November 16, 2008 | Posted by

Quoted in Barron’s on AmEx

I was quoted in this week’s Barron’s on AmEx (AXP):

“This company can weather a huge hurricane and come out fine,” says Vitaliy Katsenelson, head of research at Investment Management Associates in Denver. “American Express is one the simplest financial companies to analyze. It’s much more transparent than Citigroup or JPMorgan or Goldman Sachs.

He argues that the government safety net removes a key risk with AmEx: funding. AmEx has relied on commercial paper and on securitization of credit-card loans, two markets that are difficult now to access. AmEx says it’s comfortable about its ability to refinance some $24 billion in debt maturing in the next year.

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  • shangrali

    Congratulations on the recognition.

    Why not avoid any of this consumer-finance loss write-offs and everything being equal, buy MA or V?

    Every stock has its price. I know I don’t use my AmEx anymore as its easier just to use the Visa out and get points from my bank.

  • Roman

    Hi Vitaliy,

    Was not sure how to contact you besides a comment thread, but in any case…
    I heard your interview on marketwatch last night. I have to say, I like your common sense approach, which is buy only if you can understand and value a business. I also agree with your point of view on gold. However the question is:
    How can one invest rationally these days when market is not (most investors are not). Some may say: well, eventually you’ll be rewarded for doing your homework but let’s face it even in this downturn quality companies got hammered and chances are (looking historically) when/if market rebounds riskier & not as profitable companies will lead the way. Plus when does eventually come and how long it hangs around. Irrationality got us to 2000 and 2007 peaks and irrationality got us to the point where even companies such as GE, which I believe turned a nice profit last qtr, given the economic cirumstances, are trading at some very, very low levels

    Looking forward to your thoughts.

    Best,
    R

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