AXP vs. PYPL: American Express vs. PayPal Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and PayPal (PYPL) 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 PayPal (PYPL) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while PYPL is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | PayPal Holdings, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Finance | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Finance | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 49.21 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | July 6, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | -7.44% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 4.14% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | -21.48% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 42.40% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.28 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -81.84% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 11.78M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | -0.28 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | -0.37 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 35.93% and PayPal (PYPL) at 23.83% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.
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%
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
23.83%
- Max
- 44.78%
- PYPL
- 23.83%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and PayPal (PYPL) at 13.78% 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%
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
13.78%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- PYPL
- 13.78%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and PayPal (PYPL) at 18.41% 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%
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
18.41%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- PYPL
- 18.41%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 23.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 4.70% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 13.78% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 18.41% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and PayPal (PYPL) at 4.32% 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 PayPal (PYPL) at 35.59% 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 | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 4.32% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 6.43% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 35.59% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 37.30% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and PayPal (PYPL) 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 PayPal (PYPL) 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 | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and PayPal (PYPL) at 0.95% 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%
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
0.95%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- PYPL
- 0.95%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and PayPal (PYPL) at 10.69% 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%
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
10.69%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- PYPL
- 10.69%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 0.95% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 10.69% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and PayPal (PYPL) at 11.31 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
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
11.31
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- PYPL
- 11.31
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Express (AXP) at 2.95 and PayPal (PYPL) at 1.43 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
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
1.43
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- PYPL
- 1.43
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
PayPal (PYPL) at 2.55 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
PYPL
Financial Services industry group
2.55
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- PYPL
- 2.55
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 11.31 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 1.43 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 2.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |