American Express stock: EPS outlook rises after strong Q3

Published on 10/30/2026 at 16:00 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

American Express stock traded at EUR 287.50 on Lang & Schwarz at 15:43 CET on Friday, October 30. Management raised its 2026 EPS outlook after strong third-quarter spending.

What Strong Results Mean Next

American Express raised its full-year 2026 earnings outlook while keeping its 10 percent revenue-growth target.
Premium customer spending, card fees and credit quality supported the third quarter.
Management is pairing AI investment with restructuring and tighter operating efficiency.

American Express, US0258161092, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

American Express raised its full-year 2026 earnings outlook after a strong third quarter, while keeping its revenue-growth target unchanged. The company reported the update on Friday, October 23, in its third-quarter results release.

American Express stock traded at EUR 287.50 on Lang & Schwarz at 15:43 CET on Friday, October 30. That was 1.37 percent below EUR 291.50 in our report published on October 29 at 17:51.

Higher Earnings Outlook, Stronger Spending

Management lifted reported full-year diluted EPS guidance to USD 18.30 to USD 18.60 and set adjusted guidance at USD 17.60 to USD 17.90. Revenue growth guidance remained at 10 percent.

Third-quarter revenue reached USD 20.1 billion, up 9 percent year over year, while reported EPS rose to USD 5.42. Adjusted EPS came to USD 4.68. The adjusted figure excludes the effect of the Global Business Travel Group investment gain and restructuring-related costs.

Card-member spending remained a central growth driver. U.S. consumer spending rose 9.4 percent, travel and entertainment spending increased 10 percent, and the company said Platinum portfolio spend retention stood at 99 percent one year after the product refresh. Card fees grew 17 percent on an exchange-rate-adjusted basis, according to the American Express earnings-call transcript.

AI Investment Meets Restructuring

Chief Executive Stephen Squeri said American Express is applying AI across membership benefits, customer acquisition, engagement, payments and service. The company is also using the technology to support more personalized card-member experiences and trusted transactions through AI platforms.

At the same time, American Express recorded a USD 336 million restructuring charge. The program is expected to eliminate about 5 percent of global positions as the company streamlines management layers and creates capacity for technology and marketing investment.

For investors, the combination of premium spending, higher card fees and stable credit performance supports the raised outlook. Execution will now depend on sustaining customer engagement while controlling benefit costs, restructuring effects and investment intensity.

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