AXP vs. MA: American Express vs. Mastercard Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Mastercard (MA) 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 Mastercard (MA) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while MA is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Mastercard Incorporated |
| 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 | 230.80 billion USD | 453.81 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | May 25, 2006 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 7.15% | -8.06% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.19% | 21.26% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.05 | 0.73 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.16M | 3.81M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but Mastercard (MA) at 232.08% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; American Express (AXP) at 34.42% also sits in the top quartile.
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%
MA
Financial Services industry group
232.08%
- MA
- 232.08%
- Max
- 42.17%
- Q3
- 21.42%
- Median
- 12.17%
- Q1
- 5.00%
- Min
- -17.69%
Net Margin (TTM)
Mastercard (MA) at 45.88% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 16.31%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
MA
Financial Services industry group
45.88%
- Max
- 66.55%
- MA
- 45.88%
- Q3
- 30.43%
- Median
- 16.62%
- Q1
- 4.47%
- Min
- -26.88%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Mastercard (MA) at 60.84% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 21.25%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
MA
Financial Services industry group
60.84%
- Max
- 95.95%
- MA
- 60.84%
- Q3
- 50.35%
- Median
- 26.49%
- Q1
- 11.62%
- Min
- -36.26%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 34.42% | 232.08% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.80% | 25.03% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.31% | 45.88% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 21.25% | 60.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 16.42% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 13.82% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 18.93% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 17.36% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Mastercard (MA) 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 Mastercard (MA) 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 | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.00% and Mastercard (MA) at 0.64% 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%
MA
Financial Services industry group
0.64%
- Max
- 20.96%
- Q3
- 8.69%
- Median
- 1.54%
- MA
- 0.64%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 21.29% and Mastercard (MA) at 18.23% 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%
MA
Financial Services industry group
18.23%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 95.23%
- Median
- 24.86%
- MA
- 18.23%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.00% | 0.64% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 21.29% | 18.23% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 21.10 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 29.76 sits in the richer quartile — MA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
MA
Financial Services industry group
29.76
- Max
- 48.68
- MA
- 29.76
- Q3
- 25.25
- Median
- 14.81
- Q1
- 9.35
- Min
- 0.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 3.35 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Mastercard (MA) at 13.37 clears its benchmark range — MA looks notably rich on 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
MA
Financial Services industry group
13.37
- MA
- 13.37
- Max
- 9.70
- Q3
- 4.78
- Median
- 2.89
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -1.03
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: American Express (AXP) at 6.79 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Mastercard (MA) at 67.79 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
MA
Financial Services industry group
67.79
- MA
- 67.79
- Max
- 7.22
- Q3
- 3.47
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 0.91
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 21.10 | 29.76 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.35 | 13.37 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.79 | 67.79 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |