EVENTS:   Best Equity Short Ideas Conference Call 12 - Zach Shannon/Corto Capital Advisors & Craig Huber/Huber Research Partners & Thomas Beevers /Forensic Alpha & Ed Steele/Iron Blue Financials & Bill Campbell/Paragon Intel - 12 Nov 25   Will AI Deflate the World? Macro Lessons from Three Industrial Revolutions and China - Manoj Pradhan/Talking Heads Macro - 13 Nov 25     ROADSHOWS: Forest Products Sector Equity and Commodity Research With Expertise in Distressed Debt - Kevin Mason /ERA Research   •   London   12 - 14 Nov 25       Buyside to Buyside Forum and Expert Calls across TMT, Consumer, Healthcare and Fintech - Andrew Peters /Revelare Partners   •   London   17 - 19 Nov 25       Fundamental US Healthcare Short Ideas - Dr Elliot Favus /Favus Institutional Research   •   London   17 - 19 Nov 25      

Fortnightly Publication Highlighting Latest Insights From IRF Providers

Company Research

AI driven 10Q / 10K text analysis

280First

Since there are always reasons when companies change the wording in their financial filings, being alerted to these changes allows investors to realise potential risk factors and opportunities before they are reflected in the market. Recent alerts include: 1) American Express - added several comments re. increased competition, as well as expansion through acquisitions. 2) Chipotle - aggressive goals for store openings; colour on new stores / pricing elasticity. 3) ePlus - decreased account profitability; government contract termination risks. 4) Microchip Technology - customers delaying orders; may continue to borrow to fund dividends. 5) PepsiCo - private label competition concerns.

Edition: 205

- 21 February, 2025


American Express (AXP)

Financials

MYST Advisors

AXP’s revenue growth has been slowing in its largest, most valuable and highest multiple business - sees a scenario where: 1) discount revenue growth continues to decline / stagnate; 2) fee revenues are not repeatable; and 3) consumers become more reluctant to pay higher fees, intensifying concerns that the AXP model is broken. The only other way for AXP to maintain its growth is through its balance sheet. It has been vying for the "incremental prime consumer" by growing its loan book aggressively, which will result in higher delinquencies. The share price has risen ~50% over recent months, despite heavy insider selling. Multiple looks "full" with the shares trading over 16x FY24E EPS.

Edition: 180

- 23 February, 2024