EX-12 7 d321397dex12.htm COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS Computation in Support of Ratio of Earnings

Exhibit 12

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

(Dollars in Millions)

 

 

 
        2016      2015      2014      2013      2012  

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings:

               

Pretax income from continuing operations

    $                 8,096       $                 7,938       $                 8,991       $                 7,888       $                 6,451   

Interest expense(a)

      1,704         1,623         1,707         1,958         2,226   

Other adjustments(b)

      101         118         402         133         117   
   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total earnings

    $ 9,901       $ 9,679       $ 11,100       $ 9,979       $ 8,794   

Fixed charges:

               

Interest expense

    $ 1,704       $ 1,623       $ 1,707       $ 1,958       $ 2,226   

Other adjustments(c)

      56         62         79         93         102   
   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

    $ 1,760       $ 1,685       $ 1,786       $ 2,051       $ 2,328   

Preferred stock dividends

      80         62         —          —          —    
   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total fixed charges and preferred stock dividends

      1,840         1,747         1,786         2,051         2,328   

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred

stock dividends

      5.38         5.54         6.22         4.87         3.78   

 

 

 

(a)   Included in interest expense is interest expense related to the Card Member lending activities, international banking operations, and charge card and other activities in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Interest expense does not include interest on liabilities recorded under GAAP governing accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. The Company’s policy is to classify such interest in income tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

(b)   For purposes of the “earnings” computation, “other adjustments” include adding the amortization of capitalized interest, the net loss of affiliates accounted for under the equity method whose debt is not guaranteed by the Company, the non-controlling interest in the earnings of majority-owned subsidiaries with fixed charges, and the interest component of rental expense, and subtracting undistributed net income of affiliates accounted for under the equity method.

 

(c)   For purposes of the “fixed charges” computation, “other adjustments” include capitalized interest costs and the interest component of rental expense.