American Express Company

American Express posted a confident start to 2026, with first-quarter earnings per share of $4.28 beating the $3.99 consensus estimate by 7.24%, as net income climbed 15% to $2.97 billion and revenue reached $18.91 billion, edging past the $18.61 billion estimate by 1.61%. The headline revenue figure was essentially flat year-over-year at -0.1% on a reported basis, but the filing context tells a richer story: billed business of $428.00 billion, up 10% from $387.40 billion a year ago, drove higher Card Member spending, net interest income, and card fee growth simultaneously, giving all three revenue pillars a meaningful lift in the quarter. Share repurchases provided additional EPS momentum, with average diluted shares falling to 686 million from 702 million. The company's recent push into AI-driven commercial tools, including its acquisition of expense management startup Hypercard, adds a longer-term dimension to the growth narrative. Management reaffirmed full-year 2026 guidance for 9% to 10% revenue growth and EPS of $17.30 to $17.90, signaling measured confidence heading into a still-uncertain macro environment.