AXP vs. NTRS: American Express vs. Northern Trust Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while NTRS is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Northern Trust Corporation |
| 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 | Asset Management & Custody Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 31.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | 39.45% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 40.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 11.05% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 24.90% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -50.03% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 1.11M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | 1.41 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | 2.17 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Northern Trust (NTRS) at 18.44% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
18.44%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- NTRS
- 18.44%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 26.00% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
26.00%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- NTRS
- 26.00%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 34.80% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
34.80%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- NTRS
- 34.80%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 18.44% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 1.44% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 26.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 34.80% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
American Express (AXP) at 9.52% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Northern Trust (NTRS) at -2.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at -10.54% 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 | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | -2.46% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 6.15% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | -10.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 12.49% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 1.91% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
1.91%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- NTRS
- 1.91%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 25.73% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
25.73%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- NTRS
- 25.73%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 1.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 25.73% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 13.55 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
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
13.55
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NTRS
- 13.55
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Express (AXP) at 2.95 and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 3.35 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- NTRS
- 3.35
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Northern Trust (NTRS) at 2.51 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
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
2.51
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- NTRS
- 2.51
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 13.55 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 3.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 2.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |