AXP vs. EQH: American Express vs. Equitable Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Equitable (EQH) 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 Equitable (EQH) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while EQH is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Equitable Holdings Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Finance | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Finance | Diversified Financial Services |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 14.04 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | May 10, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 26.35% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 32.07% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 12.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 33.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.04 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -35.85% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 2.71M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | 0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | 0.94 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Equitable (EQH) at 171.08% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; American Express (AXP) at 35.93% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
171.08%
- EQH
- 171.08%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and Equitable (EQH) at 11.52% 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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
11.52%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- EQH
- 11.52%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Equitable (EQH) at 37.18% 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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
37.18%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- EQH
- 37.18%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 171.08% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 0.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 11.52% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 37.18% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
American Express (AXP) at 9.52% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Equitable (EQH) at -6.12% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
American Express (AXP) at 9.78% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Equitable (EQH) at -227.78% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | -6.12% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | -2.65% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | -227.78% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Equitable (EQH) 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 Equitable (EQH) 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 | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and Equitable (EQH) at 0.51% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- EQH
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and Equitable (EQH) at 22.49% 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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- EQH
- 22.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 0.51% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 22.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and Equitable (EQH) at 10.39 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
EQH
Financial Services industry group
10.39
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- EQH
- 10.39
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 1.08 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while American Express (AXP) at 2.95 prices around its industry’s middle — EQH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
EQH
Financial Services industry group
1.08
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- EQH
- 1.08
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Equitable (EQH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -4.92, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports 6.02, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
EQH
Financial Services industry group
-4.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- EQH
- -4.92
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 10.39 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 1.08 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | -4.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |