American Express Company (AXP)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)
AXP
American Express Company
$310.66
+3.08%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $212.18B
UPST
Upstart Holdings Inc
$29.74
-7.84%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.92B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
American Express Company generates 5763% more annual revenue ($68.81B vs $1.17B). AXP leads profitability with a 16.3% profit margin vs 4.2%. AXP trades at a lower P/E of 19.4x. AXP earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 68/100 (B-).
AXP
Strong Buy68
out of 100
Grade: B-
UPST
Hold50
out of 100
Grade: D+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Every $100 of equity generates 33 in profit
Strong operational efficiency at 21.2%
Generating 2.7B in free cash flow
Revenue surging 44.6% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 209.1% YoY
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Distress zone — elevated risk
ROE of 6.7% — below average capital efficiency
4.2% margin — thin
Operating margin of 0.9%
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : AXP
The strongest argument for AXP centers on Market Cap, Return on Equity, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.3% and operating margin at 21.2%. Revenue growth of 11.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : UPST
The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 44.6% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : AXP
The primary concerns for AXP are PEG Ratio, Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score. Debt-to-equity of 1.78 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : UPST
The primary concerns for UPST are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. A P/E of 74.4x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 2.70 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
AXP profiles as a mature stock while UPST is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
UPST carries more volatility with a beta of 2.28 — expect wider price swings.
UPST is growing revenue faster at 44.6% — sustainability is the question.
AXP generates stronger free cash flow (2.7B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
AXP scores higher overall (68/100 vs 50/100), backed by strong 16.3% margins and 11.6% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
American Express Company
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
The American Express Company is a multinational financial services corporation headquartered at 200 Vesey Street in the Battery Park City neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City.
Visit Website →Upstart Holdings Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CREDIT SERVICES · USA
Upstart Holdings, Inc. operates a cloud-based artificial intelligence (AI) lending platform. The company is headquartered in San Mateo, California.
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