AXP vs. ICE: American Express vs. Intercontinental Exchange Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while ICE is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Intercontinental Exchange, 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 | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 96.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | November 16, 2005 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 18.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 18.62% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 6.59% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 25.87% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 0.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -33.97% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 3.09M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | 0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | 0.80 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 14.40% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AXP.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
14.40%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- ICE
- 14.40%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 38.14% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 16.82%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
38.14%
- Max
- 62.84%
- ICE
- 38.14%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 52.77% 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
52.77%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- ICE
- 52.77%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 14.40% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 2.28% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 38.14% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 52.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 7.47% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 20.71% 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 | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 7.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 9.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 20.71% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 30.77% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 1.17% 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
1.17%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- ICE
- 1.17%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 27.79% 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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
27.79%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- ICE
- 27.79%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 1.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 27.79% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 23.47 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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
23.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- ICE
- 23.47
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 2.95 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 8.82 sits in the pricier quartile — ICE costs more per dollar of sales.
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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
8.82
- Max
- 9.23
- ICE
- 8.82
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 3.22 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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
3.22
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- ICE
- 3.22
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 23.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 8.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 3.22 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |