AXP vs. TOST: American Express vs. Toast Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Toast (TOST) 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 Toast (TOST) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while TOST is classified in Financial Services.
American Express (AXP) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 1, 1972, whereas Toast (TOST) listed on September 22, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Toast, 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 | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Finance | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 20.14 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | September 22, 2021 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | -5.92% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 35.73% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | -10.54% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 45.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 1.66 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -79.13% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 8.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | -0.23 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | -0.31 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 35.93% and Toast (TOST) at 25.58% 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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
25.58%
- Max
- 44.78%
- TOST
- 25.58%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and Toast (TOST) at 7.69% 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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
7.69%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- TOST
- 7.69%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 18.43% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Toast (TOST) at 8.63% operates in the bottom quartile.
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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
8.63%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- TOST
- 8.63%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 25.58% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 10.30% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 7.69% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 8.63% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and Toast (TOST) at 24.05% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Toast (TOST) at 1,766.67% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than American Express (AXP) at 9.78%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 24.05% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 31.10% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 1,766.67% |
| 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 Toast (TOST) 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 Toast (TOST) 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 | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Toast (TOST) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports a yield of 1.13%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- TOST
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Toast (TOST) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile American Express (AXP) reports a payout of 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%
TOST
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- TOST
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 18.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Toast (TOST) at 38.10 sits in the richer quartile — TOST 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
TOST
Financial Services industry group
38.10
- Max
- 45.85
- TOST
- 38.10
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Express (AXP) at 2.95 and Toast (TOST) at 2.82 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
TOST
Financial Services industry group
2.82
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- TOST
- 2.82
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both look rich against book: American Express (AXP) at 6.02 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Toast (TOST) at 8.79 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
TOST
Financial Services industry group
8.79
- TOST
- 8.79
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | TOST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 38.10 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 2.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 8.79 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |