American Express (AXP) vs Moody's (MCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
American Express (AXP) has outperformed Moody's (MCO) over the past year, losing 7.2% versus a loss of 7.9%. Over five years, AXP leads with a +73.1% price change compared with +21.1% for MCO. American Express is the larger company by market cap ($208.06 billion vs $79.44 billion), about 2.6 times the size, while Moody's is growing revenue faster (+8.9% vs +6.4%).
On valuation, American Express trades at a lower forward P/E (15.3x vs 24.2x for Moody's). American Express offers the higher dividend yield (1.15% vs 0.86%). Moody's converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 31.9% versus 26.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AXP | MCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $308.10 | $458.69 |
| Market cap | $208.06B | $79.44B |
| 1-day change | +1.27% | +2.01% |
| YTD return | -17.76% | -11.98% |
| 1-year return | -7.23% | -7.94% |
| 5-year return | +73.06% | +21.14% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.70 | 29.10 |
| Forward P/E | 15.28 | 24.24 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.48 | $15.76 |
| Dividend yield | 1.15% | 0.86% |
| Annual dividend | $3.54 | $3.94 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $41.30B | $7.72B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.39% | +8.89% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $10.83B | $2.46B |
| Gross margin | — | 74.44% |
| Operating margin | — | 43.42% |
| Net margin | 26.23% | 31.86% |
| 52-week high | $387.49 | $546.88 |
| 52-week low | $290.97 | $402.28 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -20.49% | -16.13% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.54% | +22.07% |
| Average volume | 2.89M | 792.75K |
| Shares outstanding | 675.31M | 173.18M |
| Employees | 76,800 | 16,000 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Finance: Consumer Services |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- American Express is about 2.6 times larger than Moody's by market value ($208.06B vs $79.44B).
- Moody's trades at a higher earnings multiple (29.1x vs 18.7x trailing P/E).
- Moody's is more profitable, keeping 31.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 26.2 cents for American Express.
About American Express
AXP stock →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.
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 76,800 employees
About Moody's
MCO stock →Moody's Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated risk assessment firm in the United States, the rest of the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through two segments, Moody's Analytics (MA) and Moody's Investors Service (MIS).
Finance · Finance: Consumer Services · 16,000 employees
AXP vs MCO FAQ
Which is bigger, American Express or Moody's?
American Express (AXP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $208.06B compared with $79.44B for Moody's (MCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AXP or MCO?
AXP returned -7.23% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.94% for MCO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AXP or MCO?
AXP has the lower trailing P/E at 18.7, versus 29.1 for MCO. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, American Express or Moody's?
American Express has the higher yield at 1.15%, compared with 0.86% for Moody's.
Are American Express and Moody's in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Finance: Consumer Services industry within the Finance sector.