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AXP vs. V: American Express vs. Visa Stock Comparison

How do American Express (AXP) and Visa (V) 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 Visa (V) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while V is classified in Financial Services.

Company profile comparison for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
Profile ItemAXPV
NameAmerican Express CompanyVisa Inc. Class A
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryConsumer FinanceFinancial Services
GICS Sub-IndustryConsumer FinanceTransaction & Payment Processing Services
Market Capitalization230.80 billion USD652.47 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972March 19, 2008
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AXP
V
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): 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 Visa (V). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
Total Return (1Y)7.15%-2.61%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AXP
V
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)26.19%21.31%
Beta (5Y)1.050.76
Avg. Volume (3M)3.16M7.90M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AXP and V 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Visa (V) at 60.35% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; American Express (AXP) at 34.42% also sits in the top quartile.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

34.42%

Max
42.17%
AXP
34.42%
Q3
21.42%
Median
12.17%
Q1
5.00%
Min
-17.69%

V

Financial Services industry group

60.35%

V
60.35%
Max
42.17%
Q3
21.42%
Median
12.17%
Q1
5.00%
Min
-17.69%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Visa (V) at 51.68% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 16.31%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

16.31%

Max
66.55%
Q3
30.43%
Median
16.62%
AXP
16.31%
Q1
4.47%
Min
-26.88%

V

Financial Services industry group

51.68%

Max
66.55%
V
51.68%
Q3
30.43%
Median
16.62%
Q1
4.47%
Min
-26.88%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Visa (V) at 67.35% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of American Express (AXP) at 21.25%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

21.25%

Max
95.95%
Q3
50.35%
Median
26.49%
AXP
21.25%
Q1
11.62%
Min
-36.26%

V

Financial Services industry group

67.35%

Max
95.95%
V
67.35%
Q3
50.35%
Median
26.49%
Q1
11.62%
Min
-36.26%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
ROE (TTM)34.42%60.35%
ROA (TTM)3.80%19.19%
Net Margin (TTM)16.31%51.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.25%67.35%
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.52%11.34%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)10.97%10.92%

EPS Growth

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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
EPS Growth (YoY)9.78%4.83%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)16.01%13.37%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Visa (V) 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 Visa (V) 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 Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 1.00% and Visa (V) at 0.76% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

1.00%

Max
20.96%
Q3
8.69%
Median
1.54%
AXP
1.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

V

Financial Services industry group

0.76%

Max
20.96%
Q3
8.69%
Median
1.54%
V
0.76%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both American Express (AXP) at 21.29% and Visa (V) at 21.97% 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

21.29%

Max
228.57%
Q3
95.23%
Median
24.86%
AXP
21.29%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

V

Financial Services industry group

21.97%

Max
228.57%
Q3
95.23%
Median
24.86%
V
21.97%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.00%0.76%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)21.29%21.97%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 21.10 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Visa (V) at 29.94 sits in the richer quartile — V needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

21.10

Max
48.68
Q3
25.25
AXP
21.10
Median
14.81
Q1
9.35
Min
0.55

V

Financial Services industry group

29.94

Max
48.68
V
29.94
Q3
25.25
Median
14.81
Q1
9.35
Min
0.55
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

American Express (AXP) at 3.35 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Visa (V) at 15.16 clears its benchmark range — V looks notably rich on sales.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

3.35

Max
9.70
Q3
4.78
AXP
3.35
Median
2.89
Q1
1.44
Min
-1.03

V

Financial Services industry group

15.16

V
15.16
Max
9.70
Q3
4.78
Median
2.89
Q1
1.44
Min
-1.03
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: American Express (AXP) at 6.79 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Visa (V) at 18.40 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AXP

Financial Services industry group

6.79

Max
7.22
AXP
6.79
Q3
3.47
Median
1.67
Q1
0.91
Min
0.00

V

Financial Services industry group

18.40

V
18.40
Max
7.22
Q3
3.47
Median
1.67
Q1
0.91
Min
0.00
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American Express (AXP) vs. Visa (V): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for American Express (AXP) and Visa (V)
MetricAXPV
P/E Ratio (TTM)21.1029.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.3515.16
P/B Ratio (MRQ)6.7918.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----