Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare American Express Company (AXP) vs JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) 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 | JPM | 14.6% revenue growth vs AXP's 10.1% |
| Value | JPM | Lower P/E (13.9x vs 17.6x), PEG 1.07 vs 1.48 |
| Quality / Margins | JPM | 21.6% net margin vs AXP's 13.7% |
| Stability / Safety | JPM | Beta 1.00 vs AXP's 1.35 |
| Dividends | JPM | 1.7% yield, 14-year raise streak, vs AXP's 0.9% |
| Momentum (1Y) | JPM | +15.7% vs AXP's +3.7% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | AXP | 3.5% ROA vs JPM's 1.3%, ROIC 12.2% vs 5.4% |
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
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.
JPMorgan Chase is a global financial services giant that operates as a universal bank offering consumer banking, investment banking, commercial banking, and asset management services. It generates revenue primarily through net interest income from lending activities (about 50% of total revenue) and non-interest income from investment banking fees, trading, asset management, and card services. The company's key competitive advantage lies in its massive scale, diversified revenue streams, and fortress balance sheet—which together create significant barriers to entry and provide stability through economic cycles.
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
JPM leads in 4 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). AXP leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
JPM is the larger business by revenue, generating $270.8B annually — 3.6x AXP's $74.2B. JPM is the more profitable business, keeping 21.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AXP's 13.7%.
| Metric | AXPAmerican Express … | JPMJPMorgan Chase & … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $74.2B | $270.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15.2B | $81.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $10.5B | $58.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $18.9B | -$119.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +81.9% | +58.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +17.4% | +27.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.7% | +21.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +16.4% | -15.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +18.6% | +16.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 15.2x trailing earnings, JPM trades at a 31% valuation discount to AXP's 22.0x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), JPM offers better value at 1.17x vs AXP's 1.85x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | AXPAmerican Express … | JPMJPMorgan Chase & … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $212.8B | $809.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $223.4B | $1.09T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.03x | 15.21x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.58x | 13.93x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 1.85x | 1.17x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.33x | 13.15x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.87x | 2.99x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.28x | 2.51x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.53x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
AXP delivers a 32.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $33 in annual profit, vs $16 for JPM. AXP carries lower financial leverage with a 1.69x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JPM's 2.18x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), AXP scores 7/9 vs JPM's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AXPAmerican Express … | JPMJPMorgan Chase & … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +32.5% | +16.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.5% | +1.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.2% | +5.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.2% | +8.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.69x | 2.18x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $10.5B | $281.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $40.6B | $469.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $51.1B | $751.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.64x | 0.74x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in AXP five years ago would be worth $23,155 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $21,449 for JPM. Over the past 12 months, JPM leads with a +15.7% total return vs AXP's +3.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors JPM at 30.0% vs AXP's 22.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AXPAmerican Express … | JPMJPMorgan Chase & … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -16.9% | -7.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +3.7% | +15.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +82.4% | +119.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +131.5% | +114.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +491.2% | +497.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +22.2% | +30.0% |
Risk & Volatility
JPM is the less volatile stock with a 1.00 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. JPM currently trades 89.0% from its 52-week high vs AXP's 79.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AXPAmerican Express … | JPMJPMorgan Chase & … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.35x | 1.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $387.49 | $337.25 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $220.43 | $202.16 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +79.7% | +89.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 42.2 | 48.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.4M | 9.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AXP as "Hold" and JPM as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 21.3% upside for AXP (target: $375) vs 11.9% for JPM (target: $336). For income investors, JPM offers the higher dividend yield at 1.71% vs AXP's 0.91%.
| Metric | AXPAmerican Express … | JPMJPMorgan Chase & … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $374.58 | $336.10 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 56 | 60 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.9% | +1.7% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 14 | 14 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.80 | $5.13 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.8% | +3.5% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 100 | 309.85 | +209.9% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) | 100 | 253.57 | +153.6% |
American Express Co… (AXP) returned +132% over 5 years vs JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM)'s +114%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Co… (AXP) | $34.4B | $74.2B | +115.8% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) | $101.0B | $270.8B | +168.1% |
American Express Company's revenue grew from $34.4B (2015) to $74.2B (2024) — a 8.9% CAGR. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s revenue grew from $101.0B (2015) to $270.8B (2024) — a 11.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 15.0% | 13.7% | -9.1% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) | 24.2% | 21.6% | -10.8% |
American Express Company's net margin went from 15% (2015) to 14% (2024). JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s net margin went from 24% (2015) to 22% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 33.4 | 21.2 | -36.5% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) | 16.9 | 12.1 | -28.4% |
American Express Company has traded in a 12x–33x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~22x. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has traded in a 10x–17x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~15x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express Co… (AXP) | 5.05 | 14.02 | +177.6% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) | 6 | 19.75 | +229.2% |
American Express Company's EPS grew from $5.05 (2015) to $14.02 (2024) — a 12% CAGR. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s EPS grew from $6.00 (2015) to $19.75 (2024) — a 14% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
American Express Company generated $12B FCF in 2024 (-7% vs 2021). JPMorgan Chase & Co. generated $-42B FCF in 2024 (-154% vs 2021).
AXP vs JPM: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AXP or JPM a better buy right now?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) offers the better valuation at 15.2x trailing P/E (13.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) a "Buy" — based on 60 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 — AXP or JPM?
On trailing P/E, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is the cheapest at 15.2x versus American Express Company at 22.0x. On forward P/E, JPMorgan Chase & Co. is actually cheaper at 13.9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: JPMorgan Chase & Co. wins at 1.07x versus American Express Company's 1.48x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AXP or JPM?
Over the past 5 years, American Express Company (AXP) delivered a total return of +131.5%, compared to +114.5% for JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM). 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: JPM returned +497.7% 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 — AXP or JPM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is the lower-risk stock at 1.00β versus American Express Company's 1.35β — meaning AXP is approximately 34% more volatile than JPM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, American Express Company (AXP) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 169% versus 2% for JPMorgan Chase & Co. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AXP or JPM?
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is the more profitable company, earning 21.6% net margin versus 13.7% for American Express Company — meaning it keeps 21.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: JPM leads at 27.7% 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 AXP or JPM 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, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1.07x versus American Express Company's 1.48x. A PEG below 1.5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) trades at 13.9x forward P/E versus 17.6x for American Express Company — 3.6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AXP: 21.3% to $374.58.
07Which pays a better dividend — AXP or JPM?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) offers the highest yield at 1.7%, versus 0.9% for American Express Company (AXP).
08Is AXP or JPM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.00), 1.7% yield, +497.7% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (JPM: +497.7%, 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 AXP and JPM?
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: AXP is a large-cap quality compounder stock; JPM is a large-cap deep-value 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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