AXP vs MA
American Express Company and Mastercard Incorporated, side by side.
A close call — Mastercard edges ahead, three core metrics to two.
Mastercard keeps far more of every sales dollar (45.9% net vs 16.3%) and is growing faster (revenue 15.8% vs 11.6%). Analysts lean the same way — Mastercard holds a Strong Buy rating and sits roughly 23% below its average price target, while American Express trades near its own. American Express' case rests on a cheaper earnings multiple (P/E 21.2x vs 30.4x), a much lighter balance sheet (debt-to-equity 1.78x vs 2.82x), and a bigger dividend (1.0% vs 0.6%).
American Express leads on
Mastercard leads on
Figures reflect each company's latest snapshot — no metric is a verdict on its own. New to these numbers? Learn how to read them →
Company Size
How large is this company relative to the overall market?
Company Size
The total market value of all shares outstanding. Mega-cap (>$200B) are the world's largest companies. Large-cap ($10–200B) are well-established. Mid-cap ($2–10B) are growing businesses.
$232.09B · Mega-cap
$463.87B · Mega-cap
Valuation
Is this stock priced cheaply or expensively relative to its earnings and revenue?
P/E Ratio
Price-to-Earnings. For every $1 the company earned in the past year, you're paying this many dollars per share. Lower can mean a better deal, but fast-growing companies often trade at higher P/E ratios.
21.2x
30.4x
Forward P/E
Same as P/E, but based on next year's expected earnings. A Forward P/E lower than the current P/E suggests analysts expect profits to grow.
16.9x
23.0x
Price-to-Sales
How much you're paying for each $1 of the company's revenue. Useful when a company isn't yet profitable. Below 2x is generally low; above 10x is considered expensive.
3.4x
13.7x
Profitability
How efficiently does the company turn revenue into profit?
Profit Margin
Of every $1 in sales, this is how many cents the company keeps as profit after all costs. A 20% margin means $0.20 profit per $1 sold. Higher is better.
16.3%
45.9%
Gross Margin
Of every $1 in sales, how much is left after paying for the product or service itself — before other expenses like salaries and rent. Software companies often reach 70–80%; retailers are typically 20–30%.
62.8%
Return on Equity
For every $1 shareholders have invested, this is how much profit the company generates. Above 15% is generally considered strong and efficient use of capital.
34.4%
232.1%
Growth
Is the business expanding — or contracting?
Revenue Growth
How much the company's total sales grew compared to the same period last year. Positive means the business is expanding. Negative means it's shrinking.
11.6%
15.8%
Earnings Growth
How much the company's profits changed year-over-year. Strong, consistent earnings growth is one of the most watched signals by investors.
17.6%
21.2%
Financial Health
Can the company handle its debts and short-term obligations?
Debt-to-Equity
How much debt the company carries relative to what shareholders own. Below 1.0 means the company has more equity than debt. Above 2.0 starts to look risky for most industries.
1.78x
2.82x
Current Ratio
Can the company pay all its short-term bills in the next 12 months? Above 1.0 means yes — it has more short-term assets than debts. Below 1.0 can be a warning sign.
1.57x
0.98x
Dividends
Does the company pay shareholders regular cash income?
Dividend Yield
The annual cash payment to shareholders as a % of the share price. A 3% yield means you'd earn $3 per year for every $100 invested, just for holding the stock. A value of 0% means no dividend is paid.
1.0%
0.6%
Risk & Volatility
How much does this stock move relative to the overall market?
Volatility (Beta)
How much the stock tends to move relative to the overall market. 1.0 = moves in line with the market. Above 1.0 = more volatile (higher potential gain and loss). Below 1.0 = calmer than the market.
1.04x
0.73x
Analyst View
What do professional Wall Street analysts say about this stock?
Analyst Consensus
The average recommendation from professional Wall Street analysts who research this company. Ranges from Strong Buy to Strong Sell.
Buy (25 analysts)
Strong Buy (38 analysts)
Analyst Target Price
The average 12-month price target set by analysts.
$374.94
+10.2% vs price$644.24
+22.7% vs priceThis comparison is a factual summary of reported metrics, not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold either stock. One company leading on a metric doesn't make it the better investment for you.
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