American Express Lifts 2026 Revenue Growth Target to 10% After a Strong Second Quarter
AXP sits 21% above its 52-week low of $288.34.
Summary
American Express reported Q2 2026 revenue of $19.6B (+10% YoY) and EPS of $4.53 (+11%), raised full‑year revenue growth guidance to 10%, and maintained EPS guidance of $17.30–$17.90. Card Member spending growth hit a three‑year high of 9%, and credit metrics remained stable.
Key Events · Earnings and Guidance · AXP
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Q2 Revenue +10%, EPS $4.53
Total revenues net of interest expense reached $19.6 billion, up 10% year‑over‑year. Diluted EPS of $4.53 rose 11%, driven by higher Card Member spending and net interest income.
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Full‑Year Revenue Guidance Raised to 10%
Management increased its 2026 revenue growth guidance to 10% (from prior implied ~8‑9%) and reaffirmed EPS guidance of $17.30–$17.90, citing better‑than‑expected first‑half performance.
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Card Member Spending Accelerates to 9%
Billed business grew 9% on an FX‑adjusted basis — the fastest rate in three years — fueled by the U.S. Platinum refresh and strong spending from Millennial and Gen‑Z customers.
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Credit Quality Stable with Reserve Release
Consolidated provisions for credit losses fell to $1.1 billion from $1.4 billion a year ago, reflecting a reserve release versus a prior‑year build. The net write‑off rate held steady at 2.0%.
Analysis · AXP · Finance
American Express delivered a beat-and-raise quarter: Q2 revenue grew 10% to $19.6 billion, EPS of $4.53 topped expectations, and management lifted its full-year revenue growth target to 10% while reaffirming EPS guidance of $17.30–$17.90. Card Member spending accelerated to 9% — the fastest pace in three years — driven by the refreshed Platinum portfolio and strong Millennial/Gen‑Z acquisition. Credit quality improved with a reserve release and a stable 2.0% net write‑off rate. The company plans to reinvest the outperformance into growth initiatives, signaling confidence in sustained momentum. For a $233 billion market‑cap financial giant, a guidance raise of this magnitude is a material positive signal that the premium‑consumer strategy is working and that credit headwinds are manageable.
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At the time of this filing, AXP was trading at $347.78 on NYSE in the Finance sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $232.6B. The 52-week trading range was $288.34 to $387.49. This filing was assessed with positive market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10.