• The consensus price target for American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) has shown an upward trend over the past year, indicating growing confidence among analysts.
• Despite a slight decrease in the average price target from the previous quarter, expectations for a 16.8% increase in earnings per share (EPS) highlight optimism about the company's financial performance.
• Concerns remain among some analysts, as evidenced by a significantly lower price target from Barclays, pointing to caution about the company's ability to meet earnings expectations.

American Express Company (NYSE: AXP) is a global financial services corporation known for its credit card, charge card, and travel-related services. It competes with other major players like Visa and Mastercard. Over the past year, the consensus price target for AXP has seen some fluctuations, reflecting changing analyst expectations.

Last month, the average price target for AXP was $381, a slight decrease from the previous quarter's $387.55. This minor adjustment suggests a tempered optimism among analysts. However, compared to last year's target of $361.96, there is a clear upward trend, indicating growing confidence in the company's prospects.

American Express is set to announce its fourth-quarter earnings, with expectations of a 16.8% increase in earnings per share (EPS). This growth is driven by rising network volumes, discount revenues, and card growth. These factors are expected to offset the increasing costs associated with customer engagement, as highlighted by analysts.

Despite the positive outlook, some analysts, like Mark DeVries from Barclays, have set a lower price target of $145 for AXP. This suggests that while there is optimism, there are also concerns about the company's ability to meet earnings expectations. Upcoming earnings reports and strategic announcements will be crucial in shaping future analyst expectations and stock price targets.