American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) finished the shortened Christmas Eve trading session modestly higher on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, and remained essentially steady in after-hours trading. The broader market backdrop was constructive—U.S. stocks ended the session at fresh records in a holiday-thinned tape—setting up a potentially headline-sensitive next open as traders return from the Christmas Day market closure.
One important calendar note: U.S. markets were closed Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) and are scheduled to reopen for a regular full session Friday, Dec. 26. The NYSE also confirmed Dec. 24 was an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET. [1]
Below is what happened to AXP stock after the bell on 12/24/2025, what drove the tone today, and what investors typically watch before the next session begins.
American Express stock price after the bell on Dec. 24, 2025
American Express shares ended the holiday-shortened session up slightly:
- Close (Dec. 24): $383.11, +0.24%
- Day’s range: $380.74 (low) to $384.73 (high)
- Open: $382.19
- Volume: about 786,822 shares (notably light versus earlier sessions this week) [2]
In the after-hours market, AXP traded essentially flat, hovering around $383.10 late Wednesday afternoon (with modest extended-hours volume). [3]
Why volume matters today: With U.S. exchanges shutting down for Christmas Day and trading ending early on Christmas Eve, liquidity is often reduced. That can amplify moves on relatively small order flow—especially in large, widely held financial stocks like American Express. Reuters noted thin holiday trading volume across U.S. exchanges during Wednesday’s session. [4]
The market backdrop: “Santa rally” talk, light liquidity, and rate-cut expectations
American Express stock’s calm finish came as the Dow and S&P 500 closed at record highs in a broad-based rally during the shortened session, according to Reuters. [5]
Two macro themes mattered for financials (and for AXP specifically) today:
1) Holiday-week trading conditions can exaggerate price action
Reuters described Wednesday as a session with thin trading volumes ahead of the Christmas closure. [6]
AP also emphasized markets closed early for Christmas Eve and remained closed for Christmas Day. [7]
For AXP holders, that’s a practical “tomorrow morning” takeaway: don’t over-interpret small after-hours ticks on a low-liquidity tape—especially heading into a post-holiday open.
2) Rates and the consumer: jobless claims and the Fed path
On Wednesday, the U.S. Labor Department reported initial jobless claims fell to 214,000 (week ended Dec. 20), released a day early because of the holiday. Reuters also flagged that continued claims rose, pointing to a “no hire, no fire” labor market dynamic. [8]
For American Express and other consumer-credit-linked financial names, the combination of:
- a labor market that isn’t collapsing, and
- a rate environment the market expects could ease further over time (even if not immediately), [9]
…tends to support sentiment around spending, credit performance, and valuations.
What’s “new” around American Express right now
Even if there wasn’t a single blockbuster, AXP-specific headline on Dec. 24, investors are juggling several fresh, near-dated company items into year-end and early 2026.
American Express dividend: key dates investors are watching
American Express recently declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share, payable Feb. 10, 2026 to shareholders of record Jan. 2, 2026. [10]
Data providers also list the next ex-dividend date as Jan. 2, 2026 (with the same cash amount and pay date). [11]
Why this matters before the next open: with the ex-dividend date approaching in early January, short-term flows can sometimes pick up as income-focused investors rebalance into year-end and the first week of the new year—though nothing about that is guaranteed.
Earnings: the next major catalyst is already on the calendar
American Express announced its earnings webcast schedule, including:
- Q4 and full-year 2025 results:Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET
- Additional 2026 quarterly call dates were also published. [12]
For most large-cap financials, earnings date proximity becomes more important than day-to-day headlines, especially in low-news periods like late December.
Credit quality snapshot: last disclosed monthly stats (context, not a new filing today)
In a November 2025 8-K disclosure covering monthly statistics through Oct. 31, 2025, American Express reported:
- Total U.S. Consumer + Small Business card loans held for investment: $126.4B
- U.S. Consumer 30+ day delinquencies: 1.4%, net write-off rate (principal only): 2.2%
- U.S. Small Business 30+ day delinquencies: 1.6%, net write-off rate: 2.6% [13]
This is not a same-day catalyst for Dec. 24 trading—but it is part of the “what investors keep in mind” framework heading into earnings and any 2026 outlook commentary.
Consumer spending read-through: holiday demand remains a focal point
Earlier this month, Reuters reported American Express saw 9% growth in U.S. retail consumer spending on its network during the Thanksgiving holiday week, with stronger growth among Platinum cardholders. [14]
That type of data tends to anchor the bullish narrative around Amex’s premium customer base—particularly when the market is broadly debating whether holiday demand is cooling or holding up.
Analyst forecasts and price targets: what the Street is modeling for AXP
“Forecasts” for a stock like American Express often show up in two places:
- 12‑month price targets and ratings, and
- forward earnings expectations (typically updated as results approach)
On the price-target side, what stands out right now is that AXP’s late‑December price is high enough that some consensus targets sit below the current trading level, depending on the data provider’s analyst universe and refresh cycle.
Here’s how several widely followed consensus snapshots compare:
- MarketBeat (consensus): average price target about $335.55; consensus rating shown as Hold (with the same page listing a high target of $425 and a low target of $255). [15]
- StockAnalysis (consensus): analyst consensus Buy, average target about $329.95 (range shown from $240 to $425). [16]
- Investing.com (consensus): average 12‑month price target about $364.095, with a mix of buy/hold/sell recommendations and a stated high estimate of $462 and low estimate of $280. [17]
How to interpret that going into the next open:
When a stock trades above many published average targets, it doesn’t automatically mean it “must” fall—rather, it often signals that:
- the rally has been faster than forecast revisions, or
- analysts expect more modest upside from here unless earnings/forward guidance re-accelerate.
The high-end targets (e.g., $425 in multiple trackers, and $462 on Investing.com’s range) highlight that some analysts still model meaningful upside—often tied to continued premium-spending strength, resilient credit, and operating leverage. [18]
AXP technical context: levels traders may watch into Dec. 26
Without overcomplicating the chart story in a holiday week, Dec. 24 provided a clear reference range:
- Support zone (near-term): roughly the $380–$381 area (Wednesday’s low was $380.74) [19]
- Near-term resistance: roughly $384–$385 (Wednesday’s high was $384.73) [20]
Also notable: AXP’s recent trading has been close to the $387.49 high printed earlier in December (a level cited in market coverage as the 52‑week high reached on Dec. 12). [21]
Why this matters before Friday’s open: In thin post-holiday sessions, these obvious recent highs/lows can act like magnets for short-term trading flows.
What to know before the market opens “tomorrow” (next session: Friday, Dec. 26)
Because Christmas Day (Dec. 25) is a full U.S. market holiday, the actionable “tomorrow open” checklist is really about Friday, Dec. 26. [22]
1) Confirm the trading schedule and expect lighter liquidity
- NYSE documented an early close on Dec. 24 and full closure on Dec. 25. [23]
- Reuters reported major U.S. exchanges planned to operate a regular full day on Dec. 26. [24]
Even with a “normal” schedule Friday, the market often still trades with holiday-thinned participation, which can affect spreads and volatility.
2) Watch rates and credit-sensitive signals
For American Express, the most important “pre-market” macro inputs are typically:
- Treasury yields (funding/discount-rate implications)
- Credit spreads and consumer-credit sentiment
- Any surprise economic prints
Jobless claims were already a key datapoint today, and the Fed path narrative remains in focus. [25]
3) Know what news could hit when government offices are closed
The Federal Reserve’s December calendar notes holiday-related scheduling impacts for certain Fed statistical releases around Christmas. [26]
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that—even with federal offices closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 by presidential order—major exchanges stuck to their trading calendar. [27]
Net: don’t assume “nothing can happen” just because it’s a holiday window—but do assume liquidity can be thinner, and headlines can feel louder.
4) Keep the next true AXP catalyst in mind: Jan. 30 earnings
In late December, many investors shift from day-to-day tape reading toward “what will matter at earnings,” especially for mega-cap financials.
For AXP, the next major, scheduled catalyst is Q4 and full-year 2025 results on Jan. 30, 2026, with management commentary likely to focus on:
- billed business/spending trends,
- credit metrics,
- 2026 growth expectations,
- and the competitive landscape in premium cards. [28]
5) Dividend timing is a near-dated datapoint
With the next dividend set at $0.82, record date Jan. 2, and pay date Feb. 10, the stock’s early-January trading can sometimes reflect dividend-positioning flows. [29]
Bottom line for American Express stock after the Dec. 24 close
American Express (AXP) ended Christmas Eve’s shortened session at $383.11 and was flat after hours, reflecting a calm stock-specific tape inside a broader market that pushed to new records. [30]
Going into the next open (Friday, Dec. 26), the practical setup is:
- holiday liquidity is still a factor,
- rates and macro headlines remain the main cross-currents for financials, and
- the next truly high-impact AXP catalyst is late January earnings, with the early-January ex-dividend date also on the near-term calendar. [31]
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
References
1. www.nyse.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. www.marketwatch.com, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. apnews.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.businesswire.com, 11. stockanalysis.com, 12. ir.americanexpress.com, 13. www.stocktitan.net, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.marketbeat.com, 16. stockanalysis.com, 17. www.investing.com, 18. www.investing.com, 19. stockanalysis.com, 20. stockanalysis.com, 21. www.marketwatch.com, 22. www.nyse.com, 23. www.nyse.com, 24. www.reuters.com, 25. www.reuters.com, 26. www.federalreserve.gov, 27. www.reuters.com, 28. ir.americanexpress.com, 29. www.businesswire.com, 30. stockanalysis.com, 31. www.reuters.com
