AmEx spending picked up at year-end, thanks to younger cardholders

American Express’s prosperous cardholders bought comfy spending extra freely once more late final yr, Chief Monetary Officer Christophe Le Caillec instructed CNBC.

Spending on AmEx playing cards jumped 8% yr over yr within the fourth quarter after slowing down from a 7% development price early within the yr to six% throughout the second and third quarters, in accordance with the agency’s earnings presentation.

Whereas the year-end pickup was seen throughout all buyer segments and geographies, it was particularly fueled by millennials and Gen Z customers, the place transaction volumes jumped 16%, up from 12% within the third quarter.

Older teams have been extra restrained with their playing cards; Gen X clients spent 7% extra within the fourth quarter, whereas child boomers noticed billings rise simply 4%.

“We had very sturdy development from Gen Z and millennials, and that 2 proportion level acceleration offers us quite a lot of optimism for 2025,” Le Caillec mentioned.

Elevated transaction ranges have continued into the primary three weeks of this yr, he added.

Youthful Individuals are mentioned to spend extra on experiences relatively than items, and that is mirrored within the outcomes from AmEx, which together with rival card issuer JPMorgan Chase dominate the marketplace for high-end bank cards.

Journey and leisure billings rose 11% within the quarter, in contrast with 8% for good and providers. The increase in journey got here from airline spending, which rose 13%, with spending for enterprise class and firstclass airfares up 19%, in accordance with Le Caillec.

AmEx shares fell greater than 2% in noon buying and selling Friday after the corporate reported earnings and income that have been roughly according to analyst expectations. Shares of the New York-based firm have been on a tear over the previous yr, hitting a 52-week excessive on Thursday.

“We’re inspired by accelerating billings development as we consider it will likely be a key issue for Amex to satisfy its aspirational goal of at the very least 10% income development,” William Blair analysts led by Cristopher Kennedy wrote Friday in a analysis be aware. “We stay patrons on any pullback.”