American Express (AXP) vs PayPal (PYPL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
American Express (AXP) has outperformed PayPal (PYPL) over the past year, losing 7.5% versus a loss of 26.4%. Over five years, AXP leads with a +72.5% price change compared with -79.5% for PYPL. American Express is the larger company by market cap ($205.46 billion vs $47.01 billion), about 4.4 times the size.
On valuation, PayPal trades at a lower forward P/E (9.5x vs 15.1x for American Express). American Express offers the higher dividend yield (1.16% vs 1.02%). American Express converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 26.2% versus 15.8%.
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 | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $304.25 | $54.95 |
| Market cap | $205.46B | $47.01B |
| 1-day change | -0.10% | +0.62% |
| YTD return | -18.03% | -5.88% |
| 1-year return | -7.54% | -26.35% |
| 5-year return | +72.48% | -79.52% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.46 | 10.35 |
| Forward P/E | 15.09 | 9.50 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.48 | $5.31 |
| Dividend yield | 1.16% | 1.02% |
| Annual dividend | $3.54 | $0.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $41.30B | $33.17B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.39% | +4.32% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $10.83B | $5.23B |
| Operating margin | — | 18.28% |
| Net margin | 26.23% | 15.78% |
| 52-week high | $387.49 | $79.22 |
| 52-week low | $290.97 | $38.46 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -21.48% | -30.63% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.06% | +3.59% |
| Average volume | 2.90M | 14.04M |
| Shares outstanding | 675.31M | 855.46M |
| Employees | 76,800 | 23,800 |
| Sector | Finance | Industrials |
| Industry | Finance: Consumer Services | Diversified Commercial 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 4.4 times larger than PayPal by market value ($205.46B vs $47.01B).
- AXP has outperformed PYPL by 18.8 percentage points over the past year.
- American Express trades at a higher earnings multiple (18.5x vs 10.3x trailing P/E).
- American Express is more profitable, keeping 26.2 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 15.8 cents for PayPal.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: American Express in Finance and PayPal in Industrials.
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 PayPal
PYPL stock →PayPal Holdings, Inc. operates a technology platform that enables digital payments for merchants and consumers worldwide.
Industrials · Diversified Commercial Services · 23,800 employees
AXP vs PYPL FAQ
Which is bigger, American Express or PayPal?
American Express (AXP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $205.46B compared with $47.01B for PayPal (PYPL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AXP or PYPL?
AXP returned -7.54% over the past 12 months, compared with -26.35% for PYPL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AXP or PYPL?
PYPL has the lower trailing P/E at 10.3, versus 18.5 for AXP. 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 PayPal?
American Express has the higher yield at 1.16%, compared with 1.02% for PayPal.
Are American Express and PayPal in the same industry?
No. American Express is in the Finance sector, while PayPal is in Industrials.