TIDMAMX 
 
 

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) today reported third-quarter net income of $1.3 billion, down 14 percent from $1.5 billion a year ago. Diluted earnings per share was $1.24, down 11 percent from $1.40 a year ago.

 
                (Millions, except percentages and per share amounts) 
                  Quarters Ended        Percentage  Nine Months Ended        Percentage 
                  September 30,         Inc/(Dec)   September 30,            Inc/(Dec) 
                    2015       2014                   2015        2014 
Total             $ 8,193    $ 8,303    (1%)        $ 24,427    $ 25,107     (3%) 
Revenues 
Net of 
Interest 
Expense 
Net               $ 1,266    $ 1,477    (14%)       $ 4,264     $ 4,438      (4%) 
Income 
Earnings 
Per 
Common 
Share 
- 
Diluted: 
Net               $ 1.24     $ 1.40     (11%)       $ 4.15      $ 4.17       (0%) 
Income 
Attributable 
to 
Common 
Shareholders1 
Average             997        1,047    (5%)          1,011       1,057      (4%) 
Diluted 
Common 
Shares 
Outstanding 
Return              26.8  %    28.8  %                26.8   %    28.8   % 
on 
Average 
Equity 
 
 

Results for the quarter were significantly affected by higher spending on growth initiatives, earlier changes to certain renewed co-brand partnerships, and the stronger U.S. dollar.

 

Consolidated total revenues net of interest expense was $8.2 billion, down 1 percent from $8.3 billion a year ago. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, adjusted revenues rose 3 percent.2 The increase primarily reflected continued growth in the loan portfolio and modestly higher Card Member spending.

 

Consolidated provisions for losses totaled $529 million, up 8 percent from $488 million a year ago, reflecting an addition to reserves in the current year compared to a reserve release a year ago.

 

Consolidated expenses totaled $5.7 billion, up 3 percent from $5.6 billion a year ago. On an FX-adjusted basis, consolidated expenses rose 7 percent, reflecting higher spending on growth initiatives, primarily for marketing and technology development.2 The increase was also driven by higher rewards and Card Member services costs due to higher Card Member spending volumes and the impact of certain previously renewed co-brand partnerships.

 

The effective tax rate was 35 percent, compared to 34 percent a year ago.

 

The company's return on average equity (ROE) was 26.8 percent, down from 28.8 percent a year ago.

 

"While overall results were in line with our 2015 financial outlook, the quarter reflected the headwinds and challenges that we have been dealing with throughout this year," said Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer. "Reported revenue and billed business levels were suppressed by a stronger U.S. dollar. In addition, the renewals and changes that we made earlier this year to some co-brand relationships also entailed some significant incremental expenses this quarter.

 

"Against the backdrop of a challenging environment and an uneven global economy, we continued to move forward with initiatives to build our business for the years ahead. With our Costco relationship set to end in the U.S. next year, we're investing substantially more in marketing, incentives and technology to attract a range of new Card Members and additional spending across our network. We're expanding card acceptance at an accelerated pace among smaller merchants and also added Sam's Club, the eighth largest retailer in the U.S., to our network earlier this month. We're broadening our relationships with Card Members to accommodate more of their borrowing needs, and our loan portfolio continued its steady growth this quarter.

 

"The flexibility to invest in these and other growth initiatives comes in part from our ongoing progress in containing operating expenses throughout the company. We also continue to benefit from a strong balance sheet that allows us to return a substantial portion of our earnings to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.

 

"We continue to expect quarterly earnings performance to be more uneven than it has been historically as we move forward on initiatives to help ensure our organization is in position to return to growth and deliver on the multi-year financial outlook that we first shared in February of this year. Throughout this year, we have said that our full year 2015 outlook was for EPS to be flat to modestly down versus the prior year. Barring any contingencies, we now expect our full year 2015 EPS to be between $5.20 and $5.35. We believe our outlook to return to positive earnings per share growth in 2016 and within our target range of 12 to 15 percent in 2017 remains appropriate."

 

Segment Results

 

U.S. Card Services reported third-quarter net income of $794 million, down 11 percent from $889 million a year ago.

 

Total revenues net of interest expense increased 5 percent to $4.7 billion, from $4.5 billion a year ago. The rise reflected higher net interest income from growth in the loan portfolio and an increase in Card Member spending.

 

Provisions for losses totaled $390 million, up 23 percent from $316 million a year ago. The increase reflected an addition to reserves in the current year compared to a reserve release a year ago.

 

Total expenses increased 11 percent to $3.1 billion from $2.8 billion a year ago. The rise reflected in part higher spending on growth initiatives, primarily within marketing and promotion and technology development. The increase was also driven by higher rewards and services costs due to higher Card Member spending volumes and the impact of certain previously renewed co-brand partnerships.

 

The effective tax rate for the quarter remained unchanged from a year ago at 37 percent.

 

International Card Services reported third-quarter net income of $89 million, down 37 percent from $142 million a year ago. The decline largely reflected a significant impact from a stronger U.S. dollar.

 

Total revenues net of interest expense were $1.2 billion, down 11 percent from $1.4 billion a year ago. On an FX-adjusted basis, revenues rose 4 percent, reflecting in part higher net card fees and an increase in revenues from the Loyalty Partner business.2

 

Total expenses were $1.0 billion, down 6 percent from $1.1 billion a year ago. On an FX-adjusted basis, expenses were up 4 percent, reflecting increased spending on growth initiatives, primarily within marketing.2

 

The effective tax rate was 15 percent compared to 19 percent a year ago.

 

Global Commercial Services reported third-quarter net income of $151 million, down 26 percent from $204 million a year ago.

 

Total revenues net of interest expense were $817 million, down 9 percent from $900 million a year ago. On an FX-adjusted basis, revenues declined 5 percent, primarily reflecting a year-ago gain on the sale of investment securities and lower discount revenue.2

 

Total expenses were $541 million, compared to $542 million a year ago. The quarter reflected expenses associated with technology development to support growth initiatives.

 

The effective tax rate was 37 percent, up from 34 percent a year ago.

 

Global Network & Merchant Services reported third-quarter net income of $462 million, up 8 percent from $427 million a year ago.

 

Total revenues net of interest expense were $1.4 billion, down 6 percent from $1.5 billion a year ago. On an FX-adjusted basis, revenues increased 1 percent, reflecting in part increased revenue from bank partners.2

 

Total expenses decreased 16 percent to $633 million, from $756 million a year ago, primarily reflecting a litigation reserve release associated with a recently rejected merchant class settlement.

 

The effective tax rate was 36 percent, unchanged from a year ago.

 

Corporate and Other reported third-quarter net loss of $230 million compared with net loss of $185 million a year ago.

 

About American Express

 

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

 

Key links to products and services: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, corporate card and business travel.

 

The 2015 Third Quarter Earnings Supplement will be available today on the American Express website at http://ir.americanexpress.com. An investor conference call will be held at 5:00 p.m. (ET) today to discuss third-quarter earnings results. Live audio and presentation slides for the investor conference call will be available to the general public at the same website. A replay of the conference call will be available later today at the same website address.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

 

This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements, which address the Company's expected business and financial performance and which include management's outlook for 2015-2017, among other matters, contain words such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "aim," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would," "likely," and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the following:

 
 
    -- the Company's ability to achieve earnings per common share ("EPS") 

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growth for the full year 2015 between $5.20 and $5.35, which will

depend in part on the following: billed business and revenue growth

rates in the fourth quarter, which could be impacted by, among other

things, a decline in consumer confidence impacting the willingness and

ability of Card Members to sustain spending, deterioration in the

corporate and small business spending levels, weakening economic

conditions in the U.S. or internationally, concerns regarding U.S.

debt and budget matters, and an increase in the erosion of the average

discount rate due to mix, competition, timing of merchant re-signings

or other factors; the impact of any potential restructuring charges or

other contingencies, including, but not limited to, unanticipated

litigation-related expenses, impairments to goodwill or other

intangible assets, regulatory fines, an increase in Card Member

reimbursements and changes in reserves; credit performance worsening

beyond current expectations; a decline in the Card Member loan

portfolio; the Company's tax rate remaining in line with recent

performance, which could be impacted by, among other things, the

potential failure of the U.S. Congress to renew legislation regarding

the active financing exception to Subpart F of the Internal Revenue

Code, the Company's geographic mix of income being weighted more to

higher tax jurisdictions than expected and unfavorable tax audits and

other unanticipated tax items; the ability to continue to realize

benefits from the Company's 2014 restructuring actions and operating

leverage at levels consistent with recent quarters; the U.S. dollar

strengthening beyond current expectations; the amount the Company

spends in the fourth quarter on growth initiatives; significant

changes in interest rates; the impact of accounting changes and

reclassifications; and the Company's ability to continue executing its

share repurchase program;

 
    -- the Company's ability to achieve earnings per share growth in 2016 and 

return to the Company's on-average and over-time EPS growth target in

2017, which will depend on factors such as: the Company's success in

implementing its strategies and business initiatives, including

growing profitable spending through proprietary, co-brand and network

products, increasing penetration among corporate clients, expanding

its international footprint, growing loyalty coalitions and marketing

services, increasing merchant acceptance, controlling expenses and

addressing the end of the Costco U.S. relationship; the terms and

outcome of the Costco U.S. Card Member loan portfolio sale

discussions; the behavior of Card Members and their actual spending

patterns; the impact of new regulations in the European Union, the

court's order in the U.S. Department of Justice case in the

marketplace and regulatory and competitive pressures generally; the

effectiveness of the Company's marketing and loyalty programs; credit

trends; changes in foreign currency exchange and interest rates;

changes in general economic conditions, such as GDP growth, consumer

confidence, unemployment and the housing market; and on other factors

outside management's control;

 
    -- the actual amount to be spent by the Company on growth initiatives, 

including on marketing and promotion, technology development and

contra-discount revenue items, as well as the timing of any such

spending, which will be based in part on management's assessment of

competitive opportunities, overall business performance, the amount of

any potential gain arising from a sale of the Costco U.S. Card Member

loan portfolio the Company decides to spend on growth initiatives,

contractual obligations with business partners, management's ability

to identify attractive investment opportunities and make such

investments, which could be impacted by business, regulatory or legal

complexities and the Company's performance, and the Company's ability

to realize efficiencies and control expenses to fund such spending;

 
    -- uncertainty related to the Company's ability to drive growth and 

achieve attractive returns from spending on growth initiatives, which

will depend in part on the Company's ability to develop and market

value propositions that appeal to Card Members and new customers and

on the Company's ability to offer attractive services and rewards

programs, as well as increasing competition, brand perceptions and

reputation, the behavior of the Company's Card Members and their

actual spending patterns, and ineffective or insufficient levels of

investments, including on marketing and promotion expenses, new

product development, acquisition efforts, including through digital

channels, and attractive Card Member services and rewards programs;

 
    -- the ability to hold annual operating expense growth to less than 3 

percent for 2015, which could be impacted by unanticipated increases

in significant categories of operating expenses, such as consulting or

professional fees, compliance or regulatory-related costs and

technology costs, any potential restructuring charges, the payment of

civil money penalties, disgorgement and restitution, the Company's

decision to increase or decrease spending in such areas as technology

development depending on overall business performance, the Company's

ability to achieve the expected benefits of the Company's

reengineering plans, the Company's ability to balance expense control

and investments in the business, the impact of changes in foreign

currency exchange rates on costs, the impact of accounting changes and

reclassifications, and the level of acquisition activity and related

expenses;

 
    -- the Company's lending write-off rates increasing more quickly than 

current expectations and reserves building more than modestly, and the

concomitant impact on the Company's provision expense being higher

than current expectations, which will depend in part on changes in the

level of the Company's loan balances, delinquency rates of Card

Members, unemployment rates, the volume of bankruptcies and recoveries

of previously written-off loans;

 
    -- uncertainty relating to the ultimate outcome of the lawsuit filed 

against the Company by the U.S. Department of Justice and certain

state attorneys general, including the success or failure of our

appeal and the impact of the court's order in the marketplace,

including significantly increased merchant steering or other actions

impairing the Card Member experience, as well as on existing private

merchant cases, and potentially additional litigation and/or

arbitrations;

 
    -- the Company's ability to execute against its lending strategy, which 

may be affected by increasing competition, brand perceptions and

reputation, the Company's ability to manage risk in a growing Card

Member loan portfolio, and the behavior of the Company's Card Members

and their actual spending patterns, which in turn may be driven by the

Company's ability to issue new and enhanced card products, offer

attractive services and rewards programs, attract new Card Members,

reduce Card Member attrition and capture a greater share of existing

Card Members' spending and borrowing;

 
    -- the ability of the Company to grow in international markets, which 

could be impacted by business practices that favor local competitors

or prohibit or limit foreign ownership of certain businesses;

continued regulation in the payments space; the Company's ability to

partner with additional GNS issuers and the success of GNS partners in

acquiring Card Members and/or merchants; political or economic

instability, which could affect lending and other commercial

activities, among other businesses; the Company's ability to tailor

products and services to make them attractive to local customers; and

competitors with more scale and experience and more established

relationships with relevant customers, regulators and industry

participants;

 
    -- uncertainties associated with the impact of any potential sale of the 

Costco Card Member loan portfolio, including the result of discussions

with Costco and its new cobrand issuer, the ability and willingness of

the new issuer to purchase the portfolio and the timing and magnitude

of the recognition of any gain by the Company as a result of a sale,

which will be impacted by the credit quality and performance of the

portfolio;

 
    -- the possibility that the Company will not fully execute on its plans 

for OptBlue, including bringing incremental volumes onto the American

Express network over the next several years, which will depend in part

on the success of OptBlue merchant acquirers in signing merchants to

accept American Express, which could be impacted by the pricing set by

the merchant acquirers and the value proposition offered to small

merchants and the priority given to the Company by OptBlue merchant

acquirers, as well as the willingness of Card Members to use American

Express cards at small merchants;

 
    -- the ability of the Company to add new benefits and introduce new 

products and services, which will depend in part on the Company's

ongoing investment in product innovation, the ability of the Company

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to update its systems and platforms to support new products, services

and benefits, the degree of interest of Card Members in the value

proposition offered by the Company and the Company's ability to tailor

new products and services to make them attractive to Card Members; and

 
    -- factors beyond the Company's control such as changes in global 

economic and business conditions, including consumer and business

spending, the availability and cost of capital, unemployment and

political conditions, foreign currency rates, fire, power loss,

disruptions in telecommunications, severe weather conditions, natural

disasters, health pandemics, terrorism, cyber attacks or fraud, which

could significantly affect spending on American Express cards,

delinquency rates, loan balances and travel-related spending or

disrupt the Company's global network systems and ability to process

transactions.

 

A further description of these uncertainties and other risks can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2015 and the Company's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 
1Represents net income less earnings allocated to  participating share 
awards of $10 million and $11 million for the  three months 
ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and  $32 million 
and $35 million for the nine months ended September 30, 
2015 and 2014, respectively. In addition, net income is further 
reduced by dividends on preferred shares of $22 million and $42 
million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, 
respectively. No preferred dividends were paid in 2014. 
2 As reported in this release, FX-adjusted information, 
which constitute non-GAAP financial measures, assumes 
a constant  exchange rate between the periods being compared 
for purposes of  currency translation into U.S. 
dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign  exchange rates used to 
determine results for the three months  ended September 
30, 2015 apply to the period(s) against which such 
results are being compared). Certain amounts 
included in the  calculation of FX-adjusted revenues and 
expenses, which constitute  non-GAAP measures, are 
subject to management allocations. The  company believes 
the presentation of information on an FX-adjusted 
basis is helpful to investors by making it easier to 
compare the  company's performance in one period to 
that of another period  without the variability caused 
by fluctuations in currency  exchange rates. 
 
 
American                                                                                                              (Preliminary) 
Express 
Company 
Consolidated 
Statements 
of Income 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages 
and per 
share 
amounts) 
                   Quarters Ended                                         % Change           Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                   Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.   Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                   2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014       2015        2014         Sep 30, 2014 
Revenues 
Non-interest 
revenues 
Discount           $ 4,778    $ 4,946    $ 4,660    $ 4,961    $ 4,889    (2  )              $ 14,384    $ 14,428     (0  ) 
revenue 
(A) 
Net card             679        667        667        671        680      (0  )                2,013       2,041      (1  ) 
fees 
Other fees           727        727        708        715        746      (3  )                2,162       2,911      (26 ) 
and 
commissions 
(B) 
Other                504        521        468        1,310      593      (15 )                1,493       1,679      (11 ) 
Total                6,688      6,861      6,503      7,657      6,908    (3  )                20,052      21,059     (5  ) 
non-interest 
revenues 
Interest 
income 
Interest             1,847      1,776      1,795      1,769      1,753    5                    5,418       5,160      5 
on loans 
Interest             38         41         41         43         45       (16 )                120         136        (12 ) 
and 
dividends 
on 
investment 
securities 
Deposits             19         20         21         17         17       12                   60          54         11 
with 
banks 
and other 
Total                1,904      1,837      1,857      1,829      1,815    5                    5,598       5,350      5 
interest 
income 
Interest 
expense 
Deposits             125        109        103        97         91       37                   337         276        22 
Long-term            274        305        307        308        329      (17 )                886         1,026      (14 ) 
debt 
and other 
Total                399        414        410        405        420      (5  )                1,223       1,302      (6  ) 
interest 
expense 
Net                  1,505      1,423      1,447      1,424      1,395    8                    4,375       4,048      8 
interest 
income 
Total                8,193      8,284      7,950      9,081      8,303    (1  )                24,427      25,107     (3  ) 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
Provisions 
for 
losses 
Charge               203        165        174        198        196      4                    542         594        (9  ) 
card 
Card                 309        285        235        341        265      17                   829         797        4 
Member 
loans 
Other                17         17         11         43         27       (37 )                45          71         (37 ) 
Total                529        467        420        582        488      8                    1,416       1,462      (3  ) 
provisions 
for 
losses 
Total                7,664      7,817      7,530      8,499      7,815    (2  )                23,011      23,645     (3  ) 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
after 
provisions 
for 
losses 
Expenses 
Marketing            847        761        609        887        783      8                    2,217       2,329      (5  ) 
and 
promotion 
(A) 
Card                 1,763      1,799      1,640      1,881      1,695    4                    5,202       5,050      3 
Member 
rewards 
Card                 269        242        261        203        205      31                   772         619        25 
Member 
services 
and other 
Salaries             1,212      1,250      1,305      1,607      1,290    (6  )                3,767       4,488      (16 ) 
and 
employee 
benefits 
Professional         687        655        624        768        731      (6  )                1,966       2,240      (12 ) 
services 
Occupancy            523        415        434        446        432      21                   1,372       1,361      1 
and 
equipment 
Communications       84         85         88         98         91       (8  )                257         285        (10 ) 
Other,               341        380        253        384        342      (0  )                974         507        92 
net 
Total                5,726      5,587      5,214      6,274      5,569    3                    16,527      16,879     (2  ) 
Pretax               1,938      2,230      2,316      2,225      2,246    (14 )                6,484       6,766      (4  ) 
income 
Income               672        757        791        778        769      (13 )                2,220       2,328      (5  ) 
tax 
provision 
Net                $ 1,266    $ 1,473    $ 1,525    $ 1,447    $ 1,477    (14 )              $ 4,264     $ 4,438      (4  ) 
income 
Net                $ 1,234    $ 1,442    $ 1,514    $ 1,436    $ 1,466    (16 )              $ 4,190     $ 4,403      (5  ) 
income 
attributable 
to 
common 
shareholders 
(C) 
Effective            34.7  %    33.9  %    34.2  %    35.0  %    34.2  %                       34.2   %    34.4   % 
tax rate 
Earnings 
Per 
Common 
Share 
BASIC 
Net                $ 1.24     $ 1.43     $ 1.49     $ 1.40     $ 1.41     (12 )              $ 4.16      $ 4.19       (1  ) 
income 
attributable 
to 
common 
shareholders 
Average              994        1,009      1,019      1,028      1,041    (5  )                1,007       1,051      (4  ) 
common 
shares 
outstanding 
DILUTED 
Net                $ 1.24     $ 1.42     $ 1.48     $ 1.39     $ 1.40     (11 )              $ 4.15      $ 4.17       (0  ) 
income 
attributable 
to 
common 
shareholders 
Average              997        1,013      1,023      1,033      1,047    (5  )                1,011       1,057      (4  ) 
common 
shares 
outstanding 
Cash               $ 0.29     $ 0.29     $ 0.26     $ 0.26     $ 0.26     12                 $ 0.84      $ 0.75       12 
dividends 
declared 
per 
common 
share 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
American 
Express 
Company 
Condensed 
Consolidated 
Balance 
Sheets 
(Billions, 
except 
percentages, 
per 
share 
amounts 
and 
where 
indicated) 
                  Quarters Ended                                         % Change 
                  Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                  2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014 
Assets 
Cash              $ 20       $ 21       $ 24       $ 22       $ 21       (5  ) 
& 
cash 
equivalents 
Accounts            46         47         46         47         47       (2  ) 
receivable 
Investment          4          5          4          4          5        (20 ) 
securities 
Loans               69         69         67         70         66       5 
Other               15         15         14         16         15       - 
assets 
Total             $ 154      $ 157      $ 155      $ 159      $ 154      - 
assets 
Liabilities 
and 
Shareholders' 
Equity 
Customer          $ 49       $ 47       $ 45       $ 44       $ 43       14 
deposits 

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Short-term          3          4          2          3          3        - 
borrowings 
Long-term           49         53         55         58         56       (13 ) 
debt 
Other               32         31         31         33         32       - 
liabilities 
Total               133        135        133        138        134      (1  ) 
liabilities 
Shareholders'       21         22         22         21         20       5 
Equity 
Total             $ 154      $ 157      $ 155      $ 159      $ 154      - 
liabilities 
and 
shareholders' 
equity 
Selected 
Statistical 
Information 
Return              26.8  %    28.1  %    29.0  %    29.1  %    28.8  % 
on 
average 
equity 
(D) 
Return              27.8  %    28.8  %    29.3  %    29.0  %    28.6  % 
on 
average 
common 
equity 
(D) 
Return              34.2  %    35.4  %    36.2  %    35.9  %    35.6  % 
on 
average 
tangible 
common 
equity 
(D) 
Common              985        1,002      1,016      1,023      1,035    (5  ) 
shares 
outstanding 
(millions) 
Book              $ 20.06    $ 20.27    $ 19.93    $ 19.49    $ 19.54    3 
value 
per 
common 
share 
(dollars) 
Shareholders'     $ 21.3     $ 21.9     $ 21.8     $ 20.7     $ 20.2     6 
equity 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
American 
Express 
Company 
Financial 
Summary 
(Millions) 
                  Quarters Ended                                         % Change           Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                  Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.   Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                  2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014       2015        2014         Sep 30, 2014 
Total 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
U.S.              $ 4,729    $ 4,726    $ 4,525    $ 4,594    $ 4,501    5                  $ 13,980    $ 13,216     6 
Card 
Services 
International       1,238      1,258      1,241      1,355      1,394    (11 )                3,737       4,137      (10 ) 
Card 
Services 
Global              817        881        827        1,585      900      (9  )                2,525       3,363      (25 ) 
Commercial 
Services 
Global              1,370      1,396      1,344      1,477      1,450    (6  )                4,110       4,270      (4  ) 
Network 
& 
Merchant 
Services 
                    8,154      8,261      7,937      9,011      8,245    (1  )                24,352      24,986     (3  ) 
Corporate           39         23         13         70         58       (33 )                75          121        (38 ) 
& Other 
CONSOLIDATED      $ 8,193    $ 8,284    $ 7,950    $ 9,081    $ 8,303    (1  )              $ 24,427    $ 25,107     (3  ) 
TOTAL 
REVENUES 
NET 
OF 
INTEREST 
EXPENSE 
Pretax 
income 
(loss) 
U.S.              $ 1,262    $ 1,366    $ 1,480    $ 1,083    $ 1,411    (11 )              $ 4,108     $ 4,017      2 
Card 
Services 
International       105        144        184        1          176      (40 )                433         448        (3  ) 
Card 
Services 
Global              238        314        284        949        309      (23 )                836         1,459      (43 ) 
Commercial 
Services 
Global              723        695        698        670        670      8                    2,116       1,950      9 
Network 
& 
Merchant 
Services 
                    2,328      2,519      2,646      2,703      2,566    (9  )                7,493       7,874      (5  ) 
Corporate           (390  )    (289  )    (330  )    (478  )    (320  )  22                   (1,009 )    (1,108 )   (9  ) 
& Other 
PRETAX            $ 1,938    $ 2,230    $ 2,316    $ 2,225    $ 2,246    (14 )              $ 6,484     $ 6,766      (4  ) 
INCOME 
Net 
income 
(loss) 
U.S.              $ 794      $ 886      $ 934      $ 665      $ 889      (11 )              $ 2,614     $ 2,535      3 
Card 
Services 
International       89         125        134        33         142      (37 )                348         378        (8  ) 
Card 
Services 
Global              151        203        180        594        204      (26 )                534         949        (44 ) 
Commercial 
Services 
Global              462        448        444        417        427      8                    1,354       1,243      9 
Network 
& 
Merchant 
Services 
                    1,496      1,662      1,692      1,709      1,662    (10 )                4,850       5,105      (5  ) 
Corporate           (230  )    (189  )    (167  )    (262  )    (185  )  24                   (586   )    (667   )   (12 ) 
& Other 
NET               $ 1,266    $ 1,473    $ 1,525    $ 1,447    $ 1,477    (14 )              $ 4,264     $ 4,438      (4  ) 
INCOME 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
American                                                                                                               (Preliminary) 
Express 
Company 
Selected 
Statistical 
Information 
(Billions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
                   Quarters Ended                                         % Change            Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                   Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.    Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                   2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014        2015        2014         Sep 30, 2014 
Card 
billed 
business 
(E): 
United             $ 180.3    $ 181.6    $ 169.2    $ 182.5    $ 173.0    4                   $ 531.1     $ 505.6      5 
States 
Outside              78.6       80.4       76.4       86.0       85.1     (8  )                 235.4       248.7      (5 ) 
the 
United 
States 
Total              $ 258.9    $ 262.0    $ 245.6    $ 268.5    $ 258.1    0                   $ 766.5     $ 754.3      2 
Total 
cards-in-force 
(F) 
(millions): 
United               56.4       55.3       54.8       54.9       54.5     3                     56.4        54.5       3 
States 
Outside              59.4       58.5       57.4       57.3       56.6     5                     59.4        56.6       5 
the 
United 
States 
Total                115.8      113.8      112.2      112.2      111.1    4                     115.8       111.1      4 
Basic 
cards-in-force 
(F) 
(millions): 
United               43.6       42.8       42.4       42.6       42.2     3                     43.6        42.2       3 
States 
Outside              49.0       48.2       47.3       47.0       46.3     6                     49          46.3       6 
the 
United 
States 
Total                92.6       91.0       89.7       89.6       88.5     5                     92.6        88.5       5 
Average              2.46  %    2.49  %    2.49  %    2.44  %    2.48  %                        2.48   %    2.49   % 
discount 
rate (A) 
(G) 
Average            $ 4,165    $ 4,272    $ 4,008    $ 4,377    $ 4,223    (1  )               $ 12,437    $ 12,504     (1 ) 
basic 
Card 
Member 
spending 
(dollars) 
(H) 
Average            $ 39       $ 39       $ 39       $ 39       $ 40       (3  )               $ 39        $ 41         (5 ) 
fee 
per card 
(dollars) 
(H) 
Average            $ 44       $ 43       $ 44       $ 44       $ 45       (2  )               $ 44        $ 45         (2 ) 
fee 
per 
card 
adjusted 
(dollars) 
(H) 
Worldwide 
Card 
Member 
receivables: 
Total              $ 44.3     $ 44.9     $ 43.7     $ 44.9     $ 45.1     (2  )               $ 44.3      $ 45.1       (2 ) 
receivables 
Loss 
reserves 
(millions): 
Beginning          $ 420      $ 429      $ 465      $ 432      $ 413      2                   $ 465       $ 386        20 
balance 
Provisions           203        165        174        198        196      4                     542         594        (9 ) 
(I) 
Net                  (174  )    (171  )    (199  )    (156  )    (168  )  4                     (544   )    (527   )   3 
write-offs 
(J) 
Other (K)            (8    )    (3    )    (11   )    (9    )    (9    )  (11 )                 (22    )    (21    )   5 
Ending             $ 441      $ 420      $ 429      $ 465      $ 432      2                   $ 441       $ 432        2 
balance 
%                    1.0   %    0.9   %    1.0   %    1.0   %    1.0   %                        1.0    %    1.0    % 
of 
receivables 
Net                  1.8   %    1.7   %    2.1   %    1.5   %    1.6   %                        1.8    %    1.8    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal 
only) 
- 
USCS/ICS 
(L) 
Net                  2.0   %    1.9   %    2.3   %    1.7   %    1.8   %                        2.1    %    2.0    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal 
and fees) 
- 
USCS/ICS 
(L) 
30 days              1.6   %    1.5   %    1.6   %    1.6   %    1.6   %                        1.6    %    1.6    % 
past 
due as 
a % 
of total 
- 
USCS/ICS 
Net loss             0.08  %    0.09  %    0.10  %    0.08  %    0.09  %                        0.09   %    0.09   % 
ratio 
(as a 
% of 
charge 
volume) 
- GCS 
90 days              0.7   %    0.7   %    0.7   %    0.8   %    0.8   %                        0.7    %    0.8    % 
past 
billing 
as 
a % of 
total 
- GCS 
Worldwide 
Card 
Member 
loans: 
Total              $ 68.9     $ 69.0     $ 66.8     $ 70.4     $ 66.1     4                   $ 68.9      $ 66.1       4 
loans 
Loss 
reserves 
(millions): 
Beginning          $ 1,132    $ 1,130    $ 1,201    $ 1,146    $ 1,170    (3  )               $ 1,201     $ 1,261      (5 ) 
balance 
Provisions           309        285        235        341        265      17                    829         797        4 
(I) 
Net                  (231  )    (243  )    (259  )    (237  )    (245  )  (6  )                 (733   )    (786   )   (7 ) 
write-offs 
- 
principal 
(J) 
Net                  (37   )    (42   )    (43   )    (40   )    (40   )  (8  )                 (122   )    (124   )   (2 ) 
write-offs 
- 
interest 
and fees 
(J) 
Other (K)            (9    )    2          (4    )    (9    )    (4    )  #                     (11    )    (2     )   # 

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

October 22, 2015 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

Ending             $ 1,164    $ 1,132    $ 1,130    $ 1,201    $ 1,146    2                   $ 1,164     $ 1,146      2 
balance 
Ending             $ 1,114    $ 1,076    $ 1,074    $ 1,149    $ 1,093    2                   $ 1,114     $ 1,093      2 
reserves 
- 
principal 
Ending             $ 50       $ 56       $ 56       $ 52       $ 53       (6  )               $ 50        $ 53         (6 ) 
reserves 
- 
interest 
and fees 
%                    1.7   %    1.6   %    1.7   %    1.7   %    1.7   %                        1.7    %    1.7    % 
of loans 
% of past            164   %    171   %    163   %    167   %    165   %                        164    %    165    % 
due 
Average            $ 69.0     $ 68.0     $ 67.6     $ 67.7     $ 66.4     4                   $ 68.3      $ 65.4       4 
loans 
Net                  1.3   %    1.4   %    1.5   %    1.4   %    1.5   %                        1.4    %    1.6    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal 
only) (L) 
Net                  1.6   %    1.7   %    1.8   %    1.6   %    1.7   %                        1.7    %    1.9    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal, 
interest 
and 
fees) (L) 
30 days              1.0   %    1.0   %    1.0   %    1.0   %    1.1   %                        1.0    %    1.1    % 
past 
due loans 
as a % of 
total 
Net                  8.7   %    8.4   %    8.6   %    8.4   %    8.5   %                        8.5    %    8.1    % 
interest 
income 
divided 
by 
average 
loans (M) 
Net                  9.5   %    9.3   %    9.6   %    9.3   %    9.3   %                        9.5    %    9.3    % 
interest 
yield 
on Card 
Member 
loans 
(M) 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
U.S. Card                                                                                                              (Preliminary) 
Services 
Selected 
Income 
Statement 
Data 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages) 
                   Quarters Ended                                         % Change            Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                   Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.    Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                   2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014        2015        2014         Sep 30, 2014 
Revenues 
Non-interest       $ 3,302    $ 3,372    $ 3,148    $ 3,253    $ 3,188    4                   $ 9,822     $ 9,375      5 
revenues 
(A) 
Interest             1,593      1,517      1,529      1,490      1,465    9                     4,639       4,296      8 
income 
Interest             166        163        152        149        152      9                     481         455        6 
expense 
Net                  1,427      1,354      1,377      1,341      1,313    9                     4,158       3,841      8 
interest 
income 
Total                4,729      4,726      4,525      4,594      4,501    5                     13,980      13,216     6 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
Provisions           390        327        296        399        316      23                    1,013       997        2 
for 
losses 
Total                4,339      4,399      4,229      4,195      4,185    4                     12,967      12,219     6 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
after 
provisions 
for 
losses 
Expenses 
Marketing,           2,029      1,996      1,733      2,038      1,764    15                    5,758       5,159      12 
promotion, 
rewards, 
Card 
Member 
services 
and other 
(A) 
Salaries             1,048      1,037      1,016      1,074      1,010    4                     3,101       3,043      2 
and 
employee 
benefits 
and 
other 
operating 
expenses 
Total                3,077      3,033      2,749      3,112      2,774    11                    8,859       8,202      8 
Pretax               1,262      1,366      1,480      1,083      1,411    (11 )                 4,108       4,017      2 
segment 
income 
Income               468        480        546        418        522      (10 )                 1,494       1,482      1 
tax 
provision 
Segment            $ 794      $ 886      $ 934      $ 665      $ 889      (11 )               $ 2,614     $ 2,535      3 
income 
Effective            37.1  %    35.1  %    36.9  %    38.6  %    37.0  %                        36.4   %    36.9   % 
tax rate 
Selected 
Statistical 
Information 
(Billions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
Card               $ 143.4    $ 144.1    $ 132.5    $ 145.0    $ 136.2    5                   $ 420.0     $ 397.0      6 
billed 
business 
Total                47.4       46.3       45.9       45.6       45.2     5                     47.4        45.2       5 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
Basic                35.4       34.6       34.2       34.0       33.7     5                     35.4        33.7       5 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
Average            $ 4,098    $ 4,210    $ 3,875    $ 4,281    $ 4,069    1                   $ 12,166    $ 12,008     1 
basic 
Card 
Member 
spending 
(dollars) 
U.S. 
Consumer 
Travel: 
Travel             $ 943      $ 1,020    $ 988      $ 817      $ 956      (1  )               $ 2,951     $ 2,957      (0 ) 
sales 
(millions) 
Travel               7.1   %    7.1   %    6.6   %    7.5   %    7.4   %                        6.9    %    7.1    % 
commissions 
and 
fees/sales 
Total              $ 107.7    $ 108.2    $ 107.7    $ 113.2    $ 103.3    4                   $ 107.7     $ 103.3      4 
segment 
assets 
(P) 
Segment            $ 10.3     $ 10.8     $ 10.8     $ 10.4     $ 9.9      4                   $ 10.3      $ 9.9        4 
capital 
(N) 
Return on            31.4  %    32.6  %    32.1  %    32.5  %    35.5  %                        31.4   %    35.5   % 
average 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Return on            32.6  %    33.8  %    33.2  %    33.6  %    36.6  %                        32.6   %    36.6   % 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Card 
Member 
receivables: 
Total              $ 22.0     $ 22.1     $ 21.5     $ 22.5     $ 21.3     3                   $ 22.0      $ 21.3       3 
receivables 
30 days              1.6   %    1.5   %    1.7   %    1.7   %    1.6   %                        1.6    %    1.6    % 
past 
due 
as a % of 
total 
Average            $ 22.0     $ 22.0     $ 21.3     $ 21.8     $ 21.4     3                   $ 21.8      $ 21.1       3 
receivables 
Net                  1.6   %    1.6   %    2.2   %    1.4   %    1.5   %                        1.8    %    1.7    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal 
only) (L) 
Net                  1.9   %    1.8   %    2.4   %    1.6   %    1.7   %                        2.0    %    1.9    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal 
and fees) 
(L) 
Card 
Member 
loans: 
Total              $ 62.1     $ 61.7     $ 59.9     $ 62.6     $ 58.0     7                   $ 62.1      $ 58.0       7 
loans 
30 days              1.0   %    0.9   %    1.0   %    1.0   %    1.0   %                        1.0    %    1.0    % 
past 
due loans 
as a % of 
total 
Average            $ 62.1     $ 60.9     $ 60.4     $ 59.7     $ 58.0     7                   $ 61.2      $ 57.0       7 
loans 
Net                  1.3   %    1.4   %    1.5   %    1.3   %    1.4   %                        1.4    %    1.6    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal 
only) (L) 
Net                  1.5   %    1.6   %    1.7   %    1.5   %    1.6   %                        1.6    %    1.8    % 
write-off 
rate 
(principal, 
interest 
and 
fees) (L) 
Net                  9.2   %    8.9   %    9.1   %    9.0   %    9.1   %                        9.1    %    9.0    % 
interest 
income 
divided 
by 
average 
loans (M) 
Net                  9.4   %    9.2   %    9.5   %    9.1   %    9.2   %                        9.3    %    9.3    % 
interest 
yield 
on Card 
Member 
loans 
(M) 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
International                                                                                                              (Preliminary) 
Card 
Services 
Selected 
Income 
Statement Data 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages) 
                        Quarters Ended                                         % Change           Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                        Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.   Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                        2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014       2015       2014          Sep 30, 2014 
Revenues 
Non-interest            $ 1,071    $ 1,082    $ 1,061    $ 1,166    $ 1,206    (11 )              $ 3,214    $ 3,571       (10 ) 
revenues 
Interest                  226        236        244        260        273      (17 )                706        825         (14 ) 
income 
Interest                  59         60         64         71         85       (31 )                183        259         (29 ) 
expense 
Net interest              167        176        180        189        188      (11 )                523        566         (8  ) 
income 
Total revenues            1,238      1,258      1,241      1,355      1,394    (11 )                3,737      4,137       (10 ) 
net of 
interest 
expense 
Provisions                85         83         76         95         98       (13 )                244        275         (11 ) 
for losses 
Total revenues            1,153      1,175      1,165      1,260      1,296    (11 )                3,493      3,862       (10 ) 
net of 
interest 
expense 
after 
provisions 
for losses 
Expenses 
Marketing,                500        472        437        555        532      (6  )                1,409      1,605       (12 ) 
promotion, 
rewards, 
Card Member 
services 
and other 
Salaries and              548        559        544        704        588      (7  )                1,651      1,809       (9  ) 
employee 
benefits 
and 
other 
operating 
expenses 
Total                     1,048      1,031      981        1,259      1,120    (6  )                3,060      3,414       (10 ) 

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

October 22, 2015 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

Pretax segment            105        144        184        1          176      (40 )                433        448         (3  ) 
income 
Income                    16         19         50         (32   )    34       (53 )                85         70          21 
tax 
provision/(benefit) 
Segment income          $ 89       $ 125      $ 134      $ 33       $ 142      (37 )              $ 348      $ 378         (8  ) 
Effective                 15.2  %    13.2  %    27.2  %    #          19.3  %                       19.6  %    15.6  % 
tax rate 
Selected 
Statistical 
Information 
(Billions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
Card billed             $ 29.6     $ 30.0     $ 28.7     $ 34.0     $ 33.9     (13 )              $ 88.3     $ 99.9        (12 ) 
business 
Total                     15.2       15.0       14.9       15.7       15.8     (4  )                15.2       15.8        (4  ) 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
Basic                     10.6       10.4       10.4       11.0       10.9     (3  )                10.6       10.9        (3  ) 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
Average basic           $ 2,827    $ 2,888    $ 2,729    $ 3,109    $ 3,100    (9  )              $ 8,432    $ 9,185       (8  ) 
Card Member 
spending 
(dollars) 
International 
Consumer 
Travel: 
Travel sales            $ 325      $ 333      $ 334      $ 353      $ 362      (10 )              $ 992      $ 1,069       (7  ) 
(millions) 
Travel                    5.8   %    6.9   %    7.2   %    7.4   %    6.9   %                       6.7   %    6.6   % 
commissions 
and fees/sales 
Total segment           $ 34.9     $ 29.2     $ 29.0     $ 30.7     $ 31.1     12                 $ 34.9     $ 31.1        12 
assets (P) 
Segment                 $ 3.3      $ 3.5      $ 3.2      $ 3.0      $ 3.0      12                 $ 3.3      $ 3.0         12 
capital 
(N) 
Return on                 11.9  %    13.9  %    12.7  %    13.6  %    15.8  %                       11.9  %    15.8  % 
average 
segment 
capital (O) 
Return on                 19.4  %    23.3  %    22.3  %    24.6  %    28.9  %                       19.4  %    28.9  % 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Card 
Member 
receivables: 
Total                   $ 6.5      $ 6.8      $ 6.4      $ 7.7      $ 7.3      (11 )              $ 6.5      $ 7.3         (11 ) 
receivables 
30 days past              1.5   %    1.4   %    1.6   %    1.3   %    1.4   %                       1.5   %    1.4   % 
billing 
as a % of 
total 
Net write-off             2.2   %    2.1   %    1.9   %    1.8   %    1.9   %                       2.1   %    2.0   % 
rate 
(principal 
only) (L) 
Net write-off             2.4   %    2.3   %    2.0   %    1.9   %    2.1   %                       2.2   %    2.1   % 
rate 
(principal 
and fees) (L) 
Card Member 
loans: 
Total loans             $ 6.7      $ 7.2      $ 6.8      $ 7.7      $ 8.0      (16 )              $ 6.7      $ 8.0         (16 ) 
30 days past              1.6   %    1.6   %    1.8   %    1.6   %    1.6   %                       1.6   %    1.6   % 
due loans 
as a % of 
total 
Average loans           $ 6.9      $ 7.0      $ 7.2      $ 7.9      $ 8.3      (17 )              $ 7.0      $ 8.3         (16 ) 
Net write-off             1.8   %    2.0   %    2.0   %    1.9   %    1.9   %                       2.0   %    2.0   % 
rate 
(principal 
only) (L) 
Net write-off             2.3   %    2.5   %    2.5   %    2.4   %    2.4   %                       2.4   %    2.4   % 
rate 
(principal, 
interest and 
fees) (L) 
Net interest              9.7   %    10.1  %    10.0  %    9.6   %    9.1   %                       10.0  %    9.1   % 
income 
divided 
by average 
loans (Q) 
Net interest              10.5  %    10.7  %    10.9  %    10.5  %    9.9   %                       10.7  %    9.9   % 
yield 
on Card 
Member loans 
(Q) 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
Global                                                                                                                (Preliminary) 
Commercial 
Services 
Selected 
Income 
Statement 
Data 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages) 
                   Quarters Ended                                         % Change           Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                   Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.   Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                   2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014       2015        2014         Sep 30, 2014 
Revenues 
Non-interest       $ 858      $ 924      $ 871      $ 1,635    $ 957      (10 )              $ 2,653     $ 3,538      (25 ) 
revenues 
Interest             3          3          4          4          4        (25 )                10          11         (9  ) 
income 
Interest             44         46         48         54         61       (28 )                138         186        (26 ) 
expense 
Net                  (41   )    (43   )    (44   )    (50   )    (57   )  (28 )                (128   )    (175   )   (27 ) 
interest 
expense 
Total                817        881        827        1,585      900      (9  )                2,525       3,363      (25 ) 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
Provisions           38         42         35         50         49       (22 )                115         130        (12 ) 
for 
losses 
Total                779        839        792        1,535      851      (8  )                2,410       3,233      (25 ) 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
after 
provisions 
for 
losses 
Expenses 
Marketing,           160        156        164        178        161      (1  )                480         504        (5  ) 
promotion, 
rewards, 
Card 
Member 
services 
and other 
Salaries             381        369        344        408        381      -                    1,094       1,270      (14 ) 
and 
employee 
benefits 
and 
other 
operating 
expenses 
Total                541        525        508        586        542      (0  )                1,574       1,774      (11 ) 
Pretax               238        314        284        949        309      (23 )                836         1,459      (43 ) 
segment 
income 
Income               87         111        104        355        105      (17 )                302         510        (41 ) 
tax 
provision 
Segment            $ 151      $ 203      $ 180      $ 594      $ 204      (26 )              $ 534       $ 949        (44 ) 
income 
Effective            36.6  %    35.4  %    36.6  %    37.4  %    34.0  %                       36.1   %    35.0   % 
tax rate 
Selected 
Statistical 
Information 
(Billions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
Card               $ 45.0     $ 46.4     $ 45.3     $ 47.1     $ 46.5     (3  )              $ 136.6     $ 139.6      (2  ) 
billed 
business 
Total                6.9        6.9        6.9        6.9        6.9      -                    6.9         6.9        - 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
Basic                6.9        6.9        6.9        6.9        6.9      -                    6.9         6.9        - 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
Average            $ 6,529    $ 6,739    $ 6,567    $ 6,817    $ 6,691    (2  )              $ 19,838    $ 19,905     (0  ) 
basic 
Card 
Member 
spending 
(dollars) 
Total              $ 19.6     $ 19.7     $ 19.6     $ 18.5     $ 20.6     (5  )              $ 19.6      $ 20.6       (5  ) 
segment 
assets 
(P) 
Segment            $ 3.6      $ 4.0      $ 4.1      $ 3.8      $ 3.8      (6  )              $ 3.6       $ 3.8        (6  ) 
capital 
(N) 
Return on            29.2  %    30.3  %    39.9  %    40.9  %    30.3  %                       29.2   %    30.3   % 
average 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Return on            51.4  %    52.8  %    70.6  %    74.4  %    56.0  %                       51.4   %    56.0   % 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Card 
Member 
receivables: 
Total              $ 15.7     $ 15.9     $ 15.7     $ 14.6     $ 16.4     (4  )              $ 15.7      $ 16.4       (4  ) 
receivables 
90 days              0.7   %    0.7   %    0.7   %    0.8   %    0.8   %                       0.7    %    0.8    % 
past 
billing 
as a % of 
total 
Net loss             0.08  %    0.09  %    0.10  %    0.08  %    0.09  %                       0.09   %    0.09   % 
ratio 
(as a 
% 
of charge 
volume) 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
Global                                                                                                                (Preliminary) 
Network 
& 
Merchant 
Services 
Selected 
Income 
Statement 
Data 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages) 
                   Quarters Ended                                         % Change           Nine Months Ended        % Change 
                   Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 2015 vs.   Sep 30,                  Sep 30, 2015 vs. 
                   2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       Sep 30, 2014       2015       2014          Sep 30, 2014 
Revenues 
Non-interest       $ 1,302    $ 1,326    $ 1,270    $ 1,399    $ 1,368    (5  )              $ 3,898    $ 4,027       (3  ) 
revenues 
Interest             26         23         20         17         14       86                   69         35          97 
income 
Interest             (42   )    (47   )    (54   )    (61   )    (68   )  (38 )                (143  )    (208  )     (31 ) 
expense 
Net                  68         70         74         78         82       (17 )                212        243         (13 ) 
interest 
income 
Total                1,370      1,396      1,344      1,477      1,450    (6  )                4,110      4,270       (4  ) 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
Provisions           14         13         11         35         24       (42 )                38         58          (34 ) 
for 
losses 
Total                1,356      1,383      1,333      1,442      1,426    (5  )                4,072      4,212       (3  ) 
revenues 
net of 
interest 
expense 
after 
provisions 
for 
losses 
Expenses 

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Marketing,           172        164        147        185        201      (14 )                483        634         (24 ) 
promotion, 
rewards, 
Card 
Member 
services 
and other 
Salaries             461        524        488        587        555      (17 )                1,473      1,628       (10 ) 
and 
employee 
benefits 
and 
other 
operating 
expenses 
Total                633        688        635        772        756      (16 )                1,956      2,262       (14 ) 
Pretax               723        695        698        670        670      8                    2,116      1,950       9 
segment 
income 
Income               261        247        254        253        243      7                    762        707         8 
tax 
provision 
Segment            $ 462      $ 448      $ 444      $ 417      $ 427      8                  $ 1,354    $ 1,243       9 
income 
Effective            36.1  %    35.5  %    36.4  %    37.8  %    36.3  %                       36.0  %    36.3  % 
tax rate 
Selected 
Statistical 
Information 
(Billions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
Global             $ 258.9    $ 262.0    $ 245.6    $ 268.5    $ 258.1    0                  $ 766.5    $ 754.3       2 
Card 
billed 
business 
(R) 
Global 
Network 
& 
Merchant 
Services: 
Total              $ 23.7     $ 17.6     $ 17.8     $ 18.1     $ 18.2     30                 $ 23.7     $ 18.2        30 
segment 
assets 
(P) 
Segment            $ 2.5      $ 2.2      $ 2.2      $ 2.0      $ 2.0      28                 $ 2.5      $ 2.0         28 
capital 
(N) 
Return on            81.4  %    83.5  %    82.1  %    84.0  %    82.6  %                       81.4  %    82.6  % 
average 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Return on            89.5  %    92.0  %    90.6  %    92.9  %    91.3  %                       89.5  %    91.3  % 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(O) 
Global 
Network 
Services: 
Card               $ 41.1     $ 41.9     $ 39.1     $ 42.5     $ 41.6     (1  )              $ 122.1    $ 118.2       3 
billed 
business 
Total                46.3       45.6       44.5       44.0       43.2     7                    46.3       43.2        7 
cards-in-force 
(millions) 
 
 
# - Denotes a variance of more than 100 percent. 
 
 
American                                                           (Preliminary) 
Express 
Company 
Components 
of Return 
on 
Average 
Equity 
(ROE), 
Return 
on 
Average 
Common 
Equity 
(ROCE), 
and 
Return on 
Average 
Tangible 
Common 
Equity 
(ROTCE) 
Appendix 
I 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages) 
                   For the Twelve Months Ended 
                   Sep 30,     Jun 30,     Mar 31,     Dec 31,     Sep 30, 
                   2015        2015        2015        2014        2014 
ROE 
Net                $ 5,711     $ 5,922     $ 5,978     $ 5,885     $ 5,746 
income 
Average            $ 21,349    $ 21,050    $ 20,606    $ 20,254    $ 19,948 
shareholders' 
equity 
Return on            26.8   %    28.1   %    29.0   %    29.1   %    28.8   % 
average 
equity 
(S) 
Reconciliation 
of 
ROCE and 
ROTCE 
Net                $ 5,711     $ 5,922     $ 5,978     $ 5,885     $ 5,746 
income 
Preferred            42          20          -           -           - 
shares 
dividends 
and 
related 
accretion 
Earnings             43          44          45          46          46 
allocated 
to 
participating 
share 
awards 
and other 
Net                $ 5,626     $ 5,858     $ 5,933     $ 5,839     $ 5,700 
income 
attributable 
to 
common 
shareholders 
Average            $ 21,349    $ 21,050    $ 20,606    $ 20,254    $ 19,948 
shareholders' 
equity 
Average              1,081       716         350         114         - 
preferred 
shares 
Average            $ 20,268    $ 20,334    $ 20,256    $ 20,140    $ 19,948 
common 
shareholders' 
equity 
Average              3,796       3,802       3,845       3,888       3,941 
goodwill 
and 
other 
intangibles 
Average            $ 16,472    $ 16,532    $ 16,411    $ 16,252    $ 16,007 
tangible 
common 
shareholders' 
equity 
Return on            27.8   %    28.8   %    29.3   %    29.0   %    28.6   % 
average 
common 
equity 
(S) 
Return on            34.2   %    35.4   %    36.2   %    35.9   %    35.6   % 
average 
tangible 
common 
equity 
(T) 
 
 
American                                                         (Preliminary) 
Express 
Company 
Components 
of 
Return 
on 
Average 
Segment 
Capital 
(ROSC) 
and 
Return 
on 
Average 
Tangible 
Segment 
Capital 
(ROTSC) 
Appendix 
II 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages) 
                  For the Twelve Months Ended 
                  Sep 30,     Jun 30,     Mar 31,     Dec 31,    Sep 30, 
                  2015        2015        2015        2014       2014 
U.S. 
Card 
Services 
Segment           $ 3,279     $ 3,374     $ 3,258     $ 3,200    $ 3,399 
income 
Average           $ 10,437    $ 10,352    $ 10,148    $ 9,843    $ 9,580 
segment 
capital 
Average             377         358         339         319        299 
goodwill 
and 
other 
intangibles 
Average           $ 10,060    $ 9,994     $ 9,809     $ 9,524    $ 9,281 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
Return              31.4   %    32.6   %    32.1   %    32.5  %    35.5  % 
on 
average 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
Return              32.6   %    33.8   %    33.2   %    33.6  %    36.6  % 
on 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
International 
Card 
Services 
Segment           $ 381       $ 434       $ 386       $ 411      $ 481 
income 
Average           $ 3,195     $ 3,133     $ 3,043     $ 3,020    $ 3,043 
segment 
capital 
Average             1,236       1,273       1,311       1,350      1,376 
goodwill 
and 
other 
intangibles 
Average           $ 1,959     $ 1,860     $ 1,732     $ 1,670    $ 1,667 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
Return              11.9   %    13.9   %    12.7   %    13.6  %    15.8  % 
on 
average 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
Return              19.4   %    23.3   %    22.3   %    24.6  %    28.9  % 
on 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
Global 
Commercial 
Services 
Segment           $ 1,128     $ 1,181     $ 1,539     $ 1,543    $ 1,131 
income 
Average           $ 3,861     $ 3,897     $ 3,859     $ 3,771    $ 3,736 
segment 
capital 
Average             1,666       1,661       1,678       1,696      1,715 
goodwill 
and 
other 
intangibles 
Average           $ 2,195     $ 2,236     $ 2,181     $ 2,075    $ 2,021 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
Return              29.2   %    30.3   %    39.9   %    40.9  %    30.3  % 
on 
average 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
Return              51.4   %    52.8   %    70.6   %    74.4  %    56.0  % 
on 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
Global 
Network 
& 
Merchant 
Services 
Segment           $ 1,771     $ 1,736     $ 1,661     $ 1,660    $ 1,642 
income 
Average           $ 2,177     $ 2,080     $ 2,024     $ 1,976    $ 1,989 
segment 
capital 
Average             199         194         190         189        190 
goodwill 
and 
other 
intangibles 
Average           $ 1,978     $ 1,886     $ 1,834     $ 1,787    $ 1,799 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
Return              81.4   %    83.5   %    82.1   %    84.0  %    82.6  % 
on 
average 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
Return              89.5   %    92.0   %    90.6   %    92.9  %    91.3  % 
on 
average 
tangible 
segment 
capital 
(U) 
 
 
American                                                        (Preliminary) 
Express 
Company 
Net 
Interest 
Yield on 
Card 
Member 
Loans 
Appendix 
III 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
                    Quarters Ended 
                    Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30, 
                    2015       2015       2015       2014       2014 
Net                 $ 1,505    $ 1,423    $ 1,447    $ 1,424    $ 1,395 
interest 
income 
Exclude: 
Interest            $ 234      $ 249      $ 249      $ 250      $ 247 
expense 
not 
attributable 
to the 
Company's 
Card 
Member 
loan 
portfolio 
Interest            $ (96   )  $ (97   )  $ (95   )  $ (92   )  $ (90   ) 
income 
not 
attributable 
to the 
Company's 
Card 
Member 
loan 
portfolio 
Adjusted            $ 1,643    $ 1,575    $ 1,601    $ 1,582    $ 1,552 
net 
interest 
income (V) 
Average             $ 69.0     $ 68.0     $ 67.6     $ 67.7     $ 66.4 
loans 
(billions) 
Exclude: 
Certain             $ (0.2  )  $ (0.2  )  $ (0.2  )  $ (0.2  )  $ (0.2  ) 
non-traditional 
Card 
Member 
loans and 
other 
fees 
(billions) 
Adjusted            $ 68.8     $ 67.8     $ 67.4     $ 67.5     $ 66.2 
average 
loans 
(billions) 
(W) 
Net                   8.7   %    8.4   %    8.6   %    8.4   %    8.5   % 
interest 
income 
divided 
by average 
loans (X) 
Net                   9.5   %    9.3   %    9.6   %    9.3   %    9.3   % 
interest 
yield 
on Card 
Member 
loans 
(Y) 
 
 
U.S. Card                                                                             (Preliminary) 
Services 
and 
International 
Card 
Services 
Net 
Interest 
Yield on 
Card 
Member 
Loans 
Appendix 
IV 
(Millions, 
except 
percentages 
and 
where 
indicated) 
                    Quarters Ended                                         Nine Months Ended 
                    Sep 30,    Jun 30,    Mar 31,    Dec 31,    Sep 30,    Sep 30,    Sep 30, 
                    2015       2015       2015       2014       2014       2015       2014 
USCS: 
Net                 $ 1,427    $ 1,354    $ 1,377    $ 1,341    $ 1,313    $ 4,158    $ 3,841 
interest 
income 
Exclude: 
Interest            $ 42       $ 41       $ 38       $ 39       $ 39       $ 121      $ 118 
expense 
not 
attributable 
to the 
Company's 
Card 
Member 
loan 
portfolio 
Interest            $ (4    )  $ (4    )  $ (3    )  $ (3    )  $ (3    )  $ (11   )  $ (8    ) 
income 
not 
attributable 
to the 
Company's 
Card 
Member 
loan 
portfolio 
Adjusted            $ 1,465    $ 1,391    $ 1,412    $ 1,377    $ 1,349    $ 4,268    $ 3,951 
net 
interest 
income (V) 
Average             $ 62.1     $ 60.9     $ 60.4     $ 59.7     $ 58.0     $ 61.2     $ 57.0 
loans 
(billions) 
Exclude: 

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Certain             $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -        $ -        $ - 
non-traditional 
Card 
Member 
loans and 
other 
fees 
(billions) 
Adjusted            $ 62.1     $ 60.9     $ 60.4     $ 59.7     $ 58.0     $ 61.2     $ 57.0 
average 
loans 
(billions) 
(W) 
Net                   9.2   %    8.9   %    9.1   %    9.0   %    9.1   %    9.1   %    9.0   % 
interest 
income 
divided 
by average 
loans (X) 
Net                   9.4   %    9.2   %    9.5   %    9.1   %    9.2   %    9.3   %    9.3   % 
interest 
yield 
on Card 
Member 
loans 
(Y) 
ICS: 
Net                 $ 167      $ 176      $ 180      $ 189      $ 188      $ 523      $ 566 
interest 
income 
Exclude: 
Interest            $ 18       $ 16       $ 18       $ 26       $ 24       $ 51       $ 63 
expense 
not 
attributable 
to the 
Company's 
Card 
Member 
loan 
portfolio 
Interest            $ (7    )  $ (8    )  $ (8    )  $ (9    )  $ (10   )  $ (24   )  $ (30   ) 
income 
not 
attributable 
to the 
Company's 
Card 
Member 
loan 
portfolio 
Adjusted            $ 178      $ 184      $ 190      $ 206      $ 202      $ 550      $ 599 
net 
interest 
income (V) 
Average             $ 6.9      $ 7.0      $ 7.2      $ 7.9      $ 8.3      $ 7.0      $ 8.3 
loans 
(billions) 
Exclude: 
Certain             $ (0.1  )  $ (0.1  )  $ (0.1  )  $ (0.2  )  $ (0.2  )  $ (0.1  )  $ (0.2  ) 
non-traditional 
Card 
Member 
loans and 
other 
fees 
(billions) 
Adjusted            $ 6.8      $ 6.9      $ 7.1      $ 7.7      $ 8.1      $ 6.9      $ 8.1 
average 
loans 
(billions) 
(W) 
Net                   9.7   %    10.1  %    10.0  %    9.6   %    9.1   %    10.0  %    9.1   % 
interest 
income 
divided 
by average 
loans (X) 
Net                   10.5  %    10.7  %    10.9  %    10.5  %    9.9   %    10.7  %    9.9   % 
interest 
yield 
on Card 
Member 
loans 
(Y) 
 
 
Appendix                                                                                  (Preliminary) 
V 
All Information in the preceding tables is presented on a basis  prepared in accordance 
with U.S. generally accepted accounting  principles (GAAP), unless otherwise indicated. 
(A)                                                                                        In Q1'15, the Company changed the classification related to certain  payments to co-brand partners reducing both marketing and promotion  and discount revenue. The misclassification in prior periods has  been conformed to the current period presentation. The discount rate  for prior periods has also been revised accordingly, resulting in a  reduction of between zero and one basis point in any period from  what was originally reported. 
(B)                                                                                        Beginning in Q3'15, Travel Commissions & Fees and Other Commissions  & Fees are consolidated into Other Fees & Commissions. 
(C)                                                                                        Represents net income, less (i) earnings allocated to participating  share awards of $10 million for the quarter ended September 30,  2015, $11 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, $11 million  for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, $11 million for the quarter  ended December 31, 2014 and $11 million for the quarter ended  September 30, 2014; and (ii) dividends on preferred shares of $22  million for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, $20 million for  the quarter ended June 30, 2015 and nil for all other comparative  periods. 
(D)                                                                                        Refer to Appendix I for components of return on average equity,  return on average common equity and return on average tangible  common equity, a non-GAAP measure. 
(E)                                                                                        Card billed business includes activities (including cash advances)  related to proprietary cards, cards issued under network partnership  agreements (non-proprietary billed business), and certain insurance  fees charged on proprietary cards. In-store spend activity within  retail co-brand portfolios in Global Network Services, from which  the Company earns no revenue, is not included in non-proprietary  billed business. Card billed business is reflected in the United  States or outside the United States based on where the issuer is  located. 
(F)                                                                                        Total cards-in-force represents the number of cards that are issued  and outstanding. Proprietary basic consumer cards-in-force includes  basic cards issued to the primary account owner and does not include  additional supplemental cards issued on that account. Proprietary  basic small business and corporate cards-in-force include basic and  supplemental cards issued to employee Card Members. Non-proprietary  cards-in-force includes all cards that are issued and outstanding  under network partnership agreements, except for retail co-brand  Card Member accounts that have no out-of-store spend activity during  the prior 12 month period. 
(G)                                                                                        This calculation is designed to reflect pricing at merchants  accepting general purpose American Express cards. It represents the  percentage of billed business (both proprietary and Global Network  Services) retained by the Company from merchants it acquires, prior  to payments to third parties unrelated to merchant acceptance. 
(H)                                                                                        Average basic Card Member spending and average fee per card are  computed from proprietary card activities only. Average fee per card  is computed based on net card fees, including the amortization of  deferred direct acquisition costs divided by average worldwide  proprietary cards-in-force. The adjusted average fee per card, which  is a non-GAAP measure, is computed in the same manner, but excludes  amortization of deferred direct acquisition costs. The amount of  amortization excluded for these periods was $72 million for the  quarter ended September 30, 2015, $62 million for the quarter ended  June 30, 2015, $83 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, $79  million for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, and $77 million for  the quarter ended September 30, 2014. The Company presents adjusted  average fee per card because the Company believes this metric  presents a useful indicator of card fee pricing across a range of  its proprietary card products. 
(I)                                                                                        Provisions for principal (resulting from authorized transactions)  and fee reserve components. 
(J)                                                                                        Consists of principal (resulting from authorized transactions),  interest and/or fees, less recoveries. 
(K)                                                                                        Beginning in first quarter 2014, reserves related for card-related  fraud losses are reflected in Other liabilities. All periods include  foreign currency translation adjustments and other items. 
(L)                                                                                        The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses  only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with  industry convention. In addition, because the Company's practice is  to include uncollectible interest and/or fees as part of its total  provision for losses, a net write-off rate including principal,  interest and/or fees is also presented. Beginning in January 2015,  timing of charge-offs for loans in certain modification programs  changed from 180 days past due to 120 days past due. Excluding the  impact of the change, which was fully recognized in the first  quarter, the Q1'15 USCS/ICS Charge net write-off rate - principal  only was 1.9% and the USCS Lending net write-off rate - principal  only was 1.4%. 
(M)                                                                                        See Appendix III for quarterly calculations of net interest yield on  Card Member loans, a non-GAAP measure, and net interest income  divided by average loans, a GAAP measure, and the Company's  rationale for presenting net interest yield on Card Member loans.  For calculations for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 and  2013, please refer to Annex 3 of the Company's 2014 Fourth Quarter/  Full Year Earnings Supplement on file with the Securities and  Exchange Commission. 
(N)                                                                                        Segment capital represents capital allocated to a segment based upon  specific business operational needs, risk measures, and regulatory  capital requirements. 
(O)                                                                                        Refer to Appendix II for components of return on average segment  capital and return on average tangible segment capital, a non-GAAP  measure. 
(P)                                                                                        Revised prospectively, as a result of systems enhancements, to  reclassify certain intercompany accounts. 
(Q)                                                                                        See Appendix IV for calculations of net interest yield on Card  Member loans, a non-GAAP measure, and net interest income divided by  average loans, a GAAP measure, and the Company's rationale for  presenting net interest yield on Card Member loans. 

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