AmEx's Q4 Earnings Miss Isn't the Whole Story: Should You Buy or Sell?

American Express (AXP) saw its shares rise despite narrowly missing Q4 2025 earnings expectations, driven by strong customer engagement and resilient premium spending. The company’s integrated payments model and focus on affluent customers help insulate it from macroeconomic pressures and potential regulatory changes, like the proposed credit-card interest rate cap. While AXP stock has outperformed peers over the past year, its current valuation premium and proximity to average price targets suggest a limited near-term upside, leading Zacks to assign a Hold rating.