NEW YORK, January 17, 2026, 15:16 (EST) — Market closed.
American Express Co (AXP.N) shares ended Friday up 2.08% at $364.79, beating a slightly weaker U.S. stock market as investors digested new policy risks tied to credit-card rates. Volume hit about 3.5 million shares, well above its 50-day average of 2.6 million. The stock also outperformed rivals like JPMorgan Chase and Visa.
The White House is considering an executive order to implement President Donald Trump’s push for a cap on credit card interest rates, Bloomberg News reported Friday. Such a move would immediately impact card issuers and payments companies by limiting how much they can charge on revolving balances.
A filing on Thursday gave a snapshot of AmEx’s credit situation heading into year-end. U.S. consumer card member loans hit $100.2 billion at Dec. 31. Loans 30 days past due slipped to 1.3% from 1.4% the previous month, while the net write-off rate on principal stayed steady at 2.1%. Small-business loans stood at $30.8 billion, with delinquencies at 1.7% and net write-offs at 2.7%, according to the filing. Delinquencies refer to balances 30 days past due; net write-offs are loans the lender doesn’t expect to recover.
Monthly snapshots can shift focus quickly since they arrive before earnings and offer traders a clear signal on whether rising debt is pushing losses up. They drop into an already noisy policy landscape, where headlines often drown out fundamentals for a day or two.
American Express earns revenue not only from interest on card balances but also from card fees and spending volumes. However, imposing a strict cap on annual percentage rates, or APRs, would disrupt lending economics and likely alter the product mix issuers offer, as well as the perks they’re able to provide.
The policy path remains uncertain, and that ambiguity works both for and against the stock. Banks want clarity on the penalties for non-compliance and the legal power to impose a ceiling. Critics, meanwhile, caution that consumers might face fewer rewards and stricter credit access.
Analysts are gearing up for more headline-driven volatility once trading kicks back in. Stephen Biggar of Argus Research expects “an ongoing conversation between the industry and the administration.” Brian Mulberry at Zacks Investment Management cautioned that “policy volatility is likely to create market volatility until there is a clear path forward.” Moshe Orenbuch from TD Cowen suggested lenders might roll out 10% cards, but “the likely features of that card would be less robust.” Meanwhile, David Krakauer of Mercer Advisors highlighted the profitability of card lending, noting “credit cards are extremely profitable.” Reuters
U.S. stock markets will be closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, leaving Tuesday’s session as the first chance for traders to react to any new developments out of Washington.
American Express investors have their eyes on Jan. 30, the day the company is set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results. Traders will be tuning in closely for any hints from management on credit trends, spending patterns, and how changes in regulations might impact the business.
