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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.

Company profile comparison for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
Profile ItemAXPNLY
NameAmerican Express CompanyAnnaly Capital Management, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryConsumer FinanceMortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer FinanceMortgage REITs
Market Capitalization215.24 billion USD14.77 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972October 8, 1997
Security TypeCommon StockREIT

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AXP
NLY
GSPC
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
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

AXP
NLY
GSPC
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.18%20.57%
Beta (5Y)1.061.22
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.55%-49.57%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.91M10.28M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AXP and NLY are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
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%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
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.

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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
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

Financial strength metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
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%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
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
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

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
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

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
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American Express (AXP) vs. Annaly Capital Management (NLY): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Express (AXP) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY)
MetricAXPNLY
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.0813.02
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.9510.62
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.021.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----