AXP vs. GS: American Express vs. Goldman Sachs Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS) 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 Goldman Sachs (GS) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while GS is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | The Goldman Sachs Group, 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 | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 230.80 billion USD | 298.36 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | May 4, 1999 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.15% | 45.78% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.19% | 28.65% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.05 | 1.30 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.16M | 2.17M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 34.42% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Goldman Sachs (GS) at 14.55% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AXP.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
34.42%
- Max
- 42.17%
- AXP
- 34.42%
- Q3
- 21.42%
- Median
- 12.17%
- Q1
- 5.00%
- Min
- -17.69%
GS
Financial Services industry group
14.55%
- Max
- 42.17%
- Q3
- 21.42%
- GS
- 14.55%
- Median
- 12.17%
- Q1
- 5.00%
- Min
- -17.69%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.31% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 29.36% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
16.31%
- Max
- 66.55%
- Q3
- 30.43%
- Median
- 16.62%
- AXP
- 16.31%
- Q1
- 4.47%
- Min
- -26.88%
GS
Financial Services industry group
29.36%
- Max
- 66.55%
- Q3
- 30.43%
- GS
- 29.36%
- Median
- 16.62%
- Q1
- 4.47%
- Min
- -26.88%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 21.25% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 38.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
21.25%
- Max
- 95.95%
- Q3
- 50.35%
- Median
- 26.49%
- AXP
- 21.25%
- Q1
- 11.62%
- Min
- -36.26%
GS
Financial Services industry group
38.60%
- Max
- 95.95%
- Q3
- 50.35%
- GS
- 38.60%
- Median
- 26.49%
- Q1
- 11.62%
- Min
- -36.26%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 34.42% | 14.55% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.80% | 0.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.31% | 29.36% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 21.25% | 38.60% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 8.92% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 7.16% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 26.59% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 19.52% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Goldman Sachs (GS) 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 Goldman Sachs (GS) 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 | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.00% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 1.52% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
1.00%
- Max
- 20.96%
- Q3
- 8.69%
- Median
- 1.54%
- AXP
- 1.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GS
Financial Services industry group
1.52%
- Max
- 20.96%
- Q3
- 8.69%
- Median
- 1.54%
- GS
- 1.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 21.29% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 28.31% 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
21.29%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 95.23%
- Median
- 24.86%
- AXP
- 21.29%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
GS
Financial Services industry group
28.31%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 95.23%
- GS
- 28.31%
- Median
- 24.86%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.00% | 1.52% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 21.29% | 28.31% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 21.10 and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 18.46 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
21.10
- Max
- 48.68
- Q3
- 25.25
- AXP
- 21.10
- Median
- 14.81
- Q1
- 9.35
- Min
- 0.55
GS
Financial Services industry group
18.46
- Max
- 48.68
- Q3
- 25.25
- GS
- 18.46
- Median
- 14.81
- Q1
- 9.35
- Min
- 0.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 3.35 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Goldman Sachs (GS) at 4.85 sits in the pricier quartile — GS costs more per dollar of sales.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.70
- Q3
- 4.78
- AXP
- 3.35
- Median
- 2.89
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -1.03
GS
Financial Services industry group
4.85
- Max
- 9.70
- GS
- 4.85
- Q3
- 4.78
- Median
- 2.89
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -1.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Goldman Sachs (GS) at 2.84 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while American Express (AXP) at 6.79 carries an above-peer premium to book — AXP is pricier on assets.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
6.79
- Max
- 7.22
- AXP
- 6.79
- Q3
- 3.47
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.00
GS
Financial Services industry group
2.84
- Max
- 7.22
- Q3
- 3.47
- GS
- 2.84
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | GS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.10 | 18.46 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.35 | 4.85 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.79 | 2.84 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |