American Express Company logo

American Express Company(AXP)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$306.33
09/28/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for AXP

09/28/2026: AXP (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

American Express is a financial services company known for its premium credit card offerings and closed-loop payment network. The company holds a leading position by targeting affluent consumers and businesses, which contributes to robust margins. Its primary growth opportunity lies in expanding its B2B payment services and increasing engagement with younger demographics. Investors should monitor risks such as increased regulatory scrutiny on interchange fees, economic cycles impacting luxury travel, and competition from fintech disruptors. The stock may be a strong fit for investors seeking a high-quality financial brand with a history of steady shareholder returns rather than high-yield income.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers consistent growth but acts more like a mature financial utility.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveAXP often trends well when consumer spending and travel demand are high.
Value investorStrong fitIt is often viewed as a high-quality financial stock trading at reasonable valuations.
Dividend investorMixed fitDividends are reliable but yields are generally lower than high-yield sectors.
Low-risk investorMedium fitFinancial stocks carry inherent cyclical risks but AXP has a strong brand moat.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumFinancial stocks fluctuate with interest rate and economic sentiment.
Valuation riskMediumThe stock can trade at a premium due to its strong brand.
Competition risk (fintech disruption)Medium / highDigital-first competitors threaten traditional fee structures.
Business qualityStrongThe closed-loop network is a high-quality defensive moat.
Dividend incomeLowIt is not primarily an income play for yield-focused investors.
Execution riskMediumSuccessfully pivoting to digital B2B requires constant operational excellence.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 49.16%
Avg. Invested days 54
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/28/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
AXP receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, solid company fundamentals, solid quantitative characteristics, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
AXP has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, moderate earnings growth (+7.0%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 19.9%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+8.4%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
AXP's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $16.0B (19.9% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is AXP's strongest growth driver at +31.8% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). Revenue growth (+8.4%, moderate) and earnings growth (+7.0%, moderate) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 64.7% and approximately 77.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 22.56% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Berkshire Hathaway Inc 22.45%
BlackRock Inc 6.21%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.89%
State Street Corp 4.33%
JPMorgan Chase & Co 3.02%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
AXP generates approximately $832 of gross profit, $171 of operating income, and $199 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 21.47%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
AXP has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 208.60B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 18.73
1Y Target Price 378.54
Price to earnings Ratio 18.73
1Y Target Price 378.54
Volume (30-day avg) 2.9M shares
Beta 1.05
52 Weeks Range 289.26 - 384.36
Updated Date 09/27/2026
52 Weeks Range 289.26 - 384.36
Updated Date 09/27/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.16%
Basic EPS (TTM) 16.49

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Discount RevenueFees charged to merchants for processing transactions on the Amex network.This is the core fee income from every purchase made with an Amex card.
Net Interest IncomeInterest earned on revolving card balances from customers.This functions like a bank, profiting from the spread on loaned money.
Card FeesAnnual fees paid by cardholders for premium products like the Platinum Card.These fees provide stable, recurring revenue regardless of spending volume.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 18.73
Forward PE 15.06
Enterprise Value 221.94B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.94
Enterprise Value 221.94B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.94
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.46
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 675.31M
Shares Floating 522.22M
Shares Outstanding 675.31M
Shares Floating 522.22M
Percent Insiders 22.56
Percent Institutions 64.65

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

News (Last Updated: 09/27/2026)

About American Express Company

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters New York, NY, United States
IPO Launch date 1972-06-01
Chairman & CEO Mr. Stephen Joseph Squeri
Sector Financial Services
Industry Credit Services
Full time employees 76800
Full time employees 76800

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services. The company offers credit and charge cards and complementary products and services, including travel, dining, and lifestyle and expense management products and services; and banking and other payment and financing products and services, including deposits and non-card lending. It also provides merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, fraud prevention, and point-of-sale marketing and information products and services, as well as network services. The company offers its products and services to consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies, and large corporations through mobile and online applications, affiliate marketing, customer referral programs, third-party service providers and business partners, in-house sales teams, direct mail, telephone, and direct response advertising. American Express Company was founded in 1850 and is headquartered in New York, New York.