New York, January 25, 2026, 11:48 ET — Market closed
- American Express slipped 1.7% Friday, ending the session at $361.69.
- The company will release its results on Friday, Jan. 30, ahead of the opening bell.
- The Federal Reserve wraps up its two-day policy meeting Wednesday, a key event for rate-sensitive financial stocks.
American Express (AXP.N) shares dropped 1.7% to close at $361.69 on Friday, putting the Dow component under pressure ahead of a week loaded with key market events.
U.S. markets kick off Monday ahead of a Federal Reserve decision set for midweek and a packed earnings schedule that’s shaping investor outlooks for 2026. Traders are also eyeing a looming deadline for a possible U.S. government shutdown.
American Express commands attention from traders because it’s more directly linked to consumer activity than many of its payments rivals. Changes in spending, loan growth, and credit losses often surface swiftly—sometimes with unwelcome surprises.
Visa (V.N) held steady on Friday, while Mastercard (MA.N) dropped 1.6%. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust remained flat, but the iShares U.S. Financials ETF fell 1.3%. American Express weighed heavily on the Dow.
American Express plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Friday, Jan. 30. The company will follow up with its earnings call at 8:30 a.m. ET, according to its announcement.
Kiplinger, referencing analyst forecasts, put American Express’ quarterly earnings at roughly $3.53 per share. Mastercard is set to report the day before, offering an early glimpse into payment volumes and cross-border trends.
The Fed’s policy-setting committee will convene on Jan. 27-28, announcing its decision at 2 p.m. ET Wednesday. Chair Jerome Powell is slated to address the press half an hour afterward.
“It’s been a short but sharp roller-coaster,” said Yung-Yu Ma, chief investment strategist at PNC Financial Services Group, reflecting on recent market moves. Franklin Templeton’s Chris Galipeau pointed to earnings as the key factor, noting, “at the end of the day, earnings are the driver.” Meanwhile, Michael Pearce of Oxford Economics expects the Fed to hold steady for a while, citing mounting political and geopolitical risks. Reuters
The setup could swing either way. A hawkish Fed shift, fresh political turmoil, or a nasty surprise in credit losses might weigh on AXP, even if earnings come through as expected.
Investors are focused on billed business (spending on cards), loan delinquencies, and the rising costs of keeping cardmembers loyal via rewards. In this stock, guidance often makes or breaks the reaction.
The Fed statement and Powell’s press conference hit Wednesday. Then on Friday, before the bell, American Express reports — offering a snapshot of the premium consumer right as markets weigh growth prospects for 2026.
