Latest news with #AmericanExpress
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, American Express, Kotak Mahindra Credit Card changes June 2025: Know what is what, how it impacts your cashback, reward points
In June 2025, major banks like HDFC, Axis, Kotak Mahindra, and American Express are revising credit card terms. These changes impact airport lounge access, cashback, fuel rewards, and fee waivers. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads HDFC Bank credit card: Airport lounge access changes from June 10, 2025 Kotak Mahindra changes from June 1, 2025 Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Axis Bank credit card changes from June 20, 2025 American Express Gold Charge changes from June 12, 2025 In June 2025, several major banks are set to revise their credit card terms and conditions. This will affect everything from how rewards and fee waiver on spending are calculated to airport lounge access, cashback benefits , and even fuel rewards. These changes could directly impact how you earn and redeem benefits on your credit you're a cardholder with HDFC Bank Kotak Mahindra or American Express, here's what's changing, and from when in June Bank is changing its terms and conditions of two credit cards - Tata Neu Infinity and Tata Neu Plus from June 10, 2025. Going forward, These credit card holders will not be able to swipe their cards directly at airport lounges for entry. Instead, HDFC will issue lounge access vouchers to eligible customers based on quarterly spending milestones. This means customers must meet minimum spending thresholds each quarter to unlock airport lounge access June 1, 2025, Kotak Mahindra Bank will revise multiple charges on its credit cards offering. The changes include new fees for failed standing instructions, dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and transactions involving utility bills, education payments, wallet loading, skill-based gaming, and fuel purchases. Additionally, the method for calculating the Minimum Amount Due (MAD) on outstanding balances will be Read: Kotak Mahindra Credit card changes from June 1, 2025 Axis Bank is changing terms and conditions for two of its credit cards - Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card and REWARDS Credit Card. The changes will be effective from June 20, Axis Bank Credit Card holders will see an increase in cashback benefits on Myntra purchases but will lose the complimentary airport lounge access — a significant change for frequent the REWARDS Credit Card, Axis Bank is introducing a revised approach to spend exclusions, meaning not all purchases will count towards earning reward points. The criteria for annual fee waivers will also become stricter, likely requiring higher annual Read: No more airport lounge access in this Axis Bank Credit Card from June 20, 2025 American Express is also updating the rewards policy for the Gold Charge Card starting June 12, 2025. As per the new rules, fuel purchases — including petrol, diesel, and CNG from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) — will no longer earn Membership Rewards points for American Experess Card holders. For credit cardholders who regularly use their Amex Gold Card for fueling, this change reduces the overall reward-earning potential and may influence their future payment preferences. According to the website, 'Effective 12 June 2025, you will not earn Membership Rewards® point on Fuel payments via Gold Charge card. Fuel includes petrol, diesel, CNG from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).'
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Better Buffett Stock: American Express vs. Visa
American Express and Visa are both long-term Berkshire investments. Visa's lightweight business model allows it to expand more quickly than American Express. But American Express is better insulated from rising interest rates than Visa. 10 stocks we like better than American Express › Warren Buffett will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) by the end of this year, and many investors are likely wondering whether his successor, Greg Abel, can maintain the growth rates of this conglomerate's closely watched stock portfolio. Abel, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, has been with the company for 25 years, but he isn't a celebrated stock picker. He probably won't stray too far from Buffett's playbook of investing in undervalued and cash-rich businesses with wide moats, but he may also miss some big opportunities. So, instead of focusing on what Abel might or might not invest in, let's look back at two of Buffett's long-term plays on the financial sector: American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Visa (NYSE: V). Buffett didn't sell either of these stocks as he trimmed his positions in Apple, Bank of America, and his other top holdings to raise more cash over the past year. Let's see whether either one of these resilient stocks is still worth buying in this volatile market. Warren Buffett initially invested in American Express in 1964, but he didn't significantly boost Berkshire's stake in the financial services giant until 1991. Today, Berkshire owns 21.6% of the company through its 151.6 million shares, worth roughly $44.4 billion. That accounts for 15.9% of Berkshire's portfolio, making it its second-largest position after Apple. Buffett started accumulating shares of Visa in 2011, three years after its public debut. It now owns 8.3 million shares, which are worth about $3 billion and give it a 0.4% stake in the company. That position accounts for 1.1% of Berkshire's portfolio and ranks much lower as its 17th-largest holding. American Express and Visa are typically known as credit card companies, but they operate under different business models. American Express is a bank that issues its own cards, handles its own accounts, and operates its own payment processing network. Visa isn't a bank and doesn't issue any of its own cards. It only partners with banks and other financial institutions to issue co-branded cards that are compatible with its payment processing network. American Express has fewer cardholders than Visa because it approves its cards only for lower-risk, higher-income customers. Visa has a much broader reach because it issues its cards through over 14,500 financial institutions worldwide. Those partners, who are responsible for the debt, may approve their cards for riskier and lower-income customers. Visa generates most of its revenue by charging its merchants "swipe fees" (usually 2%-3% of the transaction amount). American Express also charges similar swipe fees, but it generates a lot of its revenue from its interest payments and annual fees. Visa and American Express are both sensitive to higher interest rates, which curb consumer spending. However, higher rates will also boost American Express's net interest income on its credit card loans to offset some of the pressure from slower consumer spending. Its focus on more affluent customers should also insulate it from protracted economic downturns. Visa doesn't have those safety nets because it's not a bank, but its global diversification could protect it from regional recessions. American Express, Visa, and Mastercard all face constant pressure from individual businesses, merchant groups, and government regulators to reduce their swipe fees. However, Visa and Mastercard (which operates a similar business model to Visa) are arguably bigger targets because they control much bigger slices of the global credit card market than American Express. From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect American Express and Visa to both grow their earnings per share (EPS) at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 13%. However, American Express stock only trades at 19 times this year's earnings and pays a forward yield of 1.1%. Visa stock appears a lot pricier at 34 times forward earnings and pays a lower forward yield of 0.7%. Both stocks still look like evergreen investments. But if I had to pick one over the other, I'd pick American Express because its business is more resistant to interest rate swings, faces less antitrust pressure, and looks cheaper relative to its growth potential. That's probably why Berkshire still owns significantly more shares of American Express than it does of Visa. Before you buy stock in American Express, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and American Express wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $853,108!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Leo Sun has positions in Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Buffett Stock: American Express vs. Visa was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
47% of Berkshire Hathaway's $276 Billion Warren Buffett-Led Portfolio Is Invested in 3 Dividend Stocks
Apple has developed an ecosystem of tech devices that its customers love and are willing to trade up to have. American Express has numerous earnings streams, and a younger cohort of cardholders is driving growth. Coca-Cola's business has proven resilient under pressure, and it reliably boosts its dividends. 10 stocks we like better than Apple › When Warren Buffett steps down as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of this year, he will leave behind a legacy as perhaps the greatest investor of his time. As of the end of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway stock had gained an astounding 5,502,284% since Buffett took it over, and one way he turned it into a trillion-dollar company was by investing not in hot growth stocks, but strong value stocks. One feature Buffett loves in a stock is a dividend. Paying dividends suggests a company is mature, stable, and committed to rewarding shareholders -- all attributes that reinforce an investment thesis. Not all of the stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's $276 billion equity portfolio pay dividends, but most do. Its top three holdings -- Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), American Express (NYSE: AXP), and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) -- all do, and together, they account for almost half of the portfolio. Let's consider what makes them such winners by Buffett's standards. Buffett only started a position in Apple in 2016, but it quickly moved into the top spot in the portfolio, reaching about 50% before Buffett and his team started selling some of it off last year. It now takes up a more reasonable amount of space, but it's still the largest position. Buffett said that Apple is an even better business than his perennial favorites, Coca-Cola and American Express, and he jested that CEO Tim Cook has made Berkshire Hathaway a lot more money than he ever has. Apple fans love its user-friendly, innovative, and tech-strong products, and it has created an ecosystem of devices and services that work together, generating loyalty and additional sales. Shoppers typically upgrade over time to newer versions of their favorite products, keeping them in the ecosystem. Like many tech giants, Apple is investing in artificial intelligence (AI), and it's developing its exclusive brand, Apple Intelligence, that offers a premium experience as part of the Apple package. Management expects AI to be an important growth driver for the next generation of Apple products. Investors have been worried about how tariffs will impact Apple's business, because iPhones are largely made in China, but management is working on long-term efforts to move more of its production to other countries to mitigate the impact of that part of the trade war. Apple's dividend doesn't have a particularly high yield -- at 0.5%, it's well below the average yield for the S&P 500. However, management has been hiking the payout slowly and steadily every year for more than a decade, demonstrating its commitment to rewarding shareholders. Buffett loves financial stocks, but American Express is his favorite. He appreciates its global brand and excellent management, and he tends to favor companies with varied earnings streams. As a bank that targets more prosperous individuals and small businesses, as well as a credit card network with fee-paying customers, American Express has several levers it can push to make money, and its excellent reputation and premium products attract affluent consumers whose finances tend to be more resilient even when the broader economy is under pressure. It has successfully captured a younger cohort of consumers who are driving its growth today and represent its future potential. Millennials and Gen Z customers accounted for 35% of its total U.S. consumer services billed business in the first quarter, and sales from that cohort increased by 14%, in comparison with a 7% overall gain. American Express continues to generate robust sales growth despite the challenging macroeconomic environment. Sales rose 8% year over year in the first quarter (on a currency-neutral basis) and earnings per share (EPS) rose 9% to $3.64. Delinquency ratios have stayed at 1.3%, with net write-offs at 2.1%.CEO Stephen Squeri credited that to the company's stellar risk management, which it has developed over its 150 years of operation, and its high-quality customers. American Express' dividend yields 1% at the current share price, and it's growing and reliable. Coca-Cola stock is currently the longest-tenured holding in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, and it's crushing the market this year. Investors consider it a safe stock because the company sells some of the world's favorite beverages, and people will continue to drink them even in times of economic uncertainty. With a portfolio of about 200 brands, it has something for everyone, although its core Coke-branded franchises drive its high sales. It has demonstrated strength over the past few years despite economic volatility, and after restructuring and slashing the brand portfolio from about 400 brands pre-pandemic, it has become more efficient and agile, and better able to weather the current storms. One factor that particularly favors Coca-Cola this year is that it has limited exposure to tariffs. Most of its products are produced and bottled in or near the countries in which they are sold, so it doesn't rely as much on imports or exports. CEO James Quincey said that the impact of new tariffs would be minimal and that the company has many ways to offset those higher costs. This is how investors can test the company's resilience, and it's a manifestation of what Buffett has long praised it for. The dividend is a major part of that, too. Coca-Cola is a Dividend King with 63 years of consecutive payout increases, a streak that's hard to top. At the current share price, the dividend yields 2.7% -- more than double the S&P 500's average yield. Coca-Cola isn't a growth stock, but it offers incredible value, reliable passive income, and protection for challenging times. Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $853,108!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has positions in American Express and Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 47% of Berkshire Hathaway's $276 Billion Warren Buffett-Led Portfolio Is Invested in 3 Dividend Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Do you need to be a business owner to qualify for the limited-time Amex Business Platinum offer?
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express currently has an excellent limited-time offer. Until June 30, 2025, you can earn a statement credit in addition to a large number of bonus points. Here's the good news: You don't need a specific type of business to qualify for the Amex Business Platinum offer. Your business doesn't even have to be registered or established. See how you can qualify for this and other business credit cards as an owner of a startup, as a freelancer, or even someone with a side hustle. Perhaps surprisingly, the eligibility criteria for business credit cards, including the Amex Business Platinum, are less strict than you might imagine. Do I need an established or registered business? No, your business doesn't have to be established or registered to qualify for a business credit card. You can have a new business and still qualify. What if I'm a freelancer or sole proprietor? Sole proprietorships are one of the eligible options for company structures on most business card applications. You're typically classified as a sole proprietor if you run a business by yourself, which is often the case as a freelancer or independent contractor. What if I don't have a legal business name? You typically use your own name as your legal business name if you're a sole proprietor. What if I'm a startup and don't have any income? Startups can also qualify for business credit cards, so it's not necessary to have any income yet — you can put your estimated revenue on the application. What if I don't have any business credit history? Most new small business owners won't have any business credit history, which is okay. Major credit card issuers often check your personal credit history when you apply for a business credit card. This can have a small, temporary impact on your personal credit. What if my industry type isn't on the application? Try to choose the industry type that's closest to the type of business you do. Most business card applications don't have every business type available. What if I'm not sure of my estimated monthly spend? Make your best estimated guess as to what you think your monthly business spending will be. The key to applying for any financial product is to be honest. What is my Federal Tax ID? You typically only have to provide a Federal Tax ID, also known as an employer identification number (EIN), if you have a registered business, such as a corporation or partnership. As a sole proprietor, you likely don't need to provide more than your Social Security number (SSN). In short, all types of business owners may qualify for the Amex Business Platinum and other business credit card offers. There are other factors to consider, such as your personal credit score and applicable spending requirements, but you don't need to be a large corporation or even a registered business at all. Freelancers and people with side hustles may also Amex Business Platinum offer's terms and conditions state you may not be eligible for this offer if you: Have had this card or previous versions of this card Have a certain history with credit card balance transfers Have a certain history as an American Express cardmember Have opened or closed a certain number of credit cards Are unable to meet the conditions pertaining to other factors One area of concern for prospective cardholders is whether they qualify for a business credit card at all because of the type of business they run. The good news is American Express will let you know if you qualify for one of its credit card welcome offers before you actually apply (and potentially impact your credit score).The Amex Business Platinum travel rewards card has a publicly available offer where you can earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months. You can also earn a $500 statement credit after spending $2,500 on eligible flights booked through American Express Travel ( or directly with airlines within the first three months. The offer ends on June 30, 2025. It depends on how you redeem the points, but they're worth at least $1,500 toward airfare and similarly toward gift cards (depending on the gift card). They could be worth more if you redeem them toward specific flights after transfers to partner airlines. For example, you could get over $2,000 or $3,000 in value if you transfer your points to Singapore Airlines Krisflyer, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, or another partner and book an international flight in business Amex Business Platinum Card may be worth it if you can take advantage of enough of its perks and benefits to offset its hefty $695 annual fee. This could include traveling enough to use its complimentary access to airport lounges and its many annual credits, such as up to a $200 airline fee credit and up to a $199 CLEAR Plus possible to have more than one Amex Business Platinum Card and receive the welcome bonus more than once if you have multiple businesses or receive targeted card offers with terms and conditions that let you earn multiple offers. Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank's website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
4 Dividend-Paying Dow Jones Growth Stocks to Buy in June and Hold for Decades
Apple could be heavily impacted by tariffs, but the long-term investment thesis is sound. Microsoft continues to fire on all cylinders and deserves to be near an all-time high. Visa and American Express benefit from network effects that help them steadily grow over time. 10 stocks we like better than Apple › The modern-day Dow Jones Industrial Average contains a variety of industry-leading companies across stock market sectors -- making it an excellent way to discover blue chip companies to build a portfolio around. Here's why Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Visa (NYSE: V), and American Express (NYSE: AXP) are particularly compelling Dow stocks to buy in June and hold for decades to come. Apple used to be the most valuable company in the world, but it has taken a back seat behind Microsoft and Nvidia as Apple is down 22% year to date at the time of this writing, while Microsoft is up nearly 7%. Microsoft has given investors everything they could have asked for amid tariff tensions. The company continues to grow at an impressive rate while maintaining high operating margins. Microsoft is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing at a breakneck pace while buying back a significant amount of stock, raising its dividend by around 10% per year, and maintaining an exceptional balance sheet. The company's business model is relatively insulated from trade risks, so it's no wonder why the stock is knocking on the door of a new all-time high. But the same can't be said of Apple. It assembles the vast majority of key products, like iPhones, in China -- making it extremely vulnerable to tariffs. Apple stock has been on a roller coaster in 2025 as investors try to digest policies that seem to change overnight. President Trump has cast Apple onto the front lines of the trade war with China, with the latest decision being a 25% tariff on iPhones not made in the U.S. While Apple can adjust its supply chain to offset some tariff risk, it would be extremely difficult for Apple to make iPhones as cost-effectively outside of China. So, in the near term, Apple may just have to absorb the tariff hit and hope resolutions come soon or pass along a portion of the costs to consumers. The good news is that Apple has highly anticipated products with AI features coming this fall which may be enough to pique consumer interest and justify higher price tags. Investors can catch a glimpse of Apple's latest technology updates and features by tuning into its Worldwide Developers Conference from June 9 to June 13. Given tariff risks, some folks may want to take a wait-and-see approach to Apple. But the stock is fairly beaten down, and folks who think Apple has the brand power and innovation to justify price hikes may want to consider buying the stock in June. Apple's valuation is at reasonable levels with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 30.4 and a forward P/E of 27.2 compared to a five-year median P/E of 29.3. The fact that American Express and Visa are both in the Dow despite the index having only 30 components tells you just how massive the payment processing industry has become. And while there are similarities between the two companies, there are also some key differences worth understanding before buying either stock. Visa has a simpler business model and is arguably lower risk and lower reward than American Express. It is a pure-play payment processor that collects fees based on the frequency and volume of transactions on its credit and debit cards. The company has expanded its network and boosted its global business. The more cards engaged with the network, the more potential Visa has for collecting fees. The fees are worth it for merchants if Visa cards are customers' desired form of payment. It's not worth potentially losing a sale by not accepting Visa. Visa is an extremely high-margin, capital-light business. Other than its operating expenses, it doesn't need to invest a lot of money to expand its network. In fact, Visa is so profitable that it converts around two-thirds of every dollar in sales into operating income. American Express acts as a payment processor and a card issuer, whereas Visa works with banks and other financial institutions to issue cards. American Express also offers checking accounts, high-yield savings accounts, and other products. American Express takes on more risk than Visa, but it has an impeccable risk management track record. American Express attracts affluent customers due to the high annual fees on its cards and some of the best cardholder perks available. While Visa's expenses mainly go toward maintaining its network, American Express spends more on card member rewards than on operating expenses. However, the strategy has proven highly effective, as American Express cardholders are heavily incentivized to use their cards on any purchase possible, thereby increasing the size and legitimacy of the American Express network. Visa and American Express have excellent business models that support consistent stock buybacks and growing dividends -- making both companies worthwhile foundational holdings for investors looking for stocks to buy and hold for decades to come. Apple, Microsoft, Visa, and American Express don't jump off the page with high yields. But that's only because all four companies have seen their stock prices grow rapidly. As a result, their dividend yields have compressed even though all four companies consistently boost their payouts year after year. What's more, all four companies regularly repurchase stock, meaning that the dividend isn't the only means of returning capital to shareholders. Add it all up, and investors looking for quality growth stocks they can buy at reasonable valuations may want to consider Apple, Microsoft, Visa, and American Express in June. Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $853,108!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 978% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Daniel Foelber has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 4 Dividend-Paying Dow Jones Growth Stocks to Buy in June and Hold for Decades was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
