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AXP vs. SPGI: American Express vs. S&P Global Stock Comparison

How do American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI) 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 S&P Global (SPGI) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while SPGI is classified in Capital Markets.

Company profile comparison for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
Profile ItemAXPSPGI
NameAmerican Express CompanyS&P Global Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryConsumer FinanceCapital Markets
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer FinanceFinancial Exchanges & Data
Market Capitalization215.24 billion USD135.62 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AXP
SPGI
GSPC
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI), 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 S&P Global (SPGI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
Total Return (1Y)-10.80%1.66%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)30.19%9.75%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)13.96%2.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AXP
SPGI
GSPC
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI), 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 S&P Global (SPGI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.18%31.02%
Beta (5Y)1.061.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.55%-39.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.91M1.86M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AXP and SPGI 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 S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.58-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.74-0.11

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while S&P Global (SPGI) at 17.88% 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%

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

17.88%

Max
44.78%
Q3
21.85%
SPGI
17.88%
Median
12.91%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-18.71%
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

S&P Global (SPGI) at 30.60% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 16.82%, which keeps about the industry-typical 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%

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

30.60%

Max
62.84%
SPGI
30.60%
Q3
28.05%
Median
15.36%
Q1
4.82%
Min
-28.52%
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 48.21% 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%

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

48.21%

Max
107.33%
Q3
55.90%
SPGI
48.21%
Median
30.09%
Q1
14.60%
Min
-44.34%
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
ROE (TTM)35.93%17.88%
ROA (TTM)4.03%8.33%
Net Margin (TTM)16.82%30.60%
Operating Margin (TTM)18.43%48.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 7.94% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 18.70% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.52%7.94%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.97%11.11%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.78%18.70%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)16.01%12.85%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and S&P Global (SPGI) 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 S&P Global (SPGI) 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 S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 0.82% 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%

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

0.82%

Max
9.77%
Q3
3.92%
Median
1.09%
SPGI
0.82%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 22.06% 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%

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

22.06%

Max
241.07%
Q3
97.36%
Median
25.77%
SPGI
22.06%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.13%0.82%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.32%22.06%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 18.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while S&P Global (SPGI) at 27.95 sits in the richer quartile — SPGI needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

27.95

Max
45.85
SPGI
27.95
Q3
24.64
Median
15.37
Q1
9.68
Min
0.16
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 2.95 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while S&P Global (SPGI) at 8.32 sits in the pricier quartile — SPGI 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

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

8.32

Max
9.23
SPGI
8.32
Q3
4.57
Median
2.72
Q1
1.28
Min
-0.55
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both American Express (AXP) at 6.02 and S&P Global (SPGI) at 6.88 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.

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

SPGI

Financial Services industry group

6.88

Max
7.79
SPGI
6.88
Q3
3.63
Median
1.57
Q1
0.81
Min
-0.39
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American Express (AXP) vs. S&P Global (SPGI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Express (AXP) and S&P Global (SPGI)
MetricAXPSPGI
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.0827.95
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.958.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.026.88
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----