American Express (NYSE:AXP) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of 17.300-17.900 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 17.560. The company issued revenue guidance of $78.7 billion-$79.5 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $78.8 billion.

American Express Stock Performance

American Express stock opened at $314.83 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $314.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $344.38. American Express Company has a twelve month low of $257.21 and a twelve month high of $387.49. The company has a market capitalization of $215.91 billion, a PE ratio of 20.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68.

American Express (NYSE:AXP) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 23rd. The payment services company reported $4.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.01 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $14.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.60 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 33.49% and a net margin of 15.00%.American Express’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.64 EPS. American Express has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.300-17.900 EPS. Research analysts expect that American Express Company will post 17.53 EPS for the current year.

American Express Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 8th. Investors of record on Friday, April 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 2nd. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. This is an increase from American Express’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.82. American Express’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.69%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AXP has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $395.00 price objective on shares of American Express in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Truist Financial cut their target price on American Express from $400.00 to $360.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on American Express from $395.00 to $385.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Evercore set a $393.00 price objective on American Express in a report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group set a $328.00 price objective on American Express in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $361.05.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 8,134 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $346.73, for a total transaction of $2,820,301.82. Following the transaction, the insider owned 9,433 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,270,704.09. This represents a 46.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Denise Pickett sold 23,385 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.91, for a total transaction of $8,346,340.35. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 7,754 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,767,480.14. This represents a 75.10% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 73,944 shares of company stock worth $26,114,366. Company insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about American Express

Here are the key news stories impacting American Express this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results beat consensus — EPS of $4.28 and revenue beats driven by the strongest card‑member spending in three years; supports the premium‑customer thesis and explains upside potential. Reuters: Amex beats profit estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Management cites accelerating engagement from younger customers and AI initiatives that are helping spending and engagement trends — a structural tailwind for future revenue. PYMNTS: Amex leans on millennials and AI
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic marketing wins — the new NFL global payments partnership and commercial product expansion should boost premium-card engagement and fee revenue over time. Benzinga: Amex NFL deal
• Positive Sentiment: Bank of America raised its price target to $387 with a Buy rating, signaling upside from current levels and providing analyst support. Benzinga: BofA raises PT
• Neutral Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance set at $17.30–$17.90 (consensus ~$17.56) — reaffirmed range gives clarity but the midpoint is only roughly in line with Street expectations, leaving reactions dependent on marginal beats/misses. AMEX press release / slide deck
• Negative Sentiment: Investors sold into the beat as management signaled higher planned expenses and a cautious tone amid Middle East tensions — geopolitics and rising costs trimmed the stock’s reaction. TheStreet: Why Amex fell
• Negative Sentiment: BTIG reaffirmed a Sell rating with a $285 target, adding downside pressure from lower‑end analyst views. Benzinga: BTIG reaffirms sell
• Negative Sentiment: Earlier JPMorgan cut its price target on macro concerns — the mixed analyst landscape (raises and cuts) keeps volatility likely near term. InsiderMonkey: JPMorgan PT cut context

Institutional Investors Weigh In On American Express

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in shares of American Express by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Invenio Wealth Partners LLC now owns 776 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $258,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the last quarter. Graney & King LLC grew its holdings in American Express by 12.7% in the second quarter. Graney & King LLC now owns 292 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $93,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of American Express by 0.3% during the third quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,184 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $3,383,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Vista Investment Management lifted its holdings in shares of American Express by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Vista Investment Management now owns 1,003 shares of the payment services company’s stock valued at $371,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tradewinds LLC. boosted its position in shares of American Express by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Tradewinds LLC. now owns 1,048 shares of the payment services company’s stock worth $388,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the company’s stock.

About American Express

American Express is a global financial services company primarily known for its payment card products, travel services and merchant network. Founded in 1850 as an express mail business, the company evolved through the 20th century into a payments and travel-focused organization. Its core activities include issuing consumer and commercial charge and credit cards, operating a global card acceptance and processing network, and providing travel-related services and customer loyalty programs.

American Express issues a range of products for individuals, small businesses and large corporations, including personal cards, business and corporate cards, and co‑brand partnerships with airlines, hotels and retailers.