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American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B)

This page compares American Express (AXP) with Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

American Express (AXP) and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while BRK.B is classified in Financial Services.

SymbolAXPBRK.B
Company NameAmerican Express CompanyBerkshire Hathaway Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryConsumer FinanceFinancial Services
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer FinanceMulti-Sector Holdings
Market Capitalization211.05 billion USD1,036.28 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972May 9, 1996
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

American Express (AXP) trades around 3.56M shares per day on average, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) sees only 0.00M — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

AXP
BRK.B
Loading price history…
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
5-Day Price Return-0.10%-0.95%
13-Week Price Return-10.22%-4.54%
26-Week Price Return-16.44%-3.37%
52-Week Price Return3.34%-6.07%
Month-to-Date Return-4.25%1.22%
Year-to-Date Return-16.39%-4.53%
10-Day Avg. Volume3.25M0.00M
3-Month Avg. Volume3.56M0.00M
3-Month Volatility30.77%15.45%
Beta1.090.22

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 33.95% ranks in the top quartile for Return on Equity (TTM), ahead of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 10.31%, which sits closer to the industry mid-range.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

33.95%

Max
47.95%
Q3
23.50%
Median
14.09%
Q1
6.10%
Min
-18.72%

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

10.31%

Max
47.95%
Q3
23.50%
Median
14.09%
Q1
6.10%
Min
-18.72%
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 14.11% and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 19.31% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

14.11%

Max
53.82%
Q3
25.02%
Median
14.32%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-19.79%

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

19.31%

Max
53.82%
Q3
25.02%
Median
14.32%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-19.79%
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 17.91% and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 12.52% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

17.91%

Max
73.39%
Q3
36.76%
Median
20.24%
Q1
11.35%
Min
-19.92%

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

12.52%

Max
73.39%
Q3
36.76%
Median
20.24%
Q1
11.35%
Min
-19.92%
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
Return on Equity (TTM)33.95%10.31%
Return on Assets (TTM)3.73%5.96%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)14.11%19.31%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)17.91%12.52%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)61.03%24.81%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Current Ratio (MRQ) isn’t a meaningful figure for either American Express (AXP) in Financial Services or Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services under our convention.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

0.31

Max
4.77
Q3
2.27
Median
1.19
Q1
0.59
Min
0.00

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

1.23

Max
4.77
Q3
2.27
Median
1.19
Q1
0.59
Min
0.00
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) isn’t a meaningful figure for either American Express (AXP) in Financial Services or Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services under our convention.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

6.42

Max
8.59
Q3
3.66
Median
1.22
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.18

Max
8.59
Q3
3.66
Median
1.22
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) isn’t a meaningful figure for either American Express (AXP) in Financial Services or Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services under our convention.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

33.37

Max
33.37
Q3
20.09
Median
5.74
Q1
1.25
Min
-3.76

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.57

Max
33.37
Q3
20.09
Median
5.74
Q1
1.25
Min
-3.76
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.311.23
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.310.99
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)6.420.18
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)33.370.57

Growth

Revenue Growth

American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)10.33%4.40%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)9.38%1.11%
3-Year Revenue CAGR12.60%7.14%
5-Year Revenue CAGR15.96%8.63%

EPS Growth

American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)17.66%119.53%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)11.79%-10.46%
3-Year EPS CAGR15.92%--
5-Year EPS CAGR31.96%11.79%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — often a deliberate choice to reinvest earnings rather than return cash. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports a yield of 1.11%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

1.11%

Max
9.39%
Q3
3.82%
Median
1.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
9.39%
Q3
3.82%
Median
1.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports a payout of 20.90%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

20.90%

Max
119.94%
Q3
55.73%
Median
23.88%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
119.94%
Q3
55.73%
Median
23.88%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.11%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)20.90%0.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 18.90 and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 14.39 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

18.90

Max
54.13
Q3
28.05
Median
16.19
Q1
10.16
Min
1.17

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

14.39

Max
54.13
Q3
28.05
Median
16.19
Q1
10.16
Min
1.17
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 2.67 and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 2.78 post Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing revenue multiple.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

2.67

Max
9.20
Q3
4.55
Median
2.46
Q1
1.35
Min
0.02

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

2.78

Max
9.20
Q3
4.55
Median
2.46
Q1
1.35
Min
0.02
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 1.42 carries typical industry Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while American Express (AXP) at 6.07 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — AXP carries a higher book-value multiple relative to peers.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

6.07

Max
9.08
Q3
4.33
Median
2.15
Q1
1.08
Min
0.20

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

1.42

Max
9.08
Q3
4.33
Median
2.15
Q1
1.08
Min
0.20
American Express (AXP) vs. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolAXPBRK.B
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)18.9014.39
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)2.672.78
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)6.071.42
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)14.8043.68