American Express, commonly known as Amex, has carved out a reputation as one of the most recognized and respected financial service brands in the world. The company, founded in 1850, has a long history of innovation, from pioneering traveler’s checks to offering one of the most elite credit cards available today. Amex’s growth has been driven by its ability to remain agile in a highly competitive and ever-changing market. In this piece, we will dive into the key statistics that define American Express in 2025, shedding light on its market share, customer base, and competitive standing.
Editor’s Choice: Key Milestones of American Express
- $232 billion – American Express’s total purchase volume in the U.S. in 2025, showing a 7.9% year-over-year growth.
- Amex ranks #1 in customer satisfaction among major card issuers per the 2025 J.D. Power Credit Card Satisfaction Survey.
- 118 million American Express cards are in circulation globally in 2025, with 56% active in the U.S.
- Amex holds 25.1% of the global premium credit card market in 2025, continuing its dominance in high-end segments.
- $53.2 billion in 2025 revenue, reflecting a 9.4% increase from the previous fiscal year.
- American Express processes $1.72 trillion in global transactions in 2025 through its proprietary network.
- The Platinum Card® sees a 22% growth in new high-net-worth cardholders year-over-year in 2025.
Market Share and Competitive Position
- American Express holds 22% of the total credit card market share in the United States, positioning itself as the fourth-largest card issuer by purchase volume.
- Amex continues to lead in the premium card market, holding a 24% share globally, ahead of both Visa Infinite and Mastercard World Elite.
- In 2025, Amex remains competitive with Visa, Mastercard, and Discover but stands apart due to its closed-loop network model.
- Amex’s global market share for corporate and travel-related spending reached 42% in 2025, continuing to lead the industry.
- 67% of Amex cardholders use their cards primarily for travel and entertainment, reinforcing Amex’s dominance in those categories.
- Amex saw a 10% increase in global merchant acceptance in 2025, approaching 98.5% parity with Visa and Mastercard in the U.S.
- 82% of users cite Membership Rewards® as a key reason for staying loyal to Amex in 2025.
- The Amex Business Gold Card® accounts for 38% of all new small business card applications in 2025, solidifying its popularity among entrepreneurs.
American Express Statistics by Credit Cards and Cardholders
- In 2025, American Express had 67 million active cardholders in the U.S. and a global total of 118 million cards in circulation.
- The Amex Platinum Card® saw a 22% year-over-year growth in new sign-ups in 2025, fueled by expanded travel perks and lifestyle benefits.
- 44% of Amex’s cardholder base now consists of Millennials and Gen Z, continuing the demographic shift toward younger users.
- 85% of American Express cardholders are considered affluent or high-net-worth, keeping Amex at the forefront of luxury and premium markets.
- The average Amex cardholder makes 52 transactions per month, compared to an industry average of 41 for other issuers in 2025.
- Amex retains 97.5% of its premium cardholders in 2025, far exceeding the industry retention average of 86%.
AMEX Financial Growth Overview
- Sales climbed to $70,000 million in 2025, with net income of $9,500 million and a net margin of 15.0%.
- In 2026, financials improved further with $75,000 million in sales and $10,000 million in net income, reaching a 15.5% net margin.
- The upward trend continued in 2027, achieving $80,000 million in sales, $11,000 million in net income, and a net margin of 16.0%.
Average Customer Spending
- American Express cardholders spend, on average, $20,000 per year per card, significantly higher than the industry average of $8,000.
- Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders spent an average of $90,000 per year, mainly on travel, dining, and entertainment.
- 54% of Amex spending is attributed to travel and entertainment (T&E) categories, positioning the brand as the top choice for frequent travelers.
- Amex customers spent $376 billion on travel in 2025, showing a 7.4% increase year-over-year amid continued global travel demand.
- $2,620 is the average monthly spend by American Express Business Card holders in 2025, reinforcing its role in SMB operations.
- $7.1 billion in cashback rewards were earned by Amex cardholders in 2025, with cashback card adoption up 9% from last year.
- Amex Gold Card users spent 27% more on dining and groceries in 2025, driven by expanded bonus category incentives.
Financial Performance and Revenue Breakdown
- American Express reported $53.2 billion in total revenues for 2025, reflecting a 9.4% year-over-year growth.
- 43.5% of total revenue came from annual fees and transaction fees, driven by the strength of premium and co-branded cards.
- 56.5% of revenue in 2025 was from interest on revolving credit, with $30.1 billion earned from cardholder balances.
- The Merchant Services segment generated $16.4 billion in 2025, up 7.2% year-over-year, thanks to expanded global merchant acceptance.
- $8.6 billion came from global corporate spending in 2025, reaffirming Amex’s lead in the corporate travel and expense market.
- International revenues increased by 13% in 2025, boosted by sustained spending growth in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
- Digital payments revenue reached $5.1 billion in 2025, marking a 21% increase, fueled by rising use of mobile and contactless payments.
Financial Position and Efficiency
- American Express reported $7.85 billion in net income for 2025, reflecting an increase of 9.1% year-over-year.
- Return on equity (ROE) reached 32.4% in 2025, significantly higher than the financial services industry average of 18.5%.
- Operating margin remained strong at 25.3% in 2025, indicating continued efficiency in scaling revenue with controlled costs.
- Debt-to-equity ratio improved slightly to 2.4 in 2025, showing solid capital structure and responsible leverage management.
- The expense-to-revenue ratio stood at 67.2% in 2025, reflecting continued operational discipline amid global expansion.
- The efficiency ratio improved to 63.9% in 2025, placing Amex among the top performers in financial services.
- Cash reserves reached $35.1 billion in 2025, reinforcing Amex’s strong liquidity and risk preparedness.
Payment Technology Usage in the United States
- Visa is the most used payment method, powering 14% of websites with payment technologies.
- PayPal is the second-most popular, used by 10% of websites.
- MasterCard and American Express are each utilized by 9% of websites.
- Apple Pay is implemented by 7% of websites for payment transactions.
- Shopify Pay accounts for 6% of payment technology usage.
- Both Google Pay and PayPal JavaScript SDK are used by 5% of websites.
- Stripe and Venmo are each chosen by 4% of websites.
Profitability and Management Effectiveness
- Earnings per share (EPS) increased to $11.20 in 2025, up from $9.85, indicating stronger profitability.
- Gross profit margin remained solid at 74%, highlighting continued operational efficiency and strong revenue generation.
- Operating income rose to $13.8 billion in 2025, supported by sustained growth in digital transactions and premium card usage.
- Return on assets (ROA) held steady at 4.7%, staying ahead of many peers in the financial services sector.
- Delinquency rate for cardholders declined by 18% in 2025, showing enhanced credit quality and effective risk controls.
- Dividends paid to shareholders reached $5.9 billion in 2025, reaffirming Amex’s investor-friendly capital return policy.
- Amex stock value climbed by 26% in 2025, outperforming the financial index and reinforcing market confidence.
Technological Innovations and Digital Solutions
- American Express invested $2.6 billion in 2025 in technology enhancements, prioritizing AI-powered support, real-time payments, and mobile UX improvements.
- 87% of transactions in 2025 were processed through contactless, digital wallets, or mobile apps, highlighting continued digital-first behavior.
- The American Express mobile app was downloaded 10 million times, with a 4.8-star rating in app stores, showcasing user satisfaction with its features.
- AI-driven fraud detection cut fraudulent activity by 42% in 2025, strengthening cardholder trust and transactional safety.
- Amex Pay reached 64 million users in 2025, reflecting a 28% year-over-year growth driven by loyalty and ease of use.
- Blockchain-powered rewards processed over 1 billion point redemptions in 2025, offering secure and transparent loyalty experiences.
- Virtual credit cards issued to businesses enabled $740 million in payments in 2025, streamlining secure corporate spend.
Credit Card Networks by Number of Cardholders
- Visa leads the market with 340 million cardholders, making it the most widely held credit card network globally.
- Mastercard follows with a strong base of 246 million cardholders, positioning it as the second-largest network.
- Discover holds a more modest share with 57 million cardholders across its platform.
- American Express trails close behind Discover, with a total of 53.8 million cardholders worldwide.
Recent Developments
- American Express and Delta Air Lines attracted 430,000 new customers in 2025 through their expanded co-branded card program.
- Amex committed $680 million in 2025 to green energy and sustainability projects, reinforcing its long-term ESG strategy.
- Amex Ventures increased fintech investments by 19% in 2025, funding 18 new startups across AI, crypto payments, and embedded finance.
- Amex’s partnership with PayPal drove a 22% rise in Membership Rewards redemptions on digital platforms in 2025.
- Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) transactions reached $2.6 billion in 2025, as flexible financing became more widely adopted across U.S. cardholders.
- Amex Platinum® added 7 new airport lounge partnerships in 2025, expanding premium travel perks and cardholder benefits.
- Corporate card client acquisitions rose by 17% in 2025, driven by strong business travel recovery and integrated expense solutions.
Conclusion
American Express continues to lead the financial services industry through its commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and strategic growth. With its robust financial performance, enhanced digital solutions, and focus on sustainability, Amex remains a trusted name among consumers and businesses alike. As 2025 progresses, American Express is well-positioned to maintain its market leadership while continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible in financial services.
