AmEx, F5 Networks: After-Hours Trading

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of American Express(AXP) edged lower in late trades on Wednesday after the credit card company waltzed past Wall Street's expectations for its first-quarter results.

The Dow component reported earnings of $1.26 billion, or $1.07 a share, for the March-ended period, on revenue net of interest expense of $7.61 billion. The performance bested the average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Reuters for a profit of $1 a share in the quarter on revenue of $7.57 billion.

The stock was last quoted at $57.75, down 29 cents, on volume of less than 200,000, according to Nasdaq.com. Based on Wednesday's regular-session close at $58.04, the shares were up 28% so far in 2012, far outpacing a year-to-date gain of 6.7% for the Dow.

"Higher cardmember spending, excellent credit metrics and disciplined expense management helped us to start 2012 with record first-quarter earnings and revenues," said Kenneth Chenault, the company's chairman and CEO. "Spending on the American Express network rose 12 percent, remaining strong throughout the quarter, both in the U.S. and internationally. Credit quality continues to be among the best we have ever experienced, and our lending portfolio continued to grow at moderate levels."

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