Piper Jaffray analyst Jason Deleeuw expects shares of American Express to rally today given the accelerated Q1 revenue growth, "better-than-feared" provision expense and 2018 outlook raise. The year-over-year comparisons get more difficult going forward, but American Express has strong momentum across its business, Deleeuw tells investors in a post-earnings research note. However, the analyst believes the stock's valuation fairly reflects his expectation for a low-teens earnings growth profile with potential upside limited by higher provisioning expense and a competitive card environment. He lowered his price target for the shares to $116 from $122 and keeps a Neutral rating on American Express.

BMO Capital raised the firm's price target on American Express to $175 from $167 and keeps an Underperform rating on the shares. The firm cites the company's broad-based Q1 earnings beat, with higher than previously-modeled net interest income and slightly lower credit costs being partly offset by higher expected operating expenses. BMO adds however that it remains concerned that American Express's elevated loan restructuring rate could eventually bleed into higher credit provisions.

RBC Capital raised the firm's price target on American Express to $253 from $250 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The company's Q1 results showed a "good quarter" with revenues that met expectations, controlled core expenses, and acceptable credit trends, the analyst tells investors in a research note. While spend volumes continued to moderate, American Express management remains confident on the near and longer term revenue trajectory, the firm added.

Morgan Stanley raised the firm's price target on American Express to $226 from $222 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares following Q1 results that were better than expected, led by net interest income, credit, and expenses. The firm is taking forward EPS up 1%, noting that its 2024 estimate is now above the midpoint of management's EPS guidance at $13.02, though it maintains an Equal Weight rating, citing valuation.