Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) 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 | CPSS | 11.8% revenue growth vs AXP's 10.1% |
| Value | CPSS | Lower P/E (3.3x vs 17.6x), PEG 0.11 vs 1.48 |
| Quality / Margins | AXP | 13.7% net margin vs CPSS's 4.9% |
| Stability / Safety | CPSS | Beta 0.46 vs AXP's 1.35 |
| Dividends | AXP | 0.9% yield; 14-year raise streak; CPSS pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AXP | +3.7% vs CPSS's -19.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AXP | 3.5% ROA vs CPSS's 0.5%, ROIC 12.2% vs 0.7% |
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
Consumer Portfolio Services is a specialty finance company that purchases and services subprime auto loans from car dealerships. It generates revenue primarily from interest income on these auto loans — which constitute nearly all of its earnings — supplemented by fees from loan servicing and ancillary products. The company's competitive advantage lies in its specialized underwriting expertise for non-prime borrowers and established relationships with dealership networks that provide a steady flow of loan originations.
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
Segment breakdown not available.
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
AXP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). CPSS leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AXP is the larger business by revenue, generating $74.2B annually — 188.6x CPSS's $394M. AXP is the more profitable business, keeping 13.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CPSS's 4.9%.
| Metric | CPSSConsumer Portfoli… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $394M | $74.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $29M | $15.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $19M | $10.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $281M | $18.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +52.7% | +81.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.0% | +17.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +4.9% | +13.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +59.3% | +16.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | 0.0% | +18.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 10.3x trailing earnings, CPSS trades at a 53% valuation discount to AXP's 22.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), CPSS offers better value at 0.35x vs AXP's 1.85x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | CPSSConsumer Portfoli… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $179M | $212.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $3.2B | $223.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 10.25x | 22.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.31x | 17.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.35x | 1.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 113.07x | 15.33x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.46x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.67x | 7.28x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.77x | 17.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AXP delivers a 32.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $6 for CPSS. AXP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.69x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CPSS's 10.78x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXP scores 7/9 vs CPSS's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CPSSConsumer Portfoli… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.3% | +32.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.5% | +3.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +0.7% | +12.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +0.9% | +11.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 10.78x | 1.69x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.0B | $10.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $137M | $40.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.2B | $51.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.12x | 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 $18,881 for CPSS. Over the past 12 months, AXP leads with a +3.7% total return vs CPSS's -19.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AXP at 22.2% vs CPSS's -9.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CPSSConsumer Portfoli… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -11.7% | -16.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -19.0% | +3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -26.8% | +82.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +88.8% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +84.5% | +491.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -9.9% | +22.2% |
Risk & Volatility
CPSS is the less volatile stock with a 0.46 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AXP's 1.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CPSSConsumer Portfoli… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.46x | 1.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.51 | $387.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.67 | $220.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.1% | +79.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 47.6 | 42.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 14K | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CPSS as "Buy" and AXP as "Hold". AXP is the only dividend payer here at 0.91% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CPSSConsumer Portfoli… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $374.58 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $2.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +7.2% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Portfolio … (CPSS) | 100 | 244.57 | +144.6% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 100 | 309.85 | +209.9% |
American Express Co… (AXP) returned +132% over 5 years vs Consumer Portfolio … (CPSS)'s +89%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Portfolio … (CPSS) | $364M | $394M | +8.2% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | $34.4B | $74.2B | +115.8% |
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.'s revenue grew from $364M (2015) to $394M (2024) — a 0.9% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Portfolio … (CPSS) | 9.5% | 4.9% | -48.8% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 15.0% | 13.7% | -9.1% |
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.'s net margin went from 10% (2015) to 5% (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Portfolio … (CPSS) | 29.6 | 13.7 | -53.7% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 33.4 | 21.2 | -36.5% |
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. has traded in a 3x–30x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~10x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Portfolio … (CPSS) | 1.1 | 0.79 | -28.2% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 5.05 | 14.02 | +177.6% |
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.10 (2015) to $0.79 (2024) — a -4% CAGR. American Express Company's EPS grew from $5.05 (2015) to $14.02 (2024) — a 12% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. generated $233M FCF in 2024 (+19% vs 2021). American Express Company generated $12B FCF in 2024 (-7% vs 2021).
CPSS vs AXP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CPSS or AXP a better buy right now?
Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) offers the better valuation at 10.3x trailing P/E (3.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) a "Buy" — based on 4 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 — CPSS or AXP?
On trailing P/E, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) is the cheapest at 10.3x versus American Express Company at 22.0x. On forward P/E, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 3.3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. wins at 0.11x 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 — CPSS or AXP?
Over the past 5 years, American Express Company (AXP) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to +88.8% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS). 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: AXP returned +491.2% versus CPSS's +84.5%. 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 — CPSS or AXP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.46β versus American Express Company's 1.35β — meaning AXP is approximately 191% more volatile than CPSS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Express Company (AXP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 169% versus 11% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CPSS or AXP?
American Express Company (AXP) is the more profitable company, earning 13.7% net margin versus 4.9% for Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. — 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 7.0% for CPSS. 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 CPSS 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, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0.11x 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, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) trades at 3.3x forward P/E versus 17.6x for American Express Company — 14.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — CPSS or AXP?
In this comparison, AXP (0.9% yield) pays a dividend. CPSS does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is CPSS or AXP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (CPSS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.46)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CPSS: +84.5%, 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 CPSS 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: CPSS is a small-cap deep-value stock; AXP is a large-cap quality compounder stock. AXP pays a dividend while CPSS does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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