American Express Company is an integrated payments company operating in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. The company offers credit and charge cards, travel, dining, lifestyle and expense management services, banking and other payment and financing products, and merchant acquisition, processing, settlement, fraud prevention, and point-of-sale marketing and information services. Founded in 1850, it is headquartered in New York, New York.
Mastercard Launches AI Payment Tool Allowing Bots to Shop Without Approval
Mastercard rolled out an AI payment option on Thursday that allows a virtual credit card to be issued to a user's AI agent, letting the bot make purchases without seeking the cardholder's approval each time, through a partnership with startup Alchemy. Users connect an existing AI agent to their Mastercard through Alchemy and set restrictions on what the agent can do, including spending caps and limits on which retailers it can shop at, and the agent can then make purchases at any online merchant that accepts Mastercard, though cardholders can also choose to have the agent check back before completing a transaction. Mastercard said its system depends on agentic tokens that the issuing bank generates, bundling together the cardholder's stated intent and transaction details so the network can confirm the agent is operating within authorized boundaries. Mastercard chief product officer Jorn Lambert said the company views agentic commerce as inevitable, adding that it is not about if but about when and how quickly, and that nothing happens overnight. Visa partnered with Alchemy earlier this year, according to The Wall Street Journal, meaning a majority of credit cards can now work with the tool, and Visa, Mastercard, and American Express have each announced their own tools and standards to support AI-driven purchases. Trust remains the biggest barrier to widespread adoption, according to The Wall Street Journal, with many users wary of trusting an AI agent with their financial details and worried about bots running up charges they never approved, and Citizens Financial Group president Brendan Coughlin said the concept is a really good one but certainly not without its risks. Uncertainty also surrounds the regulatory treatment of agentic payments, and it remains unsettled who would bear responsibility if an AI agent, whether malfunctioning or acting outside its intended scope, were to complete a transaction the cardholder never sanctioned, according to The Wall Street Journal, with bank executives including Coughlin remaining skeptical that the technology will take over the payments landscape soon.
Mastercard Targets Small-Business Growth With New Collection for Business
Mastercard is positioning itself beyond payments with a new Collection for Business offering, citing survey findings that small businesses prioritize stability and integrated tools. Its Dreamonomics survey of more than 6,000 SMEs across 18 countries found that 68% prioritize stability and predictability over rapid growth, while 54% avoid unnecessary financial risk, and 61% favor deeper customer relationships over simply reaching more buyers. The new Collection for Business combines payment capabilities with productivity tools, travel and lifestyle benefits, cybersecurity support and business-focused experiences for eligible cardholders. Mastercard sees clear gaps: SMEs already rely on five digital tools on average, yet 89% intend to add more and 78% say integrated tools are critical, while 71% consider cyber protection a priority but only 37% currently use cybersecurity tools. Rival Visa launched its Visa & Main platform with a $100 million working-capital facility, and American Express offers its Business Blueprint, as Mastercard shares have lost 0.5% year to date compared with the broader industry's 11.2% decline.
American Express Launches High-Yield Business Savings Offering
American Express Company is expanding beyond cards with a new high-yield savings option for business clients, bringing Business Checking and Business Savings under AmEx Business Banking so customers can manage banking and Card products in one place without needing an AmEx card to apply. The offering provided a 2.95% annual percentage yield as of Sept. 15, with no minimum balance or monthly maintenance fee, free ACH, wire and check deposits, instant fee-free transfers between Business Checking and Business Savings, and same-day ACH transfers at $10. The platform will later add a Graphite Business Cash Unlimited Card rewards deposit feature expected later this year, with Reward Dollars redeemable into Business Checking at 1:1, and a Gusto-powered payroll solution with AI insights expected early next year. An AmEx survey of 1,165 small-business financial decision-makers found 82% believe excess cash could be put to better use in savings, 93% want banking and financial tools to work together seamlessly, 81% want better visibility into upcoming payroll payments and 65% prioritize payroll streamlining. The financial opportunity centers on deposit growth and broader product usage, with business deposits giving American Express an additional funding source, though paying interest on those balances will affect the economics of the offering depending on how quickly deposits grow and how effectively those funds are deployed.
American Express Raises 2026 Revenue Outlook Toward 10% on Strong Card Spending
American Express raised its revenue-growth outlook toward 10% for the second quarter while reaffirming its earnings-per-share range, CFO Christophe Le Caillec said at a conference, citing strong operating trends through the first half of 2026. Foreign-exchange-adjusted revenue rose 10% in the first half and earnings per share climbed in the mid-teens, with billings growth holding in the 8% to 9% range over recent quarters and running somewhat stronger in the second quarter. Card fees rose 16% year to date and net interest income grew at a double-digit rate, while billings growth was approximately 8% quarter to date in July and August. The raised outlook excludes any expected gain from the sale of American Express's Global Business Travel shares or any planned use of the proceeds. The company also lifted its 2026 outlook for variable customer engagement expenses to 44% to 45% of revenue from about 44%, partly reflecting the rollout timing of refreshed card benefits and stronger spending that increases points-related costs. Le Caillec said American Express continues to treat 10% revenue growth and mid-teens earnings-per-share growth as long-term aspirations rather than forecasts or formal guidance, and that it is directing better-than-anticipated performance toward customer acquisition and technology investments.
American Express and Aspire Expand Lounge Partnership Across Canada
American Express and Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality, Swissport International's airport hospitality business, announced an expansion of their lounge partnership in Canada with two new Aspire Amex Lounges. A new Aspire Amex Lounge opens at YYC Calgary Airport for domestic departures on September 16, 2026, and a second opens at YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport for transborder departures to the U.S. by early 2027. The expansion builds on the companies' first co-branded Aspire Amex Lounge, which opened in the domestic departures area of Montréal-Trudeau International Airport in September 2025 and has since drawn more than 50,000 Cardmember visits. Eligible American Express Cardmembers will receive priority lounge and waitlist access, along with buffet offerings and tableside ordering. The partnership is one part of American Express' broader lounge offering, through which eligible Cardmembers have access to more than 1,550 airport lounges across 140 countries.
Visa Study Finds Home-Centered Spending Embedded Across Six Markets
Visa Inc. says the "couch economy" has become a lasting part of consumer behavior rather than a passing e-commerce trend, with online and in-app payments expanding in every market it studied between 2019 and 2026. In the United States, online and in-app payment volume rose to 58% in 2026 from 48% in 2019, while Poland climbed to 24% from 10% and the UAE increased to 55% from 35%. More than 17% of U.S. cards now carry streaming subscriptions, versus about 6% tied to cinema and concerts, and in the UAE active food delivery cards jumped from roughly 2% in 2018 to nearly 30% in 2026. Visa said the shift creates a favorable payments backdrop, as more online, in-app, subscription and delivery spending can lift digital transaction activity across its network and deepen card usage through recurring payments. Mastercard Incorporated and American Express Company are also benefiting from the same move toward digital purchases, with Mastercard seeing higher transaction volumes and demand for tokenization and fraud prevention services, and American Express gaining through increased card spending, merchant fees and its closed-loop transaction data. Visa shares have gained 7.1% in the year-to-date period against the broader industry's 10.8% decline, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.18X versus the industry average of 17.69X.
High-End Credit Card Market Faces Retention and Cost Pressures as Banks Raise Fees
Banks competing in the high-end credit card market are grappling with retention challenges, rising costs, and missed engagement opportunities that can dampen profitability, according to American Banker. The segment, which generally refers to cards with annual fees of $500 and above, attracts high-income spenders with strong FICO scores, and several financial institutions including American Express, Barclays, Citi, and JPMorganChase target the upper end of this luxury market, while others like Capital One and U.S. Bank offer high-end cards with somewhat lower annual fees. To offset rising costs, issuers have raised fees: Amex recently increased the annual fee on its exclusive Platinum Card to $895 from $695, and Chase boosted the fee last year on its Sapphire Reserve to $795 from $550. Brian Riley, co-head of payments at Javelin Strategy & Research, told American Banker that attracting cardholders with introductory points and perks is easier than keeping them in subsequent years, and banks need to make the year-two proposition meaningful. EY research cited by John Radecki, consumer banking leader at EY, indicates that more than 40% of younger consumers are comfortable with AI recommending which credit card or bank account to use for a purchase, adding further pressure to issuer economics. Beth Robertson, managing director at Keynova Group, told American Banker that issuers should streamline benefit enrollment and make membership services easier to access, since cardholders may forget or not realize they have access to certain benefits.
American Express Rises 1.24% as Earnings Preview Points to $4.58 Per Share
American Express closed at $324.69, up 1.24% and ahead of the S&P 500's 0.86% gain, though the stock has lost 6.68% over the past month. The company is scheduled to report earnings on October 23, 2026, with analysts projecting $4.58 per share, a 10.63% year-over-year increase, and revenue of $20.09 billion, up 9.05%. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $17.68 per share and revenue of $79.46 billion, representing growth of 14.95% and 10.02%, respectively. The consensus EPS estimate has edged 0.1% higher over the past month, and American Express currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The stock trades at a Forward P/E of 18.14, a premium to its industry average of 11.71, with a PEG ratio of 1.36 versus the industry's 1.1.
Visa Teams With Ant International and Mastercard on Know-Your-Agent Framework
Visa Inc. has initiated collaboration with Ant International and Mastercard Incorporated to develop an interoperable Know-Your-Agent framework aimed at streamlining agent identification and onboarding across card networks, digital wallets, agent platforms and marketplaces while allowing each network to retain its own verification and risk controls. Under the framework, each agent would be linked to a validated operator, cardholder or business, with shared certification requirements assessing security and behavior and continuous transaction monitoring supporting ongoing risk evaluation. The collaboration builds on Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol, Mastercard's Verifiable Intent and Ant International's Agentic Mobile Protocol, and the companies will work through BuildFin.ai, an industry platform convened by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Visa already offers Trusted Agent Protocol and Intelligent Commerce solutions for secure agent-initiated transactions, and the company says interoperability could reduce fragmentation and support transaction growth across its network. Mastercard's Verifiable Intent framework and American Express's ACE developer kit and Agent Purchase Protection are cited as competing efforts in agentic commerce.
American Express is defending its small-business franchise against agile fintechs like Ramp and Brex, with its Commercial Services business growing 5% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, up from 4% in the first quarter and 2% a year earlier, while segment revenue rose 7% to $4.5 billion. Small-business card balances increased 8% to $56.2 billion, and the company launched a pilot of a new expense-management platform for middle-market customers, adding a $300 ChatGPT Business credit to U.S. Business Platinum and Gold cards. Credit quality remains strong, with the 30-plus-day delinquency rate for small-business balances falling to 1.3% from 1.4% a year earlier, and a $191 million reserve release helped credit-loss provisions drop 23% to $1.1 billion. Peers are also competing: JPMorgan serves 7.4 million small-business customers and provided $17 billion in credit in the first half of 2026, though its Business Banking loans declined 5% to $18.3 billion, while Synchrony Financial expanded its commercial credit products to $2.7 billion from $1.8 billion at 2025-end. AmEx shares have fallen 9.9% year to date, underperforming the industry's 6.3% decline, and trade at a forward P/E of 17.19X versus the industry's 16.86X, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate implying 14.9% earnings growth in 2026.
AMEX partners with 3 Thai banks to expand card acceptance network
American Express has announced partnerships with Kasikornbank (KBank), Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya), and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) to expand its card acceptance network in Thailand. The goal is to enable both foreign and Thai cardholders to use their cards at a wider range of merchants, especially in major tourist destinations and everyday spending categories. This collaboration is part of AMEX's global strategy, which currently includes over 170 million merchant locations worldwide and 152.8 million cards in force as of the end of 2025. Annual spending on AMEX cards is approximately three times higher than other cards globally. However, a key challenge is the merchant discount rate (MDR), which ranges from 3.00% to 3.65% per transaction, significantly higher than the 0.55% charged on typical Thai credit and debit cards, potentially making smaller merchants hesitant to participate.
Amex joins forces with three major banks to expand card acceptance and attract premium tourists to Thailand
American Express has announced partnerships with Kasikornbank, Bank of Ayudhya, and Siam Commercial Bank to expand its card acceptance network across Thailand, aiming to bring premium spending power into the Thai economy. Premium cardholders spend up to three times more annually than other card networks. Between 2023 and 2025, the number of Amex card members travelling to Thailand rose 47 percent, in line with the government's High Value Tourism policy. Sirisun, Country Manager for Thailand, said the expansion of card acceptance will cover travel, dining, and lifestyle categories to serve both members in Thailand and premium tourists from around the world. Currently, Amex is accepted at more than 170 million merchants worldwide, and the number of merchants accepting the card has doubled since 2021.
Synchrony Financial Record Purchase Volume May Boost Second-Half Earnings
Synchrony Financial reported record purchase volume of $49.8 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 8% year over year, with growth across all five sales platforms and acceleration to 11% in June. Co-branded card purchase volume jumped 23% and accounted for 52% of total purchase volume, while the company added or renewed more than 15 partners during the quarter. Management expects stronger purchase volume to overcome elevated payment rates and lift loan receivables and earnings in the second half. Peers American Express and Capital One also benefited from strong card spending, with billed business rising 9% to $455.8 billion at American Express and purchase volume up 15% to $249.2 billion at Capital One. Synchrony shares have risen 9.1% over the past year, and the stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 7.96 times versus the industry average of 17 times, with a Zacks Rank of 3, or Hold.
Visa beats Q2 estimates while Bread Financial leads credit card sector outperformance
Visa reported second-quarter revenues of $11.63 billion, up 14.4% year on year and exceeding analyst expectations by 2.2%, alongside beats on EBITDA and EPS. Among the six credit card stocks tracked, Bread Financial posted the biggest analyst estimate beat with revenues of $993 million, up 6.9% year on year and 3.5% above consensus, while American Express was the weakest performer with revenues of $18.55 billion, up 12.8% year on year but missing estimates by 5.8%. Capital One delivered the fastest revenue growth at 25.8% to $15.83 billion, in line with expectations, and Synchrony Financial grew revenues 1.9% to $3.72 billion, slightly below estimates but with strong EPS and efficiency ratio beats. Overall, the group's revenues were in line with consensus and share prices have held steady, rising 4.2% on average since reporting.
American Express Stock Lags Peers Despite Strong Earnings and Raised Revenue Guidance
American Express shares have fallen about 6% year to date, underperforming Visa's 6% gain, Mastercard's flat performance, and the 13% rise in both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500. The company reported second-quarter revenue of $19.6 billion, up 10% year over year but slightly below estimates of $19.7 billion, while earnings per share of $4.53 beat the $4.40 consensus. It raised full-year revenue growth guidance to 10% from a prior range of 9% to 10%, and maintained earnings guidance of $17.30 to $17.90 per share, implying about 14% growth at the midpoint. Expenses rose 12% to $14.5 billion, driven by higher spending on customer engagement and acquisition, which CEO Stephen Squeri said is necessary for long-term growth. Only 48% of Wall Street analysts rate the stock a buy, compared with 93% each for Mastercard and Visa, and it trades at 20 times earnings.
Marriott Raises 2026 Guidance on Strong Q2, but Cuts Rooms Growth Outlook
Marriott International raised its full-year 2026 guidance after second-quarter gross fee revenues rose 13% to $1.58 billion and adjusted diluted earnings per share climbed 20% to $3.19. Global RevPAR increased 3.4%, led by a 5% gain in the US and Canada, while international RevPAR slipped slightly as EMEA fell over 5% on a 43% drop in the Middle East. The company now expects full-year gross fees to rise 11% to between $6.03 billion and $6.06 billion, adjusted EBITDA to increase 11% to 12% to $5.97 billion to $6.03 billion, and adjusted diluted EPS to grow 16% to 18%. However, full-year 2026 net rooms growth is now expected to be at the low end of the 4.5%-5% range, primarily due to construction delays in the Middle East. Marriott also announced new co-branded credit card agreements with JPMorgan Chase and American Express that are expected to add about $30 million in incremental fees this year and could reach $100 million to $125 million annually by 2028.
American Express expects 10% annual revenue growth and mid-teens EPS gains
American Express management projects long-term annual revenue growth of 10% and mid-teens diluted earnings per share growth. In the second quarter, 65% of new consumer card signups globally came from millennials and Gen Z, whose spending is growing faster than older generations. CEO Steve Squeri said the company is intentionally investing in rewards and benefits, such as the Platinum card refresh, to strengthen its competitive position even if it pressures near-term profitability. Payment volume rose 9% year over year in the latest quarter, supported by the ongoing shift to a cashless economy.
American Express Has a Strong Moat but Visa and Mastercard's Duopoly May Be Wider
American Express, Berkshire Hathaway's second-largest holding valued at more than $50 billion, possesses a durable competitive advantage built on a premium brand and a closed-loop network effect, yet the duopoly of Visa and Mastercard arguably holds the widest economic moat in payments. American Express targets affluent customers, resulting in a net write-off rate of 2% in the second quarter, half the industry average of 4%, while average spend per card rose 34% and average fee per card jumped 77% over the past five years. The company's closed-loop system strengthens its network effect as more cardholders and merchants join. However, Visa and Mastercard's ubiquitous reach, with billions of active cards and trillions of dollars in quarterly volume, along with average quarterly operating margins of 67% and 58% respectively over the past five years, underpin their dominant position. American Express still expects 10% revenue growth and over 14% earnings per share growth in 2026.
Jim Cramer calls American Express post-earnings sell-off a golden buying opportunity
Jim Cramer says the post-earnings drop in American Express shares is a golden buying opportunity. The company beat Q2 2026 earnings expectations with EPS of $4.53, up 11% year-over-year, and raised full-year revenue growth guidance to approximately 10%, yet the stock fell after management chose to reinvest outperformance into growth initiatives rather than accelerate share buybacks, leaving full-year EPS guidance unchanged at $17.30 to $17.90. Cramer argues the market misread that decision, pointing to a 36% return on equity and strong demographic momentum, with Millennials and Gen Z now accounting for more than 60% of new accounts and Gen Z card member spending up 40%. American Express shares are down about 8.27% year-to-date but have returned roughly 110% over both three- and five-year periods, significantly outperforming the S&P 500.
Berkshire Hathaway Will Hold American Express for Decades Under Greg Abel
Berkshire Hathaway is predicted to retain its nearly 40-year stake in American Express under incoming CEO Greg Abel, driven by the card issuer's success in attracting younger generations through its rewards program. In the second quarter of 2026, Gen Z spending grew 40% year-over-year, outpacing millennials at 14%, Gen X at 10%, and baby boomers at 5%. American Express collected $5.61 billion in net card fees but spent $9.94 billion on rewards in the first half of the year, a gap it covers with $19.68 billion in discount revenue from merchant fees. The company's 155.1 million cards in force create network effects that sustain this cycle, supporting double-digit revenue growth and record earnings guidance for 2026.
American Express Shares Fall 12% Despite Strong Business Performance
American Express shares have fallen almost 12% this year, trading around $326 as of July 24, despite the company continuing to operate at a high level. In the second quarter, revenue rose 10% year-over-year to $19.6 billion, missing Wall Street expectations, while diluted earnings per share of $4.53 beat analyst estimates. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to 10% growth but kept the EPS forecast unchanged, which may have disappointed investors and caused the stock to drop 7% immediately after the update. Member spending grew 9%, the fastest pace in more than three years on a currency-neutral basis, highlighting the company's strong position among affluent customers and its ability to attract millennials and Gen Zers. With a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.8, the stock is not a bargain but is considered fairly valued, and investors might still consider allocating capital given the high-quality business and secular shift toward cashless transactions.
American Express Shares Plummet on Rising Expense Outlook
Shares of American Express plummeted more than 6% in morning trading last Friday after the company reported second-quarter results that showed strong revenue and earnings growth but also a sharp rise in expenses that worried investors. Revenue net of interest expense reached $19.6 billion, up 10% from a year ago, while earnings per share rose 11% to $4.53, beating analyst estimates by about $0.12. However, expenses grew 12% year over year to $14.5 billion, and CFO Christophe Le Caillec said on an analyst call that the higher level of spending will continue through the end of 2026, with marketing expenses expected to be 10% higher in the second half of the year. The increased marketing spending, which was up about 9% in the quarter, is aimed at attracting and retaining members, particularly among younger consumers such as millennials and Gen Z, who are the company's fastest-growing group, but it also suggests that acquiring those new memberships is becoming more expensive.
Amex raises full-year revenue outlook to 10% growth, but shares fall as profit forecast held steady
American Express has raised its full-year 2026 revenue growth forecast to 10% year-on-year, driven by continued spending on travel, entertainment, and dining by its affluent customers. However, the company kept its full-year earnings per share outlook unchanged at $17.30 to $17.90, which disappointed investors and sent the stock lower. CEO Stephen Squeri explained that the company chose to reinvest outperformance into business growth. In the second quarter, earnings per share came in at $4.53, beating market expectations, and revenue rose 10% to $19.6 billion, but consolidated expenses swelled 12% to $14.5 billion.
Financial stocks mixed as funds see largest four-week inflow since January 2022
Financial equity funds recorded their largest four-week inflow since January 2022, attracting $1.5 billion in the latest week and bringing cumulative inflows over the past four weeks to $8.8 billion, according to BofA Global Research citing EPFR data. The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF edged up 0.09% to $56.31, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.61% to 7,411.98 points. Among megacap gainers, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial rose 7.36% to $22.89 amid updates on Japan's $550 billion U.S. investment plan, and JPMorgan Chase added 3.55% to $353.21 after Deutsche Bank upgraded the stock to Buy. Crypto stocks surged, with Hut 8 jumping 20.27% to $109.99 after securing a second 15-year, $9.8 billion lease for 352 megawatts of IT capacity at its Beacon Point data center campus in Texas, and IREN gaining 10.26% to $37.07 after signing $2.8 billion in contracts and raising its 2026 annualized run-rate revenue target to over $4 billion. On the losing side, American Express fell 8.21% to $326.17 after second-quarter revenue missed estimates, MSCI dropped 12.39% to $550.79 on higher expense guidance, and HDFC Bank declined 11.94% to $23.23 following a profit miss.
S&P 500 Rises 0.6% at Midday on Easing Middle East Tensions
The S&P 500 rose 0.6% at midday Friday as oil prices retreated on reports of potential diplomatic progress in the Middle East. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, adding roughly 310 points, while the Nasdaq Composite edged 0.1% higher. Brent crude fell about 4% to near $95 per barrel after Reuters reported that Pakistan and China are exploring ways to broker new peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. American Express dropped 5.9%, shaving 120 points off the Dow, despite beating earnings estimates and raising full-year revenue guidance, as profit margins are expected to compress in the second half. Apple rose 2.5%, providing the biggest boost to all three major indexes, while SK Hynix fell 6.6% on reports it is reallocating some AI-oriented HBM manufacturing capacity to commodity DRAM production.
American Express says AI is speeding up tech work, with job cuts coming only through attrition
American Express CEO Steve Squeri said artificial intelligence is helping the company tackle its technology backlog faster, but any workforce reduction will happen gradually through attrition rather than direct layoffs. Speaking during the company's second-quarter earnings call, Squeri described AI's current impact as being in the 'preseason,' with deeper effects on product development and revenue still to come. Amex reported net income of $3.11 billion, up from $2.88 billion a year ago, with revenue rising to $19.64 billion from $17.8 billion. The company launched an AI-powered service portal for representatives and is using AI to speed marketing campaigns, while also supporting the Agent Payments Protocol alongside Google and PayPal to enable secure AI-driven transactions. Amex projected full-year revenue growth of 10% and affirmed profit guidance of $17.30 to $17.90 per share.
American Express Sinks 6% After Q2 Earnings Beat as Visa, Mastercard Hold Steady
American Express shares dropped 6% to $320.55 after the company reported second-quarter 2026 earnings that beat estimates but signaled reinvestment of the upside into growth rather than booking it to the bottom line. The company posted earnings per share of $4.53, above the $4.40 consensus, while revenue net of interest expense came in at $19.6 billion, just below estimates. Management raised full-year revenue growth guidance to 10% but held EPS guidance unchanged at $17.30 to $17.90, and disclosed a proposed acquisition of European restaurant booking platform TheFork. Visa and Mastercard shares held steady, confirming the move is company-specific rather than a broader payments-sector signal.
American Express lifts revenue growth guidance after stronger first-half performance
American Express raised its full-year 2026 revenue growth guidance to 10% after a stronger-than-expected first half. The company reported second-quarter earnings per share of $4.53, beating the consensus estimate of $4.40, while revenue net of interest expense rose 10% to $19.64 billion, slightly below analyst expectations of $19.69 billion. Net income increased 8% to $3.11 billion, and total billed business grew 9% to $455.8 billion. For the first six months of 2026, revenue climbed 11% to $38.54 billion and earnings per share reached $8.81. CEO Stephen Squeri said the company plans to reinvest the outperformance into growth initiatives, citing accelerating spend, growth in the US Consumer Platinum portfolio, and strong customer acquisition among Millennials and Gen Z consumers.
Intel, Oracle, and Amkor lead premarket movers on earnings and deal news
Several stocks made notable premarket moves following earnings reports and major agreements. Intel rallied 4% after posting its sharpest quarterly revenue growth in nearly 15 years, with Q2 revenue of $16.1 billion and adjusted earnings of 42 cents per share beating analyst expectations. Oracle rose nearly 3% after signing a 10-year, nearly $7 billion software agreement with the Pentagon for on-premises military use. Amkor Technology surged more than 11% on a multiyear $1.5 billion deal with Nvidia to develop advanced semiconductor packaging and testing for artificial intelligence. On the downside, American Express dipped 3% after missing revenue estimates with $19.64 billion versus the $19.71 billion consensus, while Deckers Outdoor slid 3% as Hoka and Ugg brand revenues fell short of Street expectations. Other movers included Tenet Healthcare jumping over 16% on a strong earnings beat, SAP gaining 5% on 27% cloud backlog growth to 22.9 billion euros, and MaxLinear tumbling more than 9% despite better-than-expected results, having been up over 400% in 2026 heading into the report.
59% of Berkshire Hathaway's Portfolio Sits in 5 Dow Stocks, With Apple as Top Pick
Nearly 59% of Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio is concentrated in five Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks, and Apple is the top pick among them right now. Apple makes up 21% of the portfolio, a position Warren Buffett began building in 2016, and the company has repurchased over $700 billion in stock since then. American Express accounts for 15%, a holding dating to the early 1990s that now yields hundreds of millions in annual dividends. Coca-Cola represents 9.3%, a Dividend King that has raised its payout for 64 consecutive years. Alphabet, at 8.6%, was initiated by Buffett last year and expanded by new CEO Greg Abel with over $20 billion in purchases, while Chevron rounds out the group at 4.5% as Berkshire has loaded up on energy stocks since the pandemic. Apple is favored for its patient AI strategy, potential to generate referral revenue and iCloud monetization as AI use grows on its devices, and its stock has risen nearly 21% this year, outperforming the broader market and many Magnificent Seven peers.
Verizon edges American Express on analyst safety ahead of July 24 earnings
Verizon Communications holds a cleaner analyst profile than American Express heading into their July 24 second-quarter reports, with zero Sell ratings versus one for American Express and a slightly higher implied upside to its AI model target. American Express trades at $348.74 with a 22 P/E, while Verizon trades near $44.29 at an 11 P/E. Verizon’s consensus target of $51.12 and AI model target of $49.99 imply 12.88% upside, just ahead of American Express’s 12.25% model upside, and Verizon has gained 8.7% year to date compared with a 5.7% decline for American Express. Polymarket gives American Express 88% odds of beating earnings and 74.5% odds of topping $19.5 billion in revenue, while Verizon’s beat probability is 85.5% with a 94% chance of exceeding $34.5 billion in operating revenue. For retirement investors, Verizon’s zero-Sell coverage and positive momentum make it the safer income play, though American Express’s 442% ten-year return and higher beat odds appeal to those with longer time horizons.
American Express and ALL Accor Launch Global Partnership with Elite Status Match and Points Transfer
American Express and ALL Accor announced a new global partnership rolling out in phases beginning in 2026 across 12 locations, introducing elite status matching and a Membership Rewards points transfer option for eligible Card Members. The partnership will launch in Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, covering Accor's portfolio of more than 45 brands including Raffles, Fairmont, and Sofitel. Eligible Card Members in Hong Kong can transfer Membership Rewards points at a rate of 25 Membership Rewards points to 1 ALL Accor Reward point, with a minimum transfer of 25,000 points in multiples of 12,500 points. American Express Platinum Card Members will be eligible to receive ALL Accor Gold status, which includes benefits such as free Wi-Fi, welcome amenities, late check-out, complimentary room upgrades subject to availability, and bonus ALL Accor points. The launch date for the Elite Status Match benefit in Hong Kong will be announced later.
American Express Expands Accor Rewards and Paymode B2B Partnerships
American Express has launched a global partnership with Accor's ALL loyalty program introducing points transfer and elite status matching, while separately working with Bottomline to integrate the Paymode network into its Business IQ for Payments platform. The Accor tie-up allows Membership Rewards to convert into ALL Accor points at a published 1,000-to-500 rate and adds elite status matching, giving frequent travelers a clearer link between card spend and on-property recognition. On the B2B side, connecting BIP customers to Bottomline's Paymode network through BIP Connect aims to digitize and streamline U.S. B2B transactions by folding more payables activity into American Express infrastructure with automated invoice reporting and premium ACH access. These moves put American Express at the intersection of travel loyalty and B2B payment infrastructure, potentially reinforcing its relevance in both consumer travel and enterprise payments.
KEO Capital Renews American Express Licensing Agreement in Mexico
KEO Capital has renewed its licensing agreement with American Express in Mexico. The renewed partnership authorizes both the U.S. Dollar and the Mexican Peso for all commercial Purchasing Cards issued under the program in Mexico, providing greater flexibility for transactions and international commerce. KEO Capital CEO Roberto Marchiori stated that the renewal reinforces the innovation and strength of the company's platform and the trust built over the years in Mexico. American Express Bank Partnerships Vice President Mario Luna added that the extension reflects a shared commitment to advancing B2B payment solutions and creating new opportunities for businesses across the market.
Q2 Earnings Season Accelerates with Alphabet, Tesla, and Intel Set to Report
The second-quarter earnings season shifts into a higher gear this week, with Alphabet headlining a busy slate of results that will test a stock market near record highs. Alphabet is the first of the so-called hyper-scalers to report, and investors will closely watch any changes to its capital spending plans amid booming AI investment. Other major companies set to report include Tesla, Intel, and American Express, while overall S&P 500 earnings are expected to rise 25.7% from a year ago, according to LSEG IBES data. The European Central Bank is likely to pause its policy rate on Thursday after hiking last month, with all focus on clues about a potential September hike. In sports, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to win the World Cup, benefiting Adidas, which sponsored both finalists, while Nike saw none of its 12 teams reach the final.
American Express declares $9,072.22 quarterly dividend per Series D preferred share
American Express declared a quarterly dividend of US$9,072.22 per Series D preferred share, equivalent to US$9.07222 per Depositary Share, while also launching a premium cardmember experience called The Summer EDITION and breaking ground on its new global headquarters tower at 2 World Trade Center. The company has joined the x402 Foundation to work on an AI-driven, open-source payment protocol, a move that intersects with the risk that low-cost digital alternatives could challenge traditional card networks. American Express's narrative projects $95.2 billion in revenue and $14.7 billion in earnings by 2029, requiring 11.4% yearly revenue growth and an earnings increase of about $3.6 billion from $11.1 billion. Some analysts are more cautious, estimating revenue near US$96.8 billion and earnings near US$14.2 billion by 2029, and warning that a pullback in airline and entertainment spending could weigh on future growth.
American Express raises Platinum card fee to $895 and joins x402 AI payment protocol
American Express has raised the annual fee on its Platinum card to $895 from $695, the first change to this premium product's pricing since 2021, and has joined Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe in backing the x402 Foundation, an AI-driven, open-source payment protocol initiative. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $9,072.22 per Series D preferred share, equivalent to $9.07222 per related Depositary Share, payable on September 15, 2026 to holders on September 1, 2026. These moves signal a focus on premium customers and payments infrastructure, with the higher card fee supporting recurring revenue and the x402 collaboration linking American Express to interoperable standards for AI-driven transactions. Investors may watch how card fee income, cardholder engagement, and competitor responses evolve as AI-based protocols and premium pricing gain visibility.
American Express Declares Quarterly Dividend on Series D Preferred Stock
American Express declared a quarterly dividend on its 3.550% Fixed Rate Reset Noncumulative Preferred Shares, Series D. The dividend is $9,072.22 per share, equivalent to $9.07222 per related Depositary Share. It is payable on September 15, 2026 to shareholders of record on September 1, 2026.
U.S. Bancorp lifts 2026 revenue outlook after BTIG deal and Amazon card win
U.S. Bancorp raised its 2026 net revenue growth guidance to between 7% and 9%, up from a prior range of 4% to 6%, driven by its acquisition of investment bank BTIG and a new credit card partnership with Amazon. The Minneapolis-based regional bank completed the roughly $1 billion BTIG purchase on June 1, and the unit generated a record $98 million in revenue that month, with a target of $200 million in quarterly contributions that would push capital markets past 10% of total revenue. The Amazon Business and Business Prime card handoff from American Express, set for mid-August, is expected to add $75 million in quarterly revenue. U.S. Bank also plans to increase annual branch spending by $100 million to $300 million to expand in high-growth markets such as Nashville, Phoenix, Provo, and Des Moines. The company reported second-quarter net income of $2.18 billion, up 20% from a year earlier, and a net charge-off ratio of 0.53%, down six basis points, with Chief Financial Officer John Stern saying he does not think problem loans have hit the bottom yet.
American Express Offers Retirement Investors a Compelling Setup Before July 24 Earnings
American Express shares are down 3.43% year-to-date despite 18% EPS growth in the first quarter, creating what some analysts see as a compelling entry point before the company reports second-quarter earnings on July 24. The stock traded around $359.94 on July 14, roughly 20 times forward earnings against management's reaffirmed fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $17.30 to $17.90. Amex hiked its dividend 16% to 95 cents per share quarterly starting in the first quarter of 2026 and returned $2.3 billion to shareholders in the first quarter through dividends and buybacks. The company's closed-loop network drives over 70% of new accounts into fee-paying products, fueling a 16% FX-adjusted increase in net card fees during the first quarter. Analysts maintain 14 buy ratings versus just one sell, with a consensus price target of $372.22 and a 24/7 Wall St. model target of $390.12.
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