On January 24, 2025, several major companies are set to report earnings before the market opens, including American Express (AXP), Verizon (VZ), NextEra Energy (NEE), and HCA Healthcare (HCA). American Express is anticipated to report earnings of $1.10 per share on revenue of $33.73 billion. The company has recently seen a 12% increase in fourth-quarter profit, attributed to heightened consumer spending during the holiday season, particularly in travel and online shopping. Analysts are closely scrutinizing American Express's performance as it serves as a bellwether for consumer spending trends. In broader economic news, U.S. bankruptcies reached 694 in 2024, the highest number in 14 years, with December alone accounting for 61 filings, indicating a potential crisis level. Additionally, U.S. credit card defaults surged 50% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2024, totaling $46 billion, the highest since 2010. Serious delinquency rates for subprime borrowers also rose to 22% in Q3 2024, the highest in over 12 years, reflecting the financial strain on consumers.