American Express reported record Q3 2026 quarterly revenues of $20 billion with 10% full-year revenue growth target. The company is restructuring to eliminate 5% of global positions ($336M charge), integrating membership rewards into AI tools, and focusing on premium creditworthy customers. A new partnership with Airbnb adds over 1 million listings to Amex Travel, positioning the company for sustained mid-teen EPS growth.
AXP
American Express Company · NYSE
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20 latestAmerican Express reported Q3 2026 adjusted EPS of $4.68, beating estimates by 4.7% with 13% year-over-year growth. Total revenues grew 9% to $20.1 billion, driven by increased Card Member spending, higher net interest income, and improved card fees. The company raised its 2026 GAAP EPS guidance to $18.30-$18.60 and reaffirmed 10% revenue growth expectations.
Stock futures declined in pre-market trading as Meta's AI infrastructure concerns spooked markets, affecting tech and industrial stocks. Oil prices surged above $100/bbl amid U.S.-Israel plans against Iran.
American Express beat earnings expectations but missed on revenue, while SLB Corp. outperformed estimates. Economic data shows weakening consumer sentiment with PMI and University of Michigan surveys expected to decline.
Pre-market futures declined on October 23, 2026, following a -2.6% Nasdaq drop on Thursday amid concerns about AI infrastructure investment viability. American Express beat earnings estimates but missed on revenue and fell in pre-market trading, while SLB Corp. beat both earnings and revenue expectations and gained ahead of the opening bell. Economic data expected later include flash PMI reports and University of Michigan Consumer Survey, with oil prices elevated due to geopolitical tensions.
American Express reported Q3 2026 earnings of $4.68 per share, beating consensus estimates of $4.47, but revenues slightly missed expectations at $20.06 billion. The stock has underperformed the S&P 500 by 24.1% year-to-date. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating and the Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry in the bottom 28% of rankings, the stock is expected to perform in line with the market.
In a comparison of two Financial - Miscellaneous Services sector stocks, Virtu Financial (VIRT) emerges as the more attractive option for value investors compared to American Express (AXP). VIRT holds a stronger Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) versus AXP's #3 (Hold), and demonstrates superior valuation metrics including a lower forward P/E ratio of 7.89 versus 17.93, a lower PEG ratio of 0.37 versus 1.35, and a lower P/B ratio of 3.77 versus 6.23. VIRT received a Value grade of B compared to AXP's C grade.
The article compares American Express and Mastercard as investment options for 2026. American Express operates a closed-loop system as both lender and network processor with premium positioning but faces credit risk and customer concentration.
Mastercard functions as a pure-play technology network with global scale, higher margins, and no direct credit risk, but commands a premium valuation. The author recommends Mastercard as the better buy despite American Express's more attractive valuation, citing Mastercard's superior long-term performance and lower risk profile.
Berkshire Hathaway has collected $479 million in dividends from American Express in 2025, from an initial investment of $1.3 billion made over multiple years ending in 1995. The company now owns 22% of American Express with a market value of $56 billion. American Express has consistently grown its dividend payouts over time, demonstrating the power of long-term dividend investing.
American Express is expected to report Q3 2026 earnings of $4.47 per share with 9.3% revenue growth to $20.13 billion, driven by strong network volumes, expanding card adoption, and 11% net interest income growth. However, rising customer engagement costs, elevated credit provisions, and premium valuation relative to the industry may limit near-term upside. The stock has an Earnings ESP of -0.17% and Zacks Rank #3, suggesting no conclusive earnings beat prediction.
American Express is expected to report Q3 2026 earnings of $4.47 per share (up 8% YoY) with revenues of $20.13 billion (up 9.3% YoY) on October 23. However, the company's Earnings ESP of -0.17% combined with a Zacks Rank #3 makes it difficult to predict an earnings beat.
While AXP has beaten estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, recent analyst revisions have turned slightly bearish. Blackstone Inc. is also highlighted as a comparison, with negative earnings expectations.
Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has maintained the company's portfolio concentration strategy with over 45% ($160.6 billion) of invested assets in three major holdings: Apple ($76.73 billion), American Express ($46.72 billion), and Alphabet ($37.17 billion). While Buffett sold 75% of Apple before retirement, Abel views it as a long-term compounder. Abel has significantly increased Berkshire's Alphabet stake, tripling it in Q1 and adding $17 billion in Q2, attracted by Google's search dominance and AI ambitions in Google Cloud.
American Express introduced Intent Intelligence, a new framework that authenticates customer purchase instructions and spending limits for AI agents. Using Intent IDs and Proof of Intent Tokens, the system aims to enhance fraud prevention and streamline transactions. While competitors Mastercard and Visa are developing similar initiatives, AXP's dual role as card issuer and payment network provides competitive advantages, though commercial benefits remain uncertain.
Eli Lilly, Tractor Supply Company, and American Express have each doubled their dividend payouts over the past five years. Despite varying yields and current market challenges, all three stocks maintain modest payout ratios, suggesting room for continued dividend growth. These companies represent attractive long-term investments for dividend-focused investors seeking both income and capital appreciation.
Zacks analysts reviewed three major stocks: Oracle faces headwinds from negative free cash flow and intense cloud competition but benefits from AI demand; American Express shows strong revenue growth and customer acquisition despite rising expenses; Progressive gains modestly but faces valuation concerns and margin pressures from normalizing auto pricing.
Greg Abel, nine months into his tenure as Berkshire Hathaway CEO, is reshaping the company's $350 billion equities portfolio. He has designated Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Moody's as core holdings with limited activity expected.
Meanwhile, Abel has significantly increased positions in Alphabet (now 10.6% of portfolio), initiated new stakes in Delta Airlines, and increased exposure to housing through Lennar. Energy holdings like Chevron and Occidental Petroleum remain uncommitted, while Bank of America has been slightly trimmed. Abel has also resumed share repurchases after years of pause.
American Express (AXP) closed at $311.53, up 1.09% on the day but down 5.09% over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500's gains. The company is expected to report Q3 2026 earnings of $4.5 per share on October 23, representing 8.7% year-over-year growth, with full-year earnings projected at $17.67 per share (+14.89%). AXP currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating with a Forward P/E of 17.44, trading at a premium to its industry average.
Zacks analysts published research on 16 major stocks on October 12, 2026. Oracle faces headwinds from negative free cash flow and intense cloud competition but benefits from AI demand.
American Express shows strong spending and customer acquisition despite rising expenses. Progressive maintains a neutral stance due to normalizing auto pricing and valuation concerns. Additional coverage includes Western Midstream, BrightSpring Health, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories.
The article examines Warren Buffett's long-term investment strategy through four dividend stocks: Coca-Cola ($1,000 invested in 1989 worth ~$43,000 with dividend reinvestment), American Express ($1,000 in 1995 worth ~$54,560 with reinvestment), Bank of America ($1,000 in 2018 worth ~$2,220 with reinvestment), and Chevron ($1,000 in 2021 worth ~$3,185 with reinvestment). The analysis demonstrates that Buffett's buy-and-hold approach to well-run businesses at attractive prices has generated substantial returns, with longer-held positions significantly outperforming the S&P 500.
American Express has been a trending stock on Zacks.com. The stock has declined 5.5% over the past month, underperforming the S&P 500's +1.4% gain.
The company shows solid earnings growth expectations (+14.9% for fiscal year) and consistent revenue growth (+10% current year), with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating. The stock is valued at par with peers and has a history of beating consensus estimates.
American Express stock has declined nearly 20% from July's peak amid concerns about rising costs and economic health. However, the article argues this represents a buying opportunity, noting the company maintains consistent long-term growth with 10% revenue growth and 12.4% earnings growth expected. Based on historical performance patterns, the stock could reach approximately $540 by 2031, representing ~12% annual gains from current levels.
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