AXP vs. OWL: American Express vs. Blue Owl Capital Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Blue Owl Capital (OWL) 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 Blue Owl Capital (OWL) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while OWL is classified in Capital Markets.
American Express (AXP) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 1, 1972, whereas Blue Owl Capital (OWL) listed on December 14, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Blue Owl Capital Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| 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 | 15.48 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | December 14, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | -27.51% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | -3.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | -4.22% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 46.89% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.28 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -67.10% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 19.50M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | -0.68 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | -0.99 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 6.41% 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%
OWL
Financial Services industry group
6.41%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- OWL
- 6.41%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 16.82% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 3.08% retains only a bottom-quartile 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%
OWL
Financial Services industry group
3.08%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- OWL
- 3.08%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 31.15% 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%
OWL
Financial Services industry group
31.15%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- OWL
- 31.15%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 6.41% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 4.69% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 3.08% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 31.15% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 25.04% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
American Express (AXP) at 9.78% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at -50.00% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 25.04% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 27.97% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | -50.00% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Blue Owl Capital (OWL) 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 Blue Owl Capital (OWL) 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 | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 9.66% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while American Express (AXP) at 1.13% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, OWL the richer one.
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%
OWL
Financial Services industry group
9.66%
- Max
- 9.77%
- OWL
- 9.66%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Blue Owl Capital (OWL) reports payout ratio above 100% at 650.00%, 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%
OWL
Financial Services industry group
650.00%
- OWL
- 650.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 9.66% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 650.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 18.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 70.14 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for OWL’s trailing earnings.
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
OWL
Financial Services industry group
70.14
- OWL
- 70.14
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 2.95 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 5.04 sits in the pricier quartile — OWL costs more per dollar of 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
OWL
Financial Services industry group
5.04
- Max
- 9.23
- OWL
- 5.04
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Blue Owl Capital (OWL) at 3.54 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
OWL
Financial Services industry group
3.54
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- OWL
- 3.54
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | OWL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 70.14 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 5.04 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 3.54 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |