American Express Company (AXP) vs Discover Financial Services (DFS)
A side-by-side comparison of American Express Company and Discover Financial Services across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of September 10, 2026. Differences are shown without an overall score or investment verdict.
AXP
American Express Company
$324.69Financial ServicesDelayed quote: Sep 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
DFS
Discover Financial Services
$200.05Financial ServicesDelayed quote: May 16, 2025, 4:00 PM EDT
Total return — AXP vs DFS
growth of $100 · dividends reinvested · last 10yAXP +338.9% (+15.9%/yr)DFS +317.4% (+15.4%/yr)AXP compounded faster over this window
AXP DFS
AXP vs DFS: by the numbers
- •AXP is the larger company ($219.27B vs $50.34B market cap).
- •DFS trades at the lower trailing earnings multiple (10.67 vs 19.64 P/E), one valuation lens rather than an overall verdict.
- •DFS converts more revenue to profit (21.65% vs 13.61% net margin).
- •AXP grew revenue faster over the past five years (16.23% vs 13.84% CAGR).
- •AXP pays a dividend (1.10% yield), while DFS is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
Metrics side by side
Valuation
| Metric | AXP | DFS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E ratio | 19.64 | 10.67 |
| Forward P/E | 18.40 | 12.59 |
| P/S ratio | 2.61 | 2.27 |
| P/B ratio | 6.40 | 2.65 |
Profitability
| Metric | AXP | DFS |
|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 84.35% | 89.46% |
| Operating margin | 17.14% | 88.29% |
| Net margin | 13.61% | 21.65% |
| ROE | 33.39% | 25.29% |
Dividends
| Metric | AXP | DFS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield | 1.10% | N/A |
| Payout ratio | 21.42% | N/A |
Growth (annualized)
| Metric | AXP | DFS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue CAGR (5Y) | 16.23% | 13.84% |
| EPS CAGR (5Y) | 32.53% | 14.26% |
| Total return CAGR (5Y) | 16.52% | 42.81% |
Frequently asked
- Which has the lower trailing P/E, AXP or DFS?
- DFS has the lower trailing P/E: AXP trades at 19.64 and DFS at 10.67. P/E is one valuation measure and does not by itself establish which business is cheaper.
- Which has grown faster, AXP or DFS?
- Over the past five years, AXP grew revenue faster — AXP at a 16.23% CAGR versus DFS at 13.84%.
- Does AXP or DFS pay a bigger dividend?
- AXP pays a dividend (1.10% yield), while DFS is a former payer with no current dividend run rate.
- Is AXP or DFS more profitable?
- DFS runs the higher net margin — AXP at 13.61% versus DFS at 21.65%.
- How have AXP and DFS total returns compared?
- Over the past 10 years, AXP delivered 18.90% and DFS delivered 15.41% annualized total return. Past performance doesn't predict future results.
Go deeper
Dig into the metrics
American Express P/E ratioDiscover Financial Services P/E ratioAmerican Express dividend yieldAmerican Express ROEDiscover Financial Services ROEAmerican Express operating marginDiscover Financial Services operating marginAmerican Express revenue growthDiscover Financial Services revenue growth
American Express & Discover Financial Services appear in these rankings
Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified September 10, 2026.