On Friday, Citi maintained its Neutral rating on shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) with a steady price target of $250.00. American Express exhibited a deceleration in billing growth to 5% this quarter, down from 6% in the previous quarter, predominantly due to weaker travel and entertainment spending trends.
Despite the top-line pressure, the company's effective management of expenses was noted, with the variable customer engagement (VCE) ratio remaining unchanged at 41% from the first quarter. This allowed the core pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) to align with Citi's projections and slightly exceed the consensus.
The management at American Express reaffirmed their commitment to achieving their full-year revenue growth and earnings per share (EPS) targets, excluding gains from the Accertify transaction.
According to Citi's analysis, the guidance for revenue growth suggests that current trends need to remain stable to meet the lower end of the forecast. However, the firm expressed confidence in the company's capacity to balance a softer revenue trajectory through strategic expense management and to meet the EPS goals.
Citi anticipates that the shares of American Express might experience some weakness due to the subdued top-line results. This outlook is based on the observed softer spend growth trends and the need for revenue and earnings to stay on track to meet the company's financial targets for the year. The company's ability to keep the VCE ratio flat despite these challenges was highlighted as a key factor in achieving the projected core PPNR figures.
The financial institution's confidence in the management's ability to adjust to changing conditions was underscored, suggesting that effective cost control measures could counterbalance the impact of the lower spend growth on overall performance. Citi's assessment points to a cautious but stable outlook for American Express, with the current price target reflecting this stance.
In other recent news, American Express reported a significant leap in second-quarter earnings, surpassing analyst expectations. The company's profit rose to $3.02 billion, or $4.15 per share, a 39% increase from the same period last year. After adjusting for a one-time gain, earnings were $3.49 per share, exceeding the $3.24 per share forecast by analysts.
American Express has recently acquired the restaurant-booking platform Tock from Squarespace for $400 million, aiming to expand its presence in the dining industry. Analysts view this acquisition as a strategic move to strengthen the company's position in the small-and-medium-enterprise (SME) market.
Jefferies has updated their assessment of American Express, raising the price target to $235 from $225, while maintaining a Hold rating on the stock. The firm estimates American Express will report total revenues net of interest expense at $16.5 billion, marking a 9.8% year-over-year increase. Non-interest revenues are anticipated to rise by 6% year-over-year to $12.7 billion.
Barclays (LON:BARC) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) maintained Equalweight and Overweight ratings respectively, while Citi initiated coverage with a Neutral rating, setting a price target of $250.00 per share. These recent developments provide valuable insights for investors.
InvestingPro Insights
As American Express navigates through a period of decelerated billing growth, real-time data from InvestingPro paints a broader picture of its financial health. With a market capitalization of $172.48 billion and a P/E ratio standing at 20.38, American Express is trading at a valuation that reflects its status as a prominent player in the Consumer Finance industry.
The company's P/E ratio has adjusted slightly to 19.81 over the last twelve months as of Q1 2024, which, when paired with a PEG ratio of 0.73, indicates that it's trading at a low price-to-earnings ratio relative to near-term earnings growth. This suggests a potentially attractive valuation for investors considering the company's growth prospects.
InvestingPro Tips also highlight that American Express has maintained dividend payments for 54 consecutive years, reflecting a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders. Additionally, with liquid assets exceeding short-term obligations, the company appears well-positioned to maintain its financial stability and meet its obligations, which is particularly reassuring given the current macroeconomic environment.
For investors looking for more in-depth analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available that could further inform investment decisions. And for those interested in subscribing, use coupon code PRONEWS24 to get up to 10% off a yearly Pro and a yearly or biyearly Pro+ subscription to gain access to these valuable insights.
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