A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
American Express’s fourth quarter was marked by a negative market reaction, as the company’s revenue and non-GAAP profit both fell short of Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the results to a deliberate shift in marketing investments toward premium products, especially the U.S. platinum card, and ongoing product refreshes across global markets. CEO Stephen Squeri emphasized that card fee growth and customer engagement remained strong, noting, “Customer demand is high, engagement is up, credit quality continues to be excellent.” Management also pointed to high retention rates and robust credit performance, despite competitive pressures and a slight sequential decline in net cards acquired.
Global payments company American Express (NYSE:AXP) missed Wall Street’s revenue expectations in Q4 CY2025, but sales rose 10.6% year on year to $17.57 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $3.53 per share was 0.7% below analysts’ consensus estimates.
Since February 2021, the S&P 500 has delivered a total return of 76.3%. But one standout stock has more than doubled the market - over the past five years, American Express has surged 173% to $354.25 per share. Its momentum hasn’t stopped as it’s also gained 16.8% in the last six months, beating the S&P by 9.1%.
The financial services landscape of February 2026 has been defined by a ruthless "survival of the smartest," as the era of the fintech unicorn has officially given way to the era of the vertically integrated mega-bank. Driven by a persistent valuation reset and the desperate need for advanced artificial intelligence
In a move that definitively reshapes the American financial landscape, Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE: COF) has announced the acquisition of fintech unicorn Brex for $5.15 billion. The deal, finalized on January 22, 2026, marks the second massive tectonic shift for the McLean-based bank in less than a year,
The American economy finds itself balanced on a precarious ledge as of early 2026. New data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reveals that total U.S. household debt has surged to a staggering $18.8 trillion, a record high that reflects the growing reliance of American families
A cash-heavy balance sheet is often a sign of strength, but not always.
Some companies avoid debt because they have weak business models, limited expansion opportunities, or inconsistent cash flow.
Earnings results often indicate what direction a company will take in the months ahead. With Q4 behind us, let’s have a look at Mastercard (NYSE:MA) and its peers.
Evercore ISI Group analyst John Pancari maintained an In-Line rating on American Express (NYSE: AXP).Pancari lowered his price target to $393 from $400.
