AXP vs. BEN: American Express vs. Franklin Templeton Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Franklin Templeton (BEN) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
American Express (AXP) and Franklin Templeton (BEN) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while BEN is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Franklin Templeton Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Finance | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Finance | Asset Management & Custody Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 17.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | September 23, 1983 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 70.17% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 22.48% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 5.29% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 29.18% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -45.39% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 3.70M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | 2.26 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | 3.55 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 10.51% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AXP.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
35.93%
- Max
- 44.78%
- AXP
- 35.93%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
BEN
Financial Services industry group
10.51%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- BEN
- 10.51%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 11.42% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
16.82%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- AXP
- 16.82%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
BEN
Financial Services industry group
11.42%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- BEN
- 11.42%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 14.61% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
18.43%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- AXP
- 18.43%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
BEN
Financial Services industry group
14.61%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- BEN
- 14.61%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 10.51% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 11.42% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 14.61% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Only one side can be read here: American Express (AXP) reports revenue growth of 9.52%, ranked against its industry; Franklin Templeton (BEN) has no revenue growth figure this period.
EPS Growth
Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 116.48% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while American Express (AXP) at 9.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BEN.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | -- |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | -- |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 116.48% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 4.63% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Franklin Templeton (BEN) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Franklin Templeton (BEN) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 4.10% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while American Express (AXP) at 1.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BEN the richer one.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
1.13%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- AXP
- 1.13%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BEN
Financial Services industry group
4.10%
- Max
- 9.77%
- BEN
- 4.10%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 89.12% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
15.32%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- AXP
- 15.32%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BEN
Financial Services industry group
89.12%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- BEN
- 89.12%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 4.10% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 89.12% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 17.12 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
18.08
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- AXP
- 18.08
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
BEN
Financial Services industry group
17.12
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- BEN
- 17.12
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Express (AXP) at 2.95 and Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 1.84 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
2.95
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- AXP
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
BEN
Financial Services industry group
1.84
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- BEN
- 1.84
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Franklin Templeton (BEN) at 1.46 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while American Express (AXP) at 6.02 carries an above-peer premium to book — AXP is pricier on assets.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
6.02
- Max
- 7.79
- AXP
- 6.02
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
BEN
Financial Services industry group
1.46
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- BEN
- 1.46
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | BEN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 17.12 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 1.84 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 1.46 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |