Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) vs American Express Company (AXP) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ATLC | 13.5% revenue growth vs AXP's 10.1% |
| Value | ATLC | Lower P/E (6.0x vs 17.6x), PEG 0.25 vs 1.48 |
| Quality / Margins | AXP | 13.7% net margin vs ATLC's 8.5% |
| Stability / Safety | AXP | Beta 1.35 vs ATLC's 1.55, lower leverage |
| Dividends | ATLC | 2.6% yield, 7-year raise streak, vs AXP's 0.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AXP | +3.7% vs ATLC's -4.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AXP | 3.5% ROA vs ATLC's 1.7%, ROIC 12.2% vs 3.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Atlanticus Holdings is a specialty finance company that provides credit products and services to non-prime consumers in the United States. It generates revenue primarily through two segments: Credit as a Service — which originates consumer loans for retail purchases and medical procedures — and Auto Finance — which purchases and services used car loans from independent dealers. The company's competitive advantage lies in its data-driven underwriting technology and established partnerships with retailers and automotive dealers serving the underserved non-prime market.
American Express is a global payments and financial services company that issues charge and credit cards to consumers and businesses. It generates revenue primarily from discount fees charged to merchants — typically 2-3% of transaction value — and cardmember fees, with additional income from interest on revolving balances and travel services. Its key competitive advantage is its premium brand positioning and closed-loop network — which allows it to control both card issuance and merchant acceptance while collecting rich transaction data.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AXP leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ATLC leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AXP is the larger business by revenue, generating $74.2B annually — 56.6x ATLC's $1.3B. AXP is the more profitable business, keeping 13.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ATLC's 8.5%.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.3B | $74.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $161M | $15.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $118M | $10.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $488M | $18.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +21.6% | +81.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.6% | +17.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +13.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.7% | +16.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -7.1% | +18.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 11.0x trailing earnings, ATLC trades at a 50% valuation discount to AXP's 22.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ATLC offers better value at 0.47x vs AXP's 1.85x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $791M | $212.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.9B | $223.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.97x | 22.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 5.98x | 17.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.47x | 1.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 20.32x | 15.33x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.60x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.01x | 7.28x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 1.69x | 17.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AXP delivers a 32.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $20 for ATLC. AXP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.69x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ATLC's 5.12x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXP scores 7/9 vs ATLC's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.2% | +32.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.7% | +3.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +12.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.7% | +11.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.12x | 1.69x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $10.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $375M | $40.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.5B | $51.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.69x | 1.64x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AXP five years ago would be worth $23,155 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $19,303 for ATLC. Over the past 12 months, AXP leads with a +3.7% total return vs ATLC's -4.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AXP at 22.2% vs ATLC's 17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -21.2% | -16.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -4.8% | +3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +63.2% | +82.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +93.0% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +1587.4% | +491.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.7% | +22.2% |
Risk & Volatility
AXP is the less volatile stock with a 1.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ATLC's 1.55 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AXP currently trades 79.7% from its 52-week high vs ATLC's 66.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.55x | 1.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $78.91 | $387.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.37 | $220.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +66.3% | +79.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.9 | 42.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 58K | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ATLC as "Buy" and AXP as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 81.6% upside for ATLC (target: $95) vs 21.3% for AXP (target: $375). For income investors, ATLC offers the higher dividend yield at 2.62% vs AXP's 0.91%.
| Metric | ATLCAtlanticus Holdin… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $95.00 | $374.58 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 6 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.6% | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 7 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.37 | $2.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +6.7% | +2.8% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 100 | 416.48 | +316.5% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 100 | 309.85 | +209.9% |
American Express Co… (AXP) returned +132% over 5 years vs Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC)'s +93%. A $10,000 investment in AXP 5 years ago would be worth $23,155 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | $160M | $1.3B | +719.6% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | $34.4B | $74.2B | +115.8% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's revenue grew from $160M (2015) to $1.3B (2024) — a 26.3% CAGR. American Express Company's revenue grew from $34.4B (2015) to $74.2B (2024) — a 8.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 1.1% | 8.5% | +692.7% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 15.0% | 13.7% | -9.1% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's net margin went from 1% (2015) to 8% (2024). American Express Company's net margin went from 15% (2015) to 14% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 6.5 | 11.7 | +80.0% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 33.4 | 21.2 | -36.5% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation has traded in a 5x–12x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~11x. American Express Company has traded in a 12x–33x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanticus Holdings… (ATLC) | 0.12 | 4.77 | +3875.0% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 5.05 | 14.02 | +177.6% |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's EPS grew from $0.12 (2015) to $4.77 (2024) — a 51% CAGR. American Express Company's EPS grew from $5.05 (2015) to $14.02 (2024) — a 12% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation generated $468M FCF in 2024 (+128% vs 2021). American Express Company generated $12B FCF in 2024 (-7% vs 2021).
ATLC vs AXP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ATLC or AXP a better buy right now?
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) offers the better valuation at 11.0x trailing P/E (6.0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) a "Buy" — based on 6 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ATLC or AXP?
On trailing P/E, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the cheapest at 11.0x versus American Express Company at 22.0x. On forward P/E, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 6.0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Atlanticus Holdings Corporation wins at 0.25x versus American Express Company's 1.48x — a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ATLC or AXP?
Over the past 5 years, American Express Company (AXP) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to +93.0% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC). A $10,000 investment in AXP five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ATLC returned +1587% versus AXP's +491.2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ATLC or AXP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), American Express Company (AXP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.35β versus Atlanticus Holdings Corporation's 1.55β — meaning ATLC is approximately 15% more volatile than AXP relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Express Company (AXP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 169% versus 5% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ATLC or AXP?
American Express Company (AXP) is the more profitable company, earning 13.7% net margin versus 8.5% for Atlanticus Holdings Corporation — meaning it keeps 13.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: AXP leads at 17.4% versus 10.6% for ATLC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AXP leads at 81.9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is ATLC or AXP more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential. By this metric, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.25x versus American Express Company's 1.48x. A PEG below 1.0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) trades at 6.0x forward P/E versus 17.6x for American Express Company — 11.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ATLC: 81.6% to $95.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — ATLC or AXP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) offers the highest yield at 2.6%, versus 0.9% for American Express Company (AXP).
08Is ATLC or AXP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (ATLC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.6% yield, +1587% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ATLC: +1587%, AXP: +491.2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between ATLC and AXP?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. In terms of investment character: ATLC is a small-cap deep-value stock; AXP is a large-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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