AXP vs. LPLA: American Express vs. LPL Financial Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 LPL Financial (LPLA) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while LPLA is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | LPL Financial Holdings 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 | 215.24 billion USD | 23.01 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | November 18, 2010 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | -17.27% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 11.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 13.92% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 39.22% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 0.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -33.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 855.76K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | -0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 35.93% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 44.78%
- LPLA
- 25.66%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% 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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.97%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- LPLA
- 6.97%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 18.43% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 10.85% operates in the bottom quartile.
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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
10.85%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- LPLA
- 10.85%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 25.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 7.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 6.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 10.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while American Express (AXP) at 9.52% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for LPLA.
EPS Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17% 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 | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 37.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 25.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | -22.17% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 1.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 0.40% 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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
0.40%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- LPLA
- 0.40%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.88% 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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.88%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- LPLA
- 6.88%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 0.40% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 6.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 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
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
16.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- LPLA
- 16.93
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 1.15 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while American Express (AXP) at 2.95 prices around its industry’s middle — LPLA 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
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
1.15
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- LPLA
- 1.15
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both American Express (AXP) at 6.02 and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 3.98 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
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
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
3.98
- Max
- 7.79
- LPLA
- 3.98
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 16.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 1.15 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 3.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |