Compare Stocks › AXP vs CAT
American Express Company (AXP) vs Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
CAT
Caterpillar Inc.
$688.65
Rewards
AXP
- ★Gross margin of 63.5% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.18 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
CAT
- ★Caterpillar Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
- ★Caterpillar Inc. scores 75/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 13.0% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
Risks
AXP
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.93 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $36.4M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
- ⚠Free cash flow has declined at a 5.9% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.
CAT
- ⚠FCF yield of 1.8% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 36.6x is 83% above the historical average of 20.0x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠High leverage (2.07x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
CAT
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$5.84B
N/A
FCF Yield
1.81%
19.19
Trailing P/E
36.63
14.64
Forward P/E
24.87
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
13.09%
31.97%
ROE
41.67%
63.47%
Gross Margin
28.79%
1.16
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
2.07
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.49
1.29%
Dividend Yield
0.88%
AXP: 5Ties: 1CAT: 2
AXPCAT
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →AXP
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
CAT
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.
$1 Retained Earnings Test
Learn more →AXP
$6.18
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$23.29B
Δ Market Cap
+$144.01B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
CAT
$6.48
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$22.05B
Δ Market Cap
+$142.85B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis
Learn more →AXP
38.6% Margin of Safety
Price is 38.6% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $294.93
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $480.21
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
CAT
14.7% Margin of Safety
Price is 14.7% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $688.65
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $807.79
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
CAT
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $689?
+17.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +23.0%
The market implies +17.2% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +23.0%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →AXP
40/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
CAT
75/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.
Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
Forensic Accounting
Learn more →AXP
-2.51
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
CAT
-2.43
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone
M-Score Trend
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
Ownership Breakdown
Learn more →AXP
Insiders 22.2%Institutions 64.8%Retail & Other 12.9%
No. of Institutional Holders3,749
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
CAT
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 72.6%Retail & Other 27.1%
No. of Institutional Holders4,271
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
Insider Buying Activity
Learn more →AXP
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $4,054
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4,054
@ $176.26 · 2025-04-09
ANGELAKIS MICHAEL J
Director
$998,593
@ $269.89 · 2025-03-07
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
CAT
0
Buys (3M)
3
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $322,768
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$170,658
@ $568.86 · 2025-11-06
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$120,262
@ $320.70 · 2025-05-07
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$31,848
@ $318.48 · 2025-05-02
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$36,557
@ $365.57 · 2025-02-04
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$39,857
@ $398.57 · 2024-12-04
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$33,859
@ $338.59 · 2024-09-04
JOHNSON GERALD
Director
$35,640
@ $356.40 · 2024-05-20
MACLENNAN DAVID W
Director
$168,695
@ $337.39 · 2024-05-03
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.
Insider Selling Activity
Learn more →AXP
7
Sells (3M)
20
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $152.65M
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$909,661
@ $300.02 · 2026-03-06
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4.77M
@ $340.67 · 2026-02-19
GROSFIELD HOWARD M
Officer
$2.82M
@ $346.73 · 2026-02-12
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$5.35M
@ $356.58 · 2026-02-09
SEEGER LAUREEN E
Officer
$4.60M
@ $360.99 · 2026-02-09
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$9.60M
@ $350.01 · 2026-02-05
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$8.35M
@ $356.91 · 2026-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$538,902
@ $384.93 · 2025-12-12
RUTLEDGE ELIZABETH
Officer
$18.01M
@ $360.21 · 2025-10-31
TABISH DOUGLAS J
Officer
$894,359
@ $355.61 · 2025-10-23
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$1.75M
@ $350.73 · 2025-10-22
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$37.03M
@ $329.86 · 2025-09-04
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$2.83M
@ $325.88 · 2025-09-03
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$7.67M
@ $326.37 · 2025-09-02
SEEGER LAUREEN E
Officer
$23.37M
@ $296.90 · 2025-08-06
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$15.47M
@ $309.50 · 2025-07-29
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$1.71M
@ $310.77 · 2025-07-29
MARQUEZ RAFAEL
Officer
$3.56M
@ $296.93 · 2025-05-20
GROSFIELD HOWARD M
Officer
$2.60M
@ $275.50 · 2025-05-06
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$799,009
@ $264.66 · 2025-04-29
MARRS ANNA
President
$6.32M
@ $287.88 · 2025-03-04
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$897,590
@ $296.43 · 2025-02-26
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$2.29M
@ $309.96 · 2025-02-11
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$16.24M
@ $319.45 · 2025-02-06
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$3.53M
@ $317.01 · 2025-02-05
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$3.03M
@ $319.17 · 2025-02-05
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$7.25M
@ $318.69 · 2025-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$4.77M
@ $313.94 · 2025-01-28
LE CAILLEC CHRISTOPHE
Chief Financial Officer
$1.82M
@ $303.48 · 2024-11-27
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$48.90M
@ $286.57 · 2024-11-07
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$374,010
@ $287.70 · 2024-11-07
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$3.55M
@ $270.98 · 2024-10-29
WILLIAMS ANRE D.
Officer
$21.05M
@ $270.26 · 2024-10-22
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$666,213
@ $240.68 · 2024-05-22
SKYLER JENNIFER
Officer
$3.58M
@ $241.73 · 2024-05-10
LIEBERMAN QUINN JESSICA
Officer
$729,770
@ $232.41 · 2024-05-06
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$829,501
@ $230.93 · 2024-05-03
BUCKMINSTER DOUGLAS E
Officer
$27.27M
@ $232.44 · 2024-05-02
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$9.28M
@ $238.63 · 2024-04-23
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
CAT
14
Sells (3M)
24
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $156.13M
CREED JOSEPH E
Chief Executive Officer
$1.80M
@ $718.93 · 2026-03-05
SHURMAN RODNEY MICHAEL
Officer
$1.73M
@ $759.61 · 2026-02-23
SHURMAN RODNEY MICHAEL
Officer
$1.35M
@ $763.39 · 2026-02-17
SCHAUPP WILLIAM E
Officer
$742,802
@ $764.20 · 2026-02-17
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$6.13M
@ $776.90 · 2026-02-13
KAISER JASON
Officer
$1.31M
@ $776.70 · 2026-02-12
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$9.59M
@ $767.08 · 2026-02-11
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$4.36M
@ $722.15 · 2026-02-06
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$16.31M
@ $720.11 · 2026-02-06
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$11.33M
@ $704.97 · 2026-02-04
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$7.26M
@ $680.45 · 2026-02-02
JOHNSON DENISE C.
Officer
$26.66M
@ $681.08 · 2026-02-02
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$10.91M
@ $682.99 · 2026-02-02
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$5.75M
@ $575.06 · 2025-12-31
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$5.71M
@ $571.44 · 2025-12-01
KAISER JASON
Officer
$6.03M
@ $563.60 · 2025-11-11
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$4.67M
@ $570.18 · 2025-11-10
SCHAUPP WILLIAM E
Officer
$686,664
@ $572.22 · 2025-11-05
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$8.23M
@ $562.36 · 2025-11-05
UMPLEBY DONALD JAMES III
Officer
$8.67M
@ $505.29 · 2025-10-10
UMPLEBY DONALD JAMES III
Officer
$7.94M
@ $462.65 · 2025-09-22
UMPLEBY DONALD JAMES III
Officer and Director
$7.09M
@ $412.87 · 2025-09-02
SCHWAB SUSAN C
Director
$952,840
@ $410.00 · 2025-08-15
KAISER JASON
Officer
$902,650
@ $417.70 · 2025-08-11
KAISER JASON
Officer
$860,148
@ $354.70 · 2025-02-18
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$3.80M
@ $380.09 · 2025-01-16
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
President
$2.57M
@ $408.59 · 2024-11-29
BONFIELD ANDREW ROBERT JOHN
Chief Financial Officer
$4.05M
@ $405.36 · 2024-11-25
SCHWAB SUSAN C
Director
$766.00
@ $383.00 · 2024-11-15
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$5.19M
@ $410.25 · 2024-11-07
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
President
$2.26M
@ $409.84 · 2024-11-06
DICKINSON DANIEL M
Director
$543,400
@ $418.00 · 2024-11-06
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$1.01M
@ $378.84 · 2024-11-04
SCHAUPP WILLIAM E
Officer
$368,789
@ $380.98 · 2024-11-01
FASSINO ANTHONY D.
Officer
$1.12M
@ $351.36 · 2024-08-30
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$1.02M
@ $342.48 · 2024-08-22
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$527,800
@ $350.00 · 2024-07-16
JOHNSON CHERYL H
Officer
$512,720
@ $340.00 · 2024-05-30
DE LANGE BOB
Officer
$7.80M
@ $356.90 · 2024-05-13
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.
🎭 Mr. Market's Mood
Learn more →AXP
😐Neutral(42/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
CAT
😐Neutral(54/100)
"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"
Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
⚖️ Buffett Signal
Learn more →AXP
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (42)
CAT
⚪Awaiting DCF Data
The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.
DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (54)