American Express 2013 Annual Report Download - page 5

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 5 of the 2013 American Express annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 114

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114

It was gratifying to see the stock market recognize our progress
and potential. For 2013, our shareholders enjoyed a total return of
60 percent. While it was a great year for equities all around—the
proverbial rising tide lifted many boats—we did especially well in
outperforming the Dow, S&P 500 and S&P Financials. In fact, we
beat these indices over the past one-, three- and five-year periods.
Deliver results today. Invest for tomorrow. Maintain a strong financial
core. Transform the business. We made progress on each of these
fronts in 2013. This is how we aim to drive consistent, sustainable
growth and create value for our shareholders. Although we face many
challenges in a volatile and intensely competitive environment, I am
confident that we are on the right path.
$620
$713
$822
$888
$952
1312111009
87.9
91.0
97.4
102.4
107.2
1312111009
Billed business rose
7 percent to a record
$952 billion on broad-
based growth in spending
among consumers,
small businesses and
corporations globally.
Higher spending per
card, combined with an
expanding Card Member
base, drove the increase.
BILLED BUSINESS
(IN BILLIONS)
CARDS-IN-FORCE
(IN MILLIONS)
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
3