NYSE$AXP
American Express CO · Q1 2021 earnings
Q1 2021 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
American Express reported first-quarter revenue of $9.1 billion and earnings per share of $2.74.
American Express reported a first-quarter net income of $2.2 billion, or $2.74 per share, compared to $367 million, or $0.41 per share, the previous year. The results included a $1.05 billion credit reserve release.
- Card member spending excluding travel and entertainment categories was 11 percent higher on an FX-adjusted basis than it was in the first quarter of 2019.
- The company added 2.1 million new proprietary cards during the quarter.
- The rollout of the Kabbage digital platform to small business customers began.
- More than 14 million merchants have been added to the network through the joint venture in China.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
American Express · Revenue · Quarterly
$9.06B
Revenue by segment
American Express · $13.5B total across 3 segments · Q3 2023
- U.S. Consumer$7.2B+16.1%53.3%
- Commercial$3.7B+5.7%27.4%
- International Cards$2.6B+13.0%19.3%
Forward guidance
American Express views 2021 as a transition year, focused on investments to rebuild growth momentum, with the aspiration of returning to the original EPS expectations for 2020 in 2022.
Tailwinds
- Continued improvements in the core business.
- Best-in-class credit performance.
- Progress in rebuilding growth momentum.
- Uptick across all categories of travel and entertainment spending in the U.S.
- Confident in roadmap to achieve original EPS expectations for 2020 in 2022.
Headwinds
- Uncertainty regarding the continued spread of COVID-19 and severity of the pandemic.
- Potential deterioration in global economic and business conditions.
- Consumer and business spending not growing in line with expectations.
- Inability of Card Members to pay amounts owed to the company.
- Prolonged measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Historical earnings impact
How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.
Avg. return before/after earnings
Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q1 2021
+0.1%
Avg return
Earnings day
+1.0%
Avg return
5 days after
+3.3%
Avg return
30 days after
45%
33 / 73 earnings
Positive
+11.2%
Q3 2016
Best reaction
-12.6%
Q4 2015
Worst reaction
| Quarter | Report date | Reaction (Day 0) | +5 days | +30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | -3.8% | -5.1% | -6.3% | |
| Q4 2025 | -1.1% | -1.3% | -13.8% | |
| Q3 2025 | +7.2% | +8.9% | +10.5% | |
| Q2 2025 | +0.3% | -0.3% | +6.0% | |
| Q1 2025 | -0.6% | -0.2% | +18.5% | |
| Q4 2024 | -1.4% | -3.3% | -9.4% | |
| Q3 2024 | -5.3% | -5.1% | +0.4% | |
| Q2 2024 | -1.8% | -3.3% | +1.0% | |
| Q1 2024 | +7.1% | +9.9% | +11.6% | |
| Q4 2023 | +6.8% | +6.7% | +14.1% | |
| Q3 2023 | -3.4% | -4.1% | +8.6% | |
| Q2 2023 | -5.3% | -5.3% | -9.5% | |
| Q1 2023 | -0.7% | -5.4% | -7.3% | |
| Q4 2022 | +10.8% | +11.4% | +11.8% | |
| Q3 2022 | -0.6% | +3.1% | +7.1% | |
| Q2 2022 | +2.4% | +1.0% | +8.0% | |
| Q1 2022 | -0.9% | -4.4% | -17.5% | |
| Q4 2021 | +10.3% | +11.4% | +18.5% | |
| Q3 2021 | +2.7% | +0.3% | -2.2% | |
| Q2 2021 | +1.0% | -0.5% | -6.5% | |
| Q1 2021 | +2.2% | +3.7% | +6.6% | |
| Q4 2020 | -5.8% | -4.0% | +13.1% | |
| Q3 2020 | -7.5% | -12.6% | +7.4% | |
| Q2 2020 | -0.9% | +0.0% | -0.5% | |
| Q1 2020 | +3.2% | +16.6% | +8.3% | |
| Q4 2019 | -0.6% | +0.2% | +2.7% | |
| Q3 2019 | -0.0% | -2.2% | +1.4% | |
| Q2 2019 | -1.9% | -0.4% | -2.9% | |
| Q1 2019 | +0.5% | +2.0% | +6.5% | |
| Q4 2018 | +1.1% | +0.4% | +8.0% | |
| Q3 2018 | +2.3% | +0.0% | +4.9% | |
| Q2 2018 | -1.0% | +0.1% | +1.9% | |
| Q1 2018 | +9.1% | +7.2% | +7.6% | |
| Q4 2017 | -2.7% | -2.8% | -3.9% | |
| Q3 2017 | +0.2% | +0.8% | +2.2% | |
| Q2 2017 | -0.2% | -0.6% | -0.2% | |
| Q1 2017 | +5.6% | +6.1% | +1.3% | |
| Q4 2016 | -1.7% | -0.1% | +2.9% | |
| Q3 2016 | +11.2% | +11.7% | +18.2% | |
| Q2 2016 | -1.1% | +0.3% | +2.1% | |
| Q1 2016 | +3.2% | — | — | |
| Q4 2015 | -12.6% | — | — | |
| Q3 2015 | -5.8% | — | — | |
| Q2 2015 | -2.5% | — | — | |
| Q1 2015 | -3.0% | — | — | |
| Q4 2014 | -3.3% | — | — | |
| Q3 2014 | -3.0% | — | — | |
| Q2 2014 | -1.0% | — | — | |
| Q1 2014 | +0.2% | — | — | |
| Q4 2013 | +3.1% | — | — | |
| Q3 2013 | +6.6% | — | — | |
| Q2 2013 | -5.4% | — | — | |
| Q1 2013 | +0.7% | — | — | |
| Q4 2012 | +1.6% | — | — | |
| Q3 2012 | -1.7% | — | — | |
| Q2 2012 | -4.2% | — | — | |
| Q1 2012 | -1.0% | — | — | |
| Q4 2011 | +2.9% | — | — | |
| Q3 2011 | +5.5% | — | — | |
| Q2 2011 | -3.5% | — | — | |
| Q1 2011 | -1.2% | — | — | |
| Q4 2010 | -0.9% | — | — | |
| Q3 2010 | +3.2% | — | — | |
| Q2 2010 | -1.4% | — | — | |
| Q1 2009 | -7.3% | — | — | |
| Q1 2010 | +1.0% | — | — | |
| Q4 2009 | +0.2% | — | — | |
| Q3 2009 | -2.1% | — | — | |
| Q3 2008 | -2.1% | — | — | |
| Q4 2007 | +1.5% | — | — | |
| Q2 2008 | +1.5% | — | — | |
| Q2 2009 | +1.5% | — | — | |
| Q4 2008 | +1.5% | — | — |
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