American Express Q4 2020 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
American Express reported a net income of $1.4 billion, or $1.76 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $1.7 billion, or $2.03 per share, the previous year. The company's revenue was $9.4 billion, a decrease of 18 percent from the prior year. Card Member spending has continued to recover, and non-travel and entertainment spend exceeded pre-COVID levels for the second consecutive quarter.
Card Member spending has continued to recover.
Non-travel and entertainment spend exceeded pre-COVID levels for the second consecutive quarter.
Disciplined approach to risk management enabled the company to maintain best-in-class credit performance.
The company continued to expand its merchant network.
American Express
American Express
Forward Guidance
While we remain cautious about the pace of recovery, we are focused on achieving our aspiration of being back to the original EPS expectations we had for 2020 in 2022, and for the company to be positioned to execute on its financial growth algorithm.
Positive Outlook
- Continuing to enhance value propositions and refreshing premium products in our card businesses.
- Scaling cash flow and supplier payment solutions in our commercial business.
- Continuing to increase merchant coverage globally.
- Investing heavily in new and expanded digital capabilities across our businesses.
Challenges Ahead
- Managing through the effects of the pandemic.
- Uncertainty regarding the continued spread of COVID-19 (including new variants) and severity of the pandemic and the availability and widespread use of effective treatments and vaccines.
- A further deterioration in global economic and business conditions.
- Consumer and business spending not growing in line with expectations, including T&E spending not rebounding to 2019 levels by the end of 2021.
- An inability or unwillingness of Card Members to pay amounts owed to the company.