Reopening economy will push Amex higher

Article Excerpt

American Express fell to $67 in March 2020 but has since soared back on expectations the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will spur vacation and entertainment spending. The company will also continue to benefit as more people shop online. What’s more, its focus on affluent clients cuts your risk. AMERICAN EXPRESS CO. $138 is a buy. The company (New York symbol AXP, Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 805.6 million; Market cap: $111.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.6; Dividend yield: 1.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.americanexpress.com) was once best known for its travelers cheques and travel-related services. Today, it’s now one of the world’s largest issuers of payment cards. Amex issues two types of cards: traditional credit cards, which let users carry a balance; and charge cards, which have no pre-set spending limit although cardholders must pay off their balances each month. In 2020, U.S. clients accounted for 77% of its revenue, and 74% of its earnings. The company’s revenue rose 22.9%, from $35.44 billion in 2016 to…