AXP vs. NLY: American Express vs. Annaly Capital Management Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while NLY is classified in Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
American Express (AXP) is an ordinary operating company, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) is a REIT — read its payout ratio and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than comparing them directly to AXP’s multiples.
| Profile Item | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Annaly Capital Management, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Finance | Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Finance | Mortgage REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 14.77 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | October 8, 1997 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | -0.90% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 19.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 1.83% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 20.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.22 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -49.57% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 10.28M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | -0.25 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | -0.36 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 7.35% 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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
7.35%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- NLY
- 7.35%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.27% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while American Express (AXP) at 16.82% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
80.27%
- NLY
- 80.27%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 107.33% 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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
107.33%
- NLY
- 107.33%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 7.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 0.84% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 80.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 107.33% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 87.29% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than American Express (AXP) at 9.52%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.25% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while American Express (AXP) at 9.78% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NLY.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 87.29% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 4.72% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 80.25% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | -9.35% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 1.13% pays an industry-typical yield; Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 15.38% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
15.38%
- NLY
- 15.38%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) reports payout ratio above 100% at 201.39%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports 15.32%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
201.39%
- Max
- 241.07%
- NLY
- 201.39%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 15.38% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 201.39% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 13.02 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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
13.02
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NLY
- 13.02
- 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 Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 10.62 clears its benchmark range — NLY 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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
10.62
- NLY
- 10.62
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 1.05 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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
1.05
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- NLY
- 1.05
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 13.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 10.62 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 1.05 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |