Compare Stocks › AXP vs CME
American Express Company (AXP) vs CME Group Inc. (CME)
AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
CME
CME Group Inc.
$310.71
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.
CME
- ★Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★CME Group Inc. scores 77/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Free cash flow has grown at a 12.2% 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.
CME
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 0.53 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
- ⚠Insiders have sold $3.2M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
CME
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$4.19B
N/A
FCF Yield
3.75%
19.19
Trailing P/E
27.87
14.64
Forward P/E
24.44
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
10.10%
31.97%
ROE
14.00%
63.47%
Gross Margin
100.00%
1.16
PEG Ratio
0.80
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
0.13
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
-0.17
1.29%
Dividend Yield
1.67%
AXP: 3Ties: 1CME: 5
AXPCME
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.
CME
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
CME
$526.78
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$71.5M
Δ Market Cap
+$37.66B
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
CME
47.6% Overvalued
Price is 47.6% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $310.71
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $210.47
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
CME
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $311?
+11.9%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +11.5%
The market implies +11.9% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.
Standard FCF implies +11.5%, reflecting ongoing 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.
CME
77/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by margin stability. ROIC Consistency is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.
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.
CME
-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.
CME
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 92.6%Retail & Other 6.9%
No. of Institutional Holders2,297
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
CME
0
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $144,331
SHEPARD WILLIAM R
Director
$72,336
@ $270.92 · 2025-06-25
SHEPARD WILLIAM R
Director
$71,995
@ $262.76 · 2025-03-26
SHEPARD WILLIAM R
Director
$325,798
@ $227.99 · 2025-01-16
SHEPARD WILLIAM R
Director
$324,198
@ $227.99 · 2025-01-16
BENESH KATHRYN
Director
$3,595
@ $239.67 · 2024-12-27
SHEPARD WILLIAM R
Director
$63,945
@ $218.99 · 2024-09-25
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
CME
4
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $15.70M
VROMAN KENDAL L
Officer
$1.59M
@ $309.00 · 2026-03-12
DURKIN BRYAN T
Director
$1.30M
@ $309.65 · 2026-02-23
GEPSMAN MARTIN J
Director
$91,770
@ $305.90 · 2026-02-20
SUSKIND DENNIS A
Director
$224,400
@ $300.00 · 2026-02-06
DUFFY TERRENCE A
Chief Executive Officer
$6.74M
@ $269.55 · 2025-12-11
FORD HAROLD EUGENE JR
Director
$263,530
@ $263.53 · 2025-11-03
MARCUS JONATHAN L
General Counsel
$102,704
@ $262.00 · 2025-09-18
MCCOURT TIMOTHY FRANCIS
Officer
$98,476
@ $259.83 · 2025-09-16
MARCUS JONATHAN L
General Counsel
$97,369
@ $258.96 · 2025-09-16
CUTINHO SUNIL KIRAN
Chief Technology Officer
$3.23M
@ $271.47 · 2025-08-26
KAYE DANIEL G
Director
$141,210
@ $282.42 · 2025-05-22
MARCUS JONATHAN L
General Counsel
$108,225
@ $277.50 · 2025-05-20
LOCKETT PHYLLIS M
Director
$294,553
@ $277.88 · 2025-05-19
GEPSMAN MARTIN J
Director
$81,951
@ $273.17 · 2025-05-15
SUSKIND DENNIS A
Director
$271,280
@ $271.28 · 2025-04-29
GERDES LARRY G
Director
$1.06M
@ $265.11 · 2025-04-25
LUCAS DEBORAH J
Director
$385,425
@ $256.95 · 2025-03-14
DUFFY TERRENCE A
Chief Executive Officer
$7.78M
@ $259.18 · 2025-03-11
SPRAGUE SUZANNE
Chief Operating Officer
$385,249
@ $256.83 · 2025-03-03
PIELL HILDA HARRIS
Officer
$997,853
@ $250.47 · 2025-02-27
VROMAN KENDAL L
Officer
$1.27M
@ $250.00 · 2025-02-13
WINKLER JULIE
Officer
$2.89M
@ $249.17 · 2025-02-13
GEPSMAN MARTIN J
Director
$89,168
@ $222.92 · 2024-11-04
CUTINHO SUNIL KIRAN
Chief Technology Officer
$1.02M
@ $226.64 · 2024-10-30
BITSBERGER TIMOTHY S
Director
$226,957
@ $226.96 · 2024-10-30
MCCOURT TIMOTHY FRANCIS
Officer
$312,056
@ $227.11 · 2024-10-28
FITZPATRICK LYNNE
Chief Financial Officer
$163,610
@ $216.99 · 2024-09-13
DURKIN BRYAN T
Director
$1.63M
@ $214.59 · 2024-08-30
GLICKMAN DANIEL ROBERT
Director
$130,937
@ $201.44 · 2024-06-06
PIELL HILDA HARRIS
Officer
$1.50M
@ $210.35 · 2024-05-08
DUFFY TERRENCE A
Chief Executive Officer
$8.44M
@ $210.91 · 2024-04-29
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.
CME
😐Neutral(59/100)
"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)
CME
⚪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 (59)