American Express Company Earnings Preview: Analysts Predict Higher Earnings Over Prior Quarte

Get ready for American Express Company

AXP

earnings! Don't be the last to know: The company announces its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 20, 2011.

Need to cram before Wednesday's earnings release? We've got just the thing. Here's an advanced look at American Express Company's second quarter earnings report.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Ahead of the company's earnings announcement, analysts are expecting a positive EPS reading of 98 cents per share and revenues of $7.35 billion. We'll have to wait for Wednesday to see if American Express Company falls in line with analyst expectations and reports an estimated increase in both EPS and revenue from the year-ago quarter.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$0.93	$0.90	$0.85	$0.79
EPS Actual	$0.97	$0.94	$0.90	$0.84

Stock Performance:

At last check, shares of American Express Company were trading at $51.38. Since January 1st, shares of American Express Company have given investors a return of 21.1%. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 36.4%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for American Express Company is a Moderate Buy. This rating hasn't budged over the past three months.

Competitors:

Wondering how American Express Company compares to rivals in the same sector? Here are a few of the company's peers.

Bank of America BAC: Hold with a $0.17 recent quarter EPS
Citigroup C: Moderate Buy with a $1.0 recent quarter EPS
Capital One COF: Hold with a $2.04 recent quarter EPS
Discover Financial Services DFS: Moderate Buy with a $1.09 recent quarter EPS

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: American Express Company is a global payments, network and travel company, which offers credit card products and travel-related services to consumers and businesses on an international scale.

Take Action:

Now that you've gotten an advanced peak at American Express Company's upcoming earnings numbers, keep an eye out for any surprises in the report and be ready to take action. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and a guide to your next steps.