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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.

Company profile comparison for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
Profile ItemAXPGS
NameAmerican Express CompanyThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryConsumer FinanceCapital Markets
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer FinanceInvestment Banking & Brokerage
Market Capitalization231.28 billion USD302.65 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972May 4, 1999
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AXP
GS
GSPC
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
Total Return (1Y)12.48%41.91%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)28.77%48.90%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.99%23.36%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AXP
GS
GSPC
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.87%31.46%
Beta (5Y)1.051.29
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.55%-32.84%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.99M2.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AXP and GS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.321.21
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.441.83

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 34.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Goldman Sachs (GS) at 16.90% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AXP.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

34.38%

Max
48.53%
AXP
34.38%
Q3
22.22%
Median
12.75%
Q1
4.09%
Min
-22.61%

GS

Financial Services industry group

16.90%

Max
48.53%
Q3
22.22%
GS
16.90%
Median
12.75%
Q1
4.09%
Min
-22.61%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Goldman Sachs (GS) at 31.04% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 16.14%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

16.14%

Max
66.61%
Q3
29.41%
AXP
16.14%
Median
16.08%
Q1
4.44%
Min
-30.54%

GS

Financial Services industry group

31.04%

Max
66.61%
GS
31.04%
Q3
29.41%
Median
16.08%
Q1
4.44%
Min
-30.54%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 20.32% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 42.18% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

20.32%

Max
96.23%
Q3
53.97%
Median
28.94%
AXP
20.32%
Q1
11.79%
Min
-46.79%

GS

Financial Services industry group

42.18%

Max
96.23%
Q3
53.97%
GS
42.18%
Median
28.94%
Q1
11.79%
Min
-46.79%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
ROE (TTM)34.38%16.90%
ROA (TTM)3.79%1.07%
Net Margin (TTM)16.14%31.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)20.32%42.18%
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 8.92% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 26.59% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.52%8.92%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.97%7.16%
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

Financial strength metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 1.03% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 1.63% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

1.03%

Max
17.41%
Q3
7.19%
Median
1.49%
AXP
1.03%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GS

Financial Services industry group

1.63%

Max
17.41%
Q3
7.19%
GS
1.63%
Median
1.49%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 21.48% and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 26.25% 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

21.48%

Max
223.44%
Q3
89.87%
Median
25.19%
AXP
21.48%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

GS

Financial Services industry group

26.25%

Max
223.44%
Q3
89.87%
GS
26.25%
Median
25.19%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.03%1.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)21.48%26.25%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 20.79 and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 16.05 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

20.79

Max
50.93
Q3
26.65
AXP
20.79
Median
16.33
Q1
10.01
Min
2.15

GS

Financial Services industry group

16.05

Max
50.93
Q3
26.65
Median
16.33
GS
16.05
Q1
10.01
Min
2.15
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both American Express (AXP) at 3.26 and Goldman Sachs (GS) at 4.48 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

3.26

Max
9.98
Q3
4.93
AXP
3.26
Median
2.98
Q1
1.55
Min
-1.13

GS

Financial Services industry group

4.48

Max
9.98
Q3
4.93
GS
4.48
Median
2.98
Q1
1.55
Min
-1.13
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

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 6.74 carries an above-peer premium to book — AXP is pricier on assets.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

6.74

Max
7.91
AXP
6.74
Q3
3.71
Median
1.60
Q1
0.85
Min
-0.34

GS

Financial Services industry group

2.84

Max
7.91
Q3
3.71
GS
2.84
Median
1.60
Q1
0.85
Min
-0.34
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American Express (AXP) vs. Goldman Sachs (GS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Express (AXP) and Goldman Sachs (GS)
MetricAXPGS
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.7916.05
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.264.48
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.742.84
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----