American Express Company (AXP)vsUpstart Holdings Inc (UPST)
AXP
American Express Company
$324.69
+0.96%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $219.27B
UPST
Upstart Holdings Inc
$25.59
+1.95%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.52B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
American Express Company generates 5415% more annual revenue ($70.91B vs $1.29B). AXP leads profitability with a 16.1% profit margin vs 4.7%. AXP trades at a lower P/E of 19.4x. AXP earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 70/100 (B-).
AXP
Strong Buy70
out of 100
Grade: B-
UPST
Buy53
out of 100
Grade: C-
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 20.3%
Generating 4.5B in free cash flow
Revenue surging 42.3% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 211.2% YoY
Areas to Watch
Elevated debt levels
Distress zone — elevated risk
ROE of 6.7% — below average capital efficiency
4.7% margin — thin
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
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 16.1% and operating margin at 20.3%. Revenue growth of 12.8% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bull Case : UPST
The strongest argument for UPST centers on Revenue Growth, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 42.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : AXP
The primary concerns for AXP are Debt/Equity, Altman Z-Score. Debt-to-equity of 1.72 is elevated, increasing financial risk.
Bear Case : UPST
The primary concerns for UPST are Return on Equity, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. A P/E of 51.8x leaves little room for execution misses. Debt-to-equity of 2.54 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 2.17 — expect wider price swings.
UPST is growing revenue faster at 42.3% — sustainability is the question.
AXP generates stronger free cash flow (4.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
AXP scores higher overall (70/100 vs 53/100), backed by strong 16.1% margins and 12.8% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" 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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