AXP vs. WRB: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 23, 2025

Here’s a clear look at AXP and WRB, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	AXP	WRB
Company Name	American Express Company	W. R. Berkley Corporation
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Financials	Financials
GICS Industry	Consumer Finance	Insurance
Market Capitalization	214.61 billion USD	27.55 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 1, 1972	October 23, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of AXP and WRB by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

AXP vs. WRB: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	AXP	WRB
5-Day Price Return	0.22%	1.51%
13-Week Price Return	3.04%	-1.60%
26-Week Price Return	0.29%	18.13%
52-Week Price Return	21.39%	26.55%
Month-to-Date Return	3.04%	5.57%
Year-to-Date Return	3.91%	24.13%
10-Day Avg. Volume	2.33M	1.90M
3-Month Avg. Volume	2.74M	1.86M
3-Month Volatility	22.06%	17.24%
Beta	1.32	0.42

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

AXP

32.87%

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 32.87%
Q3: 20.39%
Median: 14.14%
Q1: 7.64%
Min: -10.63%

In the upper quartile for the Consumer Finance industry, AXP’s Return on Equity of 32.87% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

WRB

20.10%

Insurance Industry

Max: 29.03%
Q3: 18.11%
Median: 13.90%
Q1: 10.42%
Min: -0.64%

In the upper quartile for the Insurance industry, WRB’s Return on Equity of 20.10% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

AXP

13.55%

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 19.68%
Q3: 15.94%
Median: 13.37%
Q1: 9.73%
Min: 3.66%

AXP’s Net Profit Margin of 13.55% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Consumer Finance industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

WRB

12.32%

Insurance Industry

Max: 26.78%
Q3: 14.06%
Median: 9.15%
Q1: 5.48%
Min: -7.05%

WRB’s Net Profit Margin of 12.32% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Insurance industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

AXP

17.15%

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 50.11%
Q3: 29.38%
Median: 18.31%
Q1: 14.26%
Min: -5.45%

AXP’s Operating Profit Margin of 17.15% is around the midpoint for the Consumer Finance industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

WRB

16.84%

Insurance Industry

Max: 35.49%
Q3: 19.49%
Median: 14.35%
Q1: 8.53%
Min: -5.25%

In the Insurance industry, Operating Profit Margin is often not the primary measure of operational efficiency.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	AXP	WRB
Return on Equity (TTM)	32.87%	20.10%
Return on Assets (TTM)	3.62%	4.27%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	13.55%	12.32%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	17.15%	16.84%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	61.37%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AXP

0.71

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 5.34
Q3: 4.21
Median: 2.67
Q1: 0.71
Min: 0.20

For the Consumer Finance industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

WRB

0.92

Insurance Industry

Max: 2.97
Q3: 1.33
Median: 0.55
Q1: 0.15
Min: 0.00

For the Insurance industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

AXP

6.47

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 6.63
Q3: 3.39
Median: 2.21
Q1: 0.94
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Consumer Finance industry.

WRB

0.31

Insurance Industry

Max: 1.25
Q3: 0.65
Median: 0.34
Q1: 0.22
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Insurance industry.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

AXP

33.37

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 49.63
Q3: 39.33
Median: 4.56
Q1: 2.97
Min: -15.69

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Consumer Finance industry.

WRB

18.84

Insurance Industry

Max: 43.68
Q3: 20.84
Median: 9.56
Q1: 3.34
Min: -5.73

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Insurance industry.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	AXP	WRB
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.71	0.92
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.71	0.92
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	6.47	0.31
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	33.37	18.84

Growth

Revenue Growth

AXP vs. WRB: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

AXP vs. WRB: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AXP

0.99%

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 8.31%
Q3: 3.93%
Median: 2.51%
Q1: 0.84%
Min: 0.00%

AXP’s Dividend Yield of 0.99% is consistent with its peers in the Consumer Finance industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

WRB

2.23%

Insurance Industry

Max: 8.23%
Q3: 4.54%
Median: 3.42%
Q1: 1.97%
Min: 0.00%

WRB’s Dividend Yield of 2.23% is consistent with its peers in the Insurance industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AXP

20.97%

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 145.89%
Q3: 88.53%
Median: 23.79%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AXP’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 20.97% is within the typical range for the Consumer Finance industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

WRB

34.10%

Insurance Industry

Max: 168.02%
Q3: 85.57%
Median: 50.71%
Q1: 22.04%
Min: 0.00%

WRB’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 34.10% is within the typical range for the Insurance industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	AXP	WRB
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.99%	2.23%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	20.97%	34.10%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

AXP

21.11

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 34.39
Q3: 20.36
Median: 13.05
Q1: 9.29
Min: 4.74

A P/E Ratio of 21.11 places AXP in the upper quartile for the Consumer Finance industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

WRB

15.27

Insurance Industry

Max: 28.91
Q3: 17.76
Median: 13.63
Q1: 10.02
Min: 2.89

WRB’s P/E Ratio of 15.27 is within the middle range for the Insurance industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

AXP

2.86

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 4.28
Q3: 2.67
Median: 1.88
Q1: 1.15
Min: 0.55

AXP’s P/S Ratio of 2.86 is in the upper echelon for the Consumer Finance industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

WRB

1.88

Insurance Industry

Max: 3.72
Q3: 1.98
Median: 1.23
Q1: 0.81
Min: 0.23

WRB’s P/S Ratio of 1.88 aligns with the market consensus for the Insurance industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

AXP

6.87

Consumer Finance Industry

Max: 3.63
Q3: 2.40
Median: 1.96
Q1: 1.16
Min: 0.26

At 6.87, AXP’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Consumer Finance industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

WRB

3.00

Insurance Industry

Max: 4.37
Q3: 2.48
Median: 1.68
Q1: 1.19
Min: 0.19

WRB’s P/B Ratio of 3.00 is in the upper tier for the Insurance industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

AXP vs. WRB: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Consumer Finance and Insurance industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	AXP	WRB
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.11	15.27
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	2.86	1.88
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	6.87	3.00
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	16.03	7.92