Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) 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 | JCAP | 34.1% revenue growth vs AXP's 10.1% |
| Value | JCAP | Lower P/E (7.3x vs 17.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | JCAP | 24.3% net margin vs AXP's 13.7% |
| Stability / Safety | AXP | Beta 1.35 vs JCAP's 1.36, lower leverage |
| Dividends | JCAP | 3.0% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs AXP's 0.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JCAP | +13.9% vs AXP's +3.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | JCAP | 7.8% ROA vs AXP's 3.5%, ROIC 12.6% vs 12.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Jefferson Capital is a debt recovery company that purchases charged-off consumer receivables at deep discounts and works with individuals to collect repayments. It makes money primarily by buying distressed debt portfolios—including credit card, auto, telecom, and utility receivables—at steep discounts and collecting on them, supplemented by debt servicing fees for managing nonperforming loans for credit originators. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in valuing and collecting on distressed debt, its established relationships with credit originators, and its operational scale in managing large portfolios of charged-off receivables.
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
JCAP leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). AXP leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AXP is the larger business by revenue, generating $74.2B annually — 171.2x JCAP's $433M. JCAP is the more profitable business, keeping 24.3% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AXP's 13.7%.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $433M | $74.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $137M | $15.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $140M | $10.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $265M | $18.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +71.2% | +81.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +50.8% | +17.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.3% | +13.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +16.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +18.6% |
Valuation Metrics
At 11.4x trailing earnings, JCAP trades at a 48% valuation discount to AXP's 22.0x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, JCAP's 10.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AXP's 15.3x.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.2B | $212.8B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.4B | $223.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 11.40x | 22.03x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 7.29x | 17.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.85x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.40x | 15.33x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.78x | 2.87x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.14x | 7.28x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 7.42x | 17.53x |
Profitability & Efficiency
AXP delivers a 32.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $32 for JCAP. AXP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.69x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JCAP's 3.12x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXP scores 7/9 vs JCAP's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +32.0% | +32.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.8% | +3.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.6% | +12.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.6% | +11.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 3.12x | 1.69x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.2B | $10.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $36M | $40.6B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.2B | $51.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.00x | 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 $11,386 for JCAP. Over the past 12 months, JCAP leads with a +13.9% total return vs AXP's +3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors AXP at 22.2% vs JCAP's 4.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.7% | -16.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +13.9% | +3.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.9% | +82.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.9% | +131.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +13.9% | +491.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +4.4% | +22.2% |
Risk & Volatility
AXP is the less volatile stock with a 1.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than JCAP's 1.36 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. JCAP currently trades 86.7% from its 52-week high vs AXP's 79.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.36x | 1.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.80 | $387.49 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $15.98 | $220.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.7% | +79.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 45.2 | 42.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 301K | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates JCAP as "Buy" and AXP as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 27.6% upside for JCAP (target: $26) vs 21.3% for AXP (target: $375). For income investors, JCAP offers the higher dividend yield at 2.99% vs AXP's 0.91%.
| Metric | JCAPJefferson Capital… | AXPAmerican Express … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $26.33 | $374.58 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 9 | 56 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.0% | +0.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.62 | $2.80 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +2.8% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Capital, … (JCAP) | $2M | $433M | +24759.4% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | $34.4B | $74.2B | +115.8% |
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's revenue grew from $2M (2015) to $433M (2024) — a 84.6% CAGR. American Express Company's revenue grew from $34.4B (2015) to $74.2B (2024) — a 8.9% CAGR.
Chart 2Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Capital, … (JCAP) | -168.8% | 24.3% | +114.4% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 15.0% | 13.7% | -9.1% |
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's net margin went from -169% (2015) to 24% (2024). American Express Company's net margin went from 15% (2015) to 14% (2024).
Chart 3P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 33.4 | 21.2 | -36.5% |
American Express Company has traded in a 12x–33x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x.
Chart 4EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Capital, … (JCAP) | -0.65 | 1.81 | +378.5% |
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 5.05 | 14.02 | +177.6% |
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's EPS grew from $-0.65 (2015) to $1.81 (2024). American Express Company's EPS grew from $5.05 (2015) to $14.02 (2024) — a 12% CAGR.
Chart 5Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock generated $162M FCF in 2024 (+36% vs 2023). American Express Company generated $12B FCF in 2024 (-7% vs 2021).
JCAP vs AXP: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is JCAP or AXP a better buy right now?
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) offers the better valuation at 11.4x trailing P/E (7.3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) a "Buy" — based on 9 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 — JCAP or AXP?
On trailing P/E, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) is the cheapest at 11.4x versus American Express Company at 22.0x. On forward P/E, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock is actually cheaper at 7.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — JCAP or AXP?
Over the past 5 years, American Express Company (AXP) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to +13.9% for Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP). 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 JCAP's +13.9%. 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 — JCAP or AXP?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), American Express Company (AXP) is the lower-risk stock at 1.35β versus Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock's 1.36β — meaning JCAP is approximately 1% 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 3% for Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — JCAP or AXP?
Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) is the more profitable company, earning 24.3% net margin versus 13.7% for American Express Company — meaning it keeps 24.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JCAP leads at 50.8% versus 17.4% for AXP. 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 JCAP or AXP more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) trades at 7.3x forward P/E versus 17.6x for American Express Company — 10.3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JCAP: 27.6% to $26.33.
07Which pays a better dividend — JCAP or AXP?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Jefferson Capital, Inc. Common Stock (JCAP) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 0.9% for American Express Company (AXP).
08Is JCAP or AXP better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, American Express Company (AXP) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0.9% yield, +491.2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (AXP: +491.2%, JCAP: +13.9%), 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 JCAP 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: JCAP 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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