In its second attempt so far this year,
American Express Co.
(
AXP
) (AmEx) succeeded in receiving approval for its capital plan for
the next one year from the Federal Reserve (Fed). The last
capital plan submitted in Jan 2013, before the outcome of the
capital stress test, was rejected by the Fed as it was adversely
impacting the company's capital ratios.
Accordingly, AmEx has now received consent to hike its
dividend by 15% and buyback shares worth $3.2 billion in the last
three quarters of 2013 and another $1.0 billion in the first
quarter of 2014. In the initial plan submitted in January this
year, the company had proposed to repurchase up to $4.7 billion
of stock in 2013.
However, the Fed disapproved and authorized a lower share
buyback as it was contracting AmEx's Tier 1 ratios to 4.97% in
one of the quarters. This would be below the minimum 5% as
required by the Fed. Hence, AmEx can now buy back up to $3.2
billion in the last 9 months of 2013. An additional share buyback
worth $800 million in the first quarter of 2013 was sanctioned in
the capital plan of 2012.
Moreover, AmEx also intends to amplify its regular quarterly
dividend payout by 15% to 23 cents per share from the current 20
cents. Previously, in Mar 2012, this dividend was hiked by 11%
from 18 cents, which was sustained even during the recession
period.
AmEx's revised capital plan has been approved by the Fed but
is yet to receive approval from the company's board of directors
before implementation.Subsequently, the latest capital plan
strives to return about $4.0 billion of capital through share
buybacks to shareholders in 2013, at par with the 2012-level.
On a cumulative basis, American Express has distributed 98% of
capital generated through share repurchases and 66% through
dividends and share buybacks since its inception in Dec 1994.
Management aims over 25% of ROE and healthy capital ratios in
2013, in order to consistently invest 50% of its excess capital
in the business while paying out the remaining 50% to the
investors through dividends and share buybacks.
Over the past years, AmEx has efficiently held a strong
capital position with a Tier 1 risk-based common ratio of 11.9%
at the end of 2012, 12.3% at 2011-end and 11.1% at 2010-end, all
comfortably above the current regulatory requirement of 10% by
Basel II and the final US capital rules.
Going ahead, we believe that AmEx's spend-centric business
model, improved credit trends, new business initiatives, capital
flexibility and stable ratings warrant enhanced growth in a
stable market over time.
Others
We see no clear directional pressure on AmEx in the near term,
which carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Other stocks in the
financial sector that are outperforming are
Moody's Corp.
(
MCO
),
XL Group Plc
(
XL
) and
Euronet Worldwise Inc.
(
EEFT
). All these stocks carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
AMER EXPRESS CO (AXP): Free Stock Analysis
Report
EURONET WORLDWD (EEFT): Free Stock Analysis
Report
MOODYS CORP (MCO): Free Stock Analysis Report
XL GROUP PLC (XL): Free Stock Analysis Report
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