American Express Co. on Wednesday affirmed its full-year profit, sending its shares up nearly three percent.

Chief executive Keneth Chenault, was speaking at a Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc conference in New York

What we feel is that we can achieve the 4 to 6 percent growth.... If the environment worsens, that becomes more challenging, he said at the conference, according to Reuters.

The New York-based credit card company said it may earn between $3.51 per share and $3.61 per share from its continuing operations in 2008.

Analysts had estimated the company would earn about $3.32 for the year, according to a poll of analysts by Bloomberg.

Shares of American Express rose $1.67, or 3.77 percent to $45.99.