AXP vs. GPN: American Express vs. Global Payments Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Global Payments (GPN) 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 Global Payments (GPN) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while GPN is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Global Payments 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 | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 25.78 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | January 16, 2001 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 31.53% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | -1.66% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | -4.82% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 42.00% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 0.80 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -57.06% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 2.69M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | 0.65 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | 1.10 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Global Payments (GPN) at 0.84% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on equity.
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%
GPN
Financial Services industry group
0.84%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- GPN
- 0.84%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Global Payments (GPN) reports a negative net margin of -11.21%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports 16.82%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
GPN
Financial Services industry group
-11.21%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- GPN
- -11.21%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Global Payments (GPN) at 15.73% 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%
GPN
Financial Services industry group
15.73%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- GPN
- 15.73%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 0.84% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 2.24% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | -11.21% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 15.73% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
American Express (AXP) at 9.52% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Global Payments (GPN) at -0.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and Global Payments (GPN) at -6.17% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | -0.39% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | -4.96% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | -6.17% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 143.57% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Global Payments (GPN) 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 Global Payments (GPN) 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 | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and Global Payments (GPN) at 1.05% 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%
GPN
Financial Services industry group
1.05%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- GPN
- 1.05%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Global Payments (GPN) reports payout ratio above 100% at 178.57%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports 15.32%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
GPN
Financial Services industry group
178.57%
- Max
- 241.07%
- GPN
- 178.57%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 1.05% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 178.57% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 18.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Global Payments (GPN) at 173.93 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for GPN’s trailing earnings.
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
GPN
Financial Services industry group
173.93
- GPN
- 173.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- 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 Global Payments (GPN) at 2.24 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
GPN
Financial Services industry group
2.24
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- GPN
- 2.24
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Global Payments (GPN) at 1.11 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
GPN
Financial Services industry group
1.11
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- GPN
- 1.11
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GPN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 173.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 2.24 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 1.11 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |