AXP vs. MSCI: American Express vs. MSCI Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and MSCI (MSCI) 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 MSCI (MSCI) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while MSCI is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | MSCI 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 | 46.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | November 15, 2007 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 12.76% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 9.86% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 1.00% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 29.82% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.17 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -43.74% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 590.34K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | 0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | 0.40 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: American Express (AXP) earns 35.93% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; MSCI (MSCI) has no ROE this period.
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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
--
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
- MSCI
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
MSCI (MSCI) at 40.31% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
40.31%
- Max
- 62.84%
- MSCI
- 40.31%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
MSCI (MSCI) at 56.41% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 18.43%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
56.41%
- Max
- 107.33%
- MSCI
- 56.41%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 21.75% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 40.31% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 56.41% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and MSCI (MSCI) at 9.75% 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 MSCI (MSCI) at 11.67% 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 | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 9.75% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 11.71% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 11.67% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 13.54% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and MSCI (MSCI) 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 MSCI (MSCI) 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 | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and MSCI (MSCI) at 1.21% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
1.21%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- MSCI
- 1.21%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and MSCI (MSCI) at 42.04% 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%
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
42.04%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- MSCI
- 42.04%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 1.21% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 42.04% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 18.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while MSCI (MSCI) at 33.90 sits in the richer quartile — MSCI needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
33.90
- Max
- 45.85
- MSCI
- 33.90
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 2.95 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while MSCI (MSCI) at 13.58 clears its benchmark range — MSCI looks notably rich on 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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
13.58
- MSCI
- 13.58
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
MSCI (MSCI) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.24, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports 6.02, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
-15.24
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- MSCI
- -15.24
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | MSCI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 33.90 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 13.58 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | -15.24 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |