American Express (AXP) vs Visa (V)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Visa (V) has outperformed American Express (AXP) over the past year, gaining 6.1% versus a loss of 7.5%. Over five years, AXP leads with a +72.5% price change compared with +61.9% for V. Visa is the larger company by market cap ($698.56 billion vs $205.46 billion), about 3.4 times the size.
On valuation, American Express trades at a lower forward P/E (15.1x vs 24.8x for Visa). American Express offers the higher dividend yield (1.16% vs 0.72%). Visa converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 50.1% 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 | V |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $304.25 | $372.10 |
| Market cap | $205.46B | $698.56B |
| 1-day change | -0.10% | +0.39% |
| YTD return | -18.03% | +6.64% |
| 1-year return | -7.54% | +6.12% |
| 5-year return | +72.48% | +61.90% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 18.46 | 31.67 |
| Forward P/E | 15.09 | 24.80 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.48 | $11.75 |
| Dividend yield | 1.16% | 0.72% |
| Annual dividend | $3.54 | $2.68 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $41.30B | $40.00B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.39% | +11.34% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $10.83B | $20.06B |
| Operating margin | — | 59.98% |
| Net margin | 26.23% | 50.14% |
| 52-week high | $387.49 | $385.57 |
| 52-week low | $290.97 | $293.89 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -21.48% | -3.49% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +22.06% | +12.70% |
| Average volume | 2.90M | 6.61M |
| Shares outstanding | 675.31M | 1.70B |
| Employees | 76,800 | 34,100 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Credit Services | Credit 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
- Visa is about 3.4 times larger than American Express by market value ($698.56B vs $205.46B).
- V has outperformed AXP by 13.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Visa trades at a higher earnings multiple (31.7x vs 18.5x trailing P/E).
- Visa is more profitable, keeping 50.1 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.
Financial Services · Credit Services · 76,800 employees
About Visa
V stock →Visa Inc. operates as a payment technology company in the United States and internationally.
Financial Services · Credit Services · 34,100 employees
AXP vs V FAQ
Which is bigger, American Express or Visa?
Visa (V) is larger, with a market capitalization of $698.56B compared with $205.46B for American Express (AXP).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AXP or V?
V returned +6.12% over the past 12 months, compared with -7.54% for AXP (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AXP or V?
AXP has the lower trailing P/E at 18.5, versus 31.7 for V. 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 Visa?
American Express has the higher yield at 1.16%, compared with 0.72% for Visa.
Are American Express and Visa in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Credit Services industry within the Financial Services sector.