NEW YORK American Express Co.s net income last year rose 14% from a year earlier, to $2.81 billion.
The company said its earnings were buoyed largely by higher spending on its payment cards and strong growth in average cardmember loans.
Diluted per-share earnings rose 14%, to $2.07. Net revenues climbed 13%, to $22.1 billion. The company said its return on equity was 25.3%.
Amexs fourth-quarter net income grew 12%, to $677 million. Diluted per-share earnings for the quarter jumped 14%, to 50 cents.
