American Express Hits Record Revenues in Q3 2026: Strong Performance Drives Guidance Uptick
The American Express Company has reported a strong performance in its Q3 2026 earnings, with record revenues of $20 billion, up 9% from the same period last year. The company's Chairman and CEO, Steve Squeri, highlighted the success in a call with investors, stating that the quarter "had another strong quarter" and reaffirming revenue growth guidance of 10%.
In addition to the strong revenue growth, American Express also reported earnings per share (EPS) of $5.42 on a reported basis, with an adjusted EPS of $4.68. The company raised its EPS guidance for the year, citing a number of discrete items in the quarter's results, including the impact of the Global Business Travel transaction and an expense related to legal matters.
One notable item from the quarter was the use of some of the gain from the Global Business Travel transaction to position the company for long-term growth. This included investments in marketing and technology, as well as a restructuring charge of $336 million, which is expected to result in the elimination of approximately 5% of the company's positions globally.
According to Squeri, the company has good momentum but needed to become a more agile and efficient organization to accelerate innovation and win over the next few years. This exercise will help the company operate and execute more effectively and give it greater capacity to invest in its business priorities.
American Express also highlighted the value of its membership model, with Squeri noting that the company is continuing to invest in this area to enhance its value to card members. The latest example of this was yesterday's announcement of an exclusive partnership with Airbnb, which brings over 1 million listings globally into the Amex Travel program.
In addition to these highlights, American Express also discussed the use of AI and the rise of AI assistance in the company. Squeri noted that the company is using AI to increase productivity, automate processes, and make its organization more efficient.
