NYSE$AXP
American Express CO · Q2 2021 earnings
Q2 2021 earnings · · Investor relations
Briefing
American Express reported strong second-quarter results driven by increased Card Member spending and strategic investments.
American Express reported a strong second quarter with net income of $2.3 billion, or $2.80 per share, compared to $257 million, or $0.29 per share, a year ago. The results reflected the impact of credit reserve releases driven by strong credit performance and improvements in the macroeconomic outlook. Card Member spending accelerated and exceeded pre-pandemic levels in June.
- Second-quarter revenue reached $10.2 billion, a 33% increase from the previous year.
- Earnings per share (EPS) was reported at $2.80, significantly higher than the $0.29 reported in the same quarter last year.
- The company acquired 2.4 million new proprietary cards during the quarter, with retention rates above pre-pandemic levels.
- Card Member spending exceeded pre-pandemic levels in June, with growth driven by Millennial, Gen Z, and small business customers.
Headline financials
Revenue & EPS history
American Express · Revenue · Quarterly
$10.2B
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 is optimistic about continued momentum, particularly in the U.S., and expects to be within the high end of its 2020 EPS expectations in 2022.
Tailwinds
- Strong core business performance in the U.S.
- Momentum expected to continue.
- Confidence in achieving high end of 2020 EPS expectations in 2022.
- Demand for premium, fee-based products remains robust.
- Continued investment in innovation and customer offerings.
Headwinds
- Uneven pace of recovery in different regions around the world.
- Uncertainty regarding the continued spread of COVID-19 and new variants.
- Potential for further deterioration in global economic and business conditions.
- Risk of consumer and business spending not growing as expected.
- Possible impact of 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 Q2 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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