American Express announced impressive net sales of $11.74 billion and earnings per share of $2.73 for the first quarter of 2021, reflecting a 29% revenue increase year-over-year. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations by 12.3%, driven by a resurgence in travel and entertainment spending by U.S. consumers. Despite a 34% rise in costs for rewards and perks, the company reaffirmed its revenue growth outlook of 18-20% and maintained a resilient cash position of $28 billion.