U.S. Credit Card Delinquencies and Charge-Offs Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Delinquency Rate Decline: According to Seeking Alpha, the delinquency rate for credit cards at major U.S. banks dropped from 2.81% in February to 2.70% in March, which is not only below the March 2025 average of 2.84% but also lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2.76%, indicating an improvement in consumer credit conditions.
- Charge-Off Rate Decrease: The average net charge-off rate for March was 3.38%, down from 3.83% in February and significantly lower than the 4.34% recorded in March 2025, suggesting a reduction in household borrowing and a decrease in credit risk.
- Consumer Behavior Shift: Households are pulling back on borrowing and reducing revolving balances, reflecting a trend of debt repayment and moderated spending, supported in part by seasonal inflows such as tax refunds.
- Credit Card Usage Trends: Average credit card balances and utilization rates declined month-over-month in March, further confirming the trend of consumer deleveraging, indicating a more cautious approach to credit card usage in the market.
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Analyst Views on AXP
Wall Street analysts forecast AXP stock price to rise
21 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
12 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 318.550
Low
280.00
Averages
379.06
High
425.00
Current: 318.550
Low
280.00
Averages
379.06
High
425.00
About AXP
American Express Company is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Its card-issuing, merchant-acquiring and card network businesses offer products and services to a broad range of customers, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations around the world. Its range of products and services includes credit and charge cards and complementary products and services, including travel, dining, lifestyle and expense management products and services; banking and other payment and financing products and services, including deposits and non-card lending; merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, fraud prevention, and point-of-sale marketing and information products and services, and network services. These products and services are offered through various channels, including mobile and online applications, affiliate marketing, customer referral programs, third-party service providers, and business partners.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Enhanced Customer Value: The new fee includes over $3,500 in annual lifestyle benefits, such as new credits with Resy, lululemon, and Uber One, aimed at maintaining customer loyalty despite a $300 increase in five years, emphasizing the importance of perceived value.
- Revenue Growth Trend: Revenue from Platinum cardholders grew by 6% in Q1, primarily from tenured customers, indicating that the pricing strategy effectively attracted high-value clients and boosted overall earnings.
- Young Consumer Preferences: Analysts note that younger generations are more comfortable with credit card fees, viewing them as subscription-like products that deliver value through travel, dining, and entertainment experiences, supporting American Express's pricing strategy and potentially leading the industry towards premium, high-fee credit cards.
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- Retail Sales Influencing Factors: Higher tax refunds may have boosted retail sales in March, indicating a short-term improvement in consumer finances, but long-term trends remain uncertain and warrant close monitoring.
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U.S. Credit Card Delinquencies and Charge-Offs Decline
- Delinquency Rate Decline: According to Seeking Alpha, the delinquency rate for credit cards at major U.S. banks dropped from 2.81% in February to 2.70% in March, which is not only below the March 2025 average of 2.84% but also lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2.76%, indicating an improvement in consumer credit conditions.
- Charge-Off Rate Decrease: The average net charge-off rate for March was 3.38%, down from 3.83% in February and significantly lower than the 4.34% recorded in March 2025, suggesting a reduction in household borrowing and a decrease in credit risk.
- Consumer Behavior Shift: Households are pulling back on borrowing and reducing revolving balances, reflecting a trend of debt repayment and moderated spending, supported in part by seasonal inflows such as tax refunds.
- Credit Card Usage Trends: Average credit card balances and utilization rates declined month-over-month in March, further confirming the trend of consumer deleveraging, indicating a more cautious approach to credit card usage in the market.
See More
American Express Raises Platinum Card Fee, Setting Industry Precedent
- Industry Pricing Signal: American Express raised the annual fee for its Platinum Card from $695 to $895 in late 2025 without losing customers, potentially prompting competitors to follow suit and reshaping the pricing structure across the credit card industry.
- Enhanced Customer Value: The new fee includes over $3,500 in annual lifestyle benefits, such as new credits with Resy, lululemon, and Uber One, aimed at maintaining customer loyalty despite a $300 increase in five years, emphasizing the importance of perceived value.
- Revenue Growth Trend: Revenue from Platinum cardholders grew by 6% in Q1, primarily from tenured customers, indicating that the pricing strategy effectively attracted high-value clients and boosted overall earnings.
- Young Consumer Preferences: Analysts note that younger generations are more comfortable with credit card fees, viewing them as subscription-like products that deliver value through travel, dining, and entertainment experiences, supporting American Express's pricing strategy and potentially leading the industry towards premium, high-fee credit cards.
See More
Strong Profit Performance Among S&P 500 Financial Firms
- Strong Profitability: In the latest earnings season, 15 out of 19 financial companies in the S&P 500 exceeded EPS estimates, indicating robust profitability, although revenue growth was uneven across the sector.
- American Express Outperformance: American Express (AXP) reported both revenue and EPS beats, driven by strong card spending and resilient demand from premium customers, signaling continued consumer confidence.
- Blackstone's Strong Returns: Blackstone (BX) posted a Q1 distributable EPS of $1.36, surpassing the consensus of $1.34, with Infrastructure and Tactical Opportunities delivering the strongest returns, despite negative performances in Liquid Credit and Opportunistic Real Estate strategies.
- Synchrony Financial's Shareholder Returns: Synchrony Financial (SYF) exceeded Wall Street earnings expectations in Q1 and announced a $6.5 billion stock repurchase authorization along with a planned 13% dividend increase to $0.34 per share starting Q3 2026, reflecting the company's confidence in future growth.
See More
Smead Value Fund's Q1 2026 Investment Insights
- Key Position Increases: In Q1 2026, Smead Value Fund significantly increased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Inc by 53,112 shares, totaling 320,978 shares, representing a 19.83% increase, impacting the portfolio by 0.37% with a total value of $94,133,220.
- Credit Acceptance Corp Boost: The fund also added 30,907 shares of Credit Acceptance Corp, bringing total holdings to 194,269 shares, an 18.92% increase, with a total value of $91,924,210, indicating strong confidence in the company.
- Major Position Reductions: Among 25 stocks, American Express Co saw a reduction of 110,622 shares, resulting in a 16.6% decrease, impacting the portfolio by 0.97%, with an average trading price of $361.63 during the quarter and a -12.89% return over the past three months.
- JPMorgan Chase Cutback: JPMorgan Chase & Co was reduced by 104,415 shares, leading to a 21.39% decrease, impacting the portfolio by 0.79%, with an average price of $313.32 during the quarter and a year-to-date return of -3.40%.
See More
Consumer Spending Shows Diverging Trends Amid Economic Uncertainty
- Consumer Spending Status: Procter & Gamble (P&G) exceeded earnings expectations, indicating stable business performance; however, the $4 gas price reflects a bifurcation in consumer spending amidst economic uncertainty.
- Gas Prices and Spending: As gas prices rise, increased consumer spending on gas and airline tickets suggests that despite high costs, consumers are willing to spend on travel, potentially influencing future consumption patterns.
- Retail Sales Influencing Factors: Higher tax refunds may have boosted retail sales in March, indicating a short-term improvement in consumer finances, but long-term trends remain uncertain and warrant close monitoring.
- Persistence of K-shaped Economy: While low-income consumers show signs of improvement, the ongoing impact of high gas prices raises concerns among experts about the sustainability of the K-shaped economy, suggesting an imbalanced economic development in the future.
See More
American Express Partners with Anthropic for AI Restaurant Reservations
- AI Restaurant Booking Feature: The partnership between American Express and Anthropic enables Claude users to book restaurant reservations directly through the AI model on the Resy platform, enhancing user experience and strengthening the brand's digital service capabilities.
- Smart Recommendation System: When a Claude user asks for dining suggestions, the model generates relevant recommendations, allowing users to connect to the Resy app for more information and view available tables, thereby increasing customer convenience and satisfaction.
- Strategic Investment Focus: This collaboration reflects American Express's commitment to creating AI-powered experiences for card members and embedding its assets like Resy into leading AI platforms, showcasing its forward-looking approach in digital transformation.
- Future Growth Outlook: American Express reaffirms its guidance for 9%-10% revenue growth and EPS of $17.30 to $17.90 for 2026, while increasing marketing and technology investments, indicating the company's confidence in future business development.
See More
U.S. Credit Card Delinquencies and Charge-Offs Decline
- Delinquency Rate Decline: According to Seeking Alpha, the delinquency rate for credit cards at major U.S. banks dropped from 2.81% in February to 2.70% in March, which is not only below the March 2025 average of 2.84% but also lower than the pre-pandemic level of 2.76%, indicating an improvement in consumer credit conditions.
- Charge-Off Rate Decrease: The average net charge-off rate for March was 3.38%, down from 3.83% in February and significantly lower than the 4.34% recorded in March 2025, suggesting a reduction in household borrowing and a decrease in credit risk.
- Consumer Behavior Shift: Households are pulling back on borrowing and reducing revolving balances, reflecting a trend of debt repayment and moderated spending, supported in part by seasonal inflows such as tax refunds.
- Credit Card Usage Trends: Average credit card balances and utilization rates declined month-over-month in March, further confirming the trend of consumer deleveraging, indicating a more cautious approach to credit card usage in the market.
See More
