees [4] - The company has increased fees for its Gold and Platinum cards, contributing to a 158% growth in earnings per share (EPS) over the past decade, with expectations for similar growth in the next ten years [5] Group 3 - Visa operates the largest credit card network globally, processing payments without issuing cards or managing credit risk, relying on transaction fees for revenue [8]

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) is one of the best Goldman Sachs bank stocks. On September 19, KBW reiterated an Outperform rating on AXP, along with a price target of $371, attributing the call to the new features in the Platinum card. According to KBW, the improved perks make the Platinum card’s value proposition stronger than the $200 fee hike, reinforcing its premium status. The firm noted American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)’s collaborations with Lululemon, Uber, and Walmart also strengthen the ca ...

Group 1 - American Express has increased the annual fee for its high-end Platinum card to $895 from $695, representing a $200 increase [2] - The company has added new perks to the Platinum card, including a $400 dining out credit and a $600 hotel credit, aimed at attracting upscale consumers and businesses [2]

Group 1 - American Express has generated a total return of 233% over the past five years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index [1] - The company primarily targets an affluent customer base through its charge cards, which require cardholders to pay their balances in full each month [3] - American Express earns revenue from discount fees collected from merchants, totaling $9.4 billion in Q2 2025 [4] Group 2 - The company also generates substantial fee revenue, with annual fees for popular cards like the Platinum and Gold amounting to $695 and $325, respectively, resulting in $2.5 billion in fee revenue in the latest quarter [5] - Combined, fee and discount revenue accounted for 66% of American Express's total revenue in Q2 [5] - The business model benefits from higher-income consumers who tend to spend more, directly impacting the company's revenue [6]

Group 1: Bank Stocks Performance - Bank stocks significantly outperformed the S&P 500 in August, with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF generating an 11.4% return compared to the S&P 500's 3.7% gain [1][3] - The market began to price in a higher likelihood of an interest rate cut at the Federal Reserve's upcoming September meeting, which contributed to the positive performance of bank stocks [1] Group 2: Impact of Interest Rates - Lower interest rates could stimulate the economy, boost lending, and help maintain strong credit quality, particularly benefiting banks that thrive under a steeper yield curve [2] - The traditional bank model involves borrowing at lower, shorter-term rates and lending at higher, long-term yields, making a steeper yield curve advantageous for banks [2] Group 3: American Express (AmEx) - AmEx shares rose over 12% in August, driven by its strong credit card lending business and a payments business that differentiates it from other credit card lenders [5][6] - The company serves consumers with prime and super prime FICO scores, allowing it to charge high annual fees for premium cards [5] - AmEx continues to generate strong earnings, with a current stock trading at 21.5 times forward earnings, indicating a strong brand and revenue diversity [7] Group 4: SoFi Technologies - SoFi Technologies experienced a surge of over 20% in August and is now profitable, with a nearly 80% increase in stock value this year [9][10] - The company offers a wide range of financial services, including personal loans and investment brokerage, and has a bank technology business [9] - SoFi's revenue is primarily driven by its lending business, which could benefit from lower interest rates, but the stock trades at a high valuation of over 80 times forward earnings [11][12] Group 5: Risks and Valuation Concerns - SoFi's high valuation leaves it vulnerable if the economy enters a recession or if loan funding from capital markets decreases [12] - The company must mark its loan book to fair value each quarter, which can be influenced by various factors, including loan loss rates [13]