Compare Stocks › AXP vs DGX
American Express Company (AXP) vs Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX)
AXP
American Express Company
$319.68
VS
DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
$192.67
Rewards
AXP
- ★Gross margin of 62.8% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★American Express Company scores 100/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
DGX
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.
DGX
- ⚠Each dollar of retained earnings has produced only $0.30 of earning power — shareholders may have been better served by dividends.
- ⚠FCF yield of 6.4% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
- ⚠Insiders have sold $10.7M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
DGX
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$1.36B
N/A
FCF Yield
6.37%
19.96
Trailing P/E
21.27
15.90
Forward P/E
16.53
Quality & Moat
12.37%
ROIC
8.94%
31.48%
ROE
12.81%
62.76%
Gross Margin
33.28%
1.13
PEG Ratio
1.37
Balance Sheet Safety
1.78
Debt / Equity
0.83
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.70
1.19%
Dividend Yield
1.79%
AXP: 5Ties: 2DGX: 2
AXPDGX
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.
DGX
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
DGX
$1.03
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$1.72B
Δ Market Cap
+$1.77B
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
34.4% Margin of Safety
Price is 34.4% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $319.68
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $487.58
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
DGX
33.1% Overvalued
Price is 33.1% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $192.67
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $144.72
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
DGX
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $193?
+12.1%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +7.8%
The market implies +12.1% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +7.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →AXP
100/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Margin Stability 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.
DGX
56/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with margin stability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency 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.
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.
DGX
-2.66
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 22.3%Institutions 65.6%Retail & Other 12.1%
No. of Institutional Holders3,664
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.
DGX
Insiders 0.4%Institutions 99.5%Retail & Other 0.1%
No. of Institutional Holders1,444
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)
0
Buys (12M)
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
DGX
4
Buys (3M)
14
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $79,709
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$9,540
@ $194.69 · 2026-04-20
LASSITER WRIGHT III
Director
$1,168
@ $194.67 · 2026-04-20
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$7,593
@ $194.69 · 2026-04-20
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$7,204
@ $194.70 · 2026-04-20
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$12,295
@ $183.51 · 2026-01-28
LASSITER WRIGHT III
Director
$1,285
@ $183.57 · 2026-01-28
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$2,936
@ $183.50 · 2026-01-28
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$2,753
@ $183.53 · 2026-01-28
CARTER ROBERT B
Director
$1,101
@ $183.50 · 2026-01-28
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$13,232
@ $167.49 · 2025-07-21
SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
Chief Financial Officer
$12,060
@ $167.50 · 2025-07-21
LASSITER WRIGHT III
Director
$1,173
@ $167.57 · 2025-07-21
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$4,522
@ $167.48 · 2025-07-21
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$2,847
@ $167.47 · 2025-07-21
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$13,318
@ $164.42 · 2025-04-21
SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
Chief Financial Officer
$12,167
@ $164.42 · 2025-04-21
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$4,439
@ $164.41 · 2025-04-21
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$4,111
@ $164.44 · 2025-04-21
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$9,008
@ $158.04 · 2025-01-29
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$11,379
@ $158.04 · 2025-01-29
SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
Chief Financial Officer
$5,531
@ $158.03 · 2025-01-29
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$1,896
@ $158.00 · 2025-01-29
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$632.00
@ $158.00 · 2025-01-29
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$11,352
@ $149.37 · 2024-10-21
SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
Chief Financial Officer
$5,527
@ $149.38 · 2024-10-21
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$3,137
@ $149.38 · 2024-10-21
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$598.00
@ $149.50 · 2024-10-21
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$8,962
@ $149.37 · 2024-10-21
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$11,317
@ $146.97 · 2024-07-22
SAMAD SAMER ABDUL
Chief Financial Officer
$3,086
@ $146.95 · 2024-07-22
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$4,556
@ $146.97 · 2024-07-22
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$882.00
@ $147.00 · 2024-07-22
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$8,818
@ $146.97 · 2024-07-22
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)
19
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $151.85M
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
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$8.35M
@ $356.91 · 2026-02-05
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$9.60M
@ $350.01 · 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
MARRS ANNA
Officer
$1.71M
@ $310.77 · 2025-07-29
MCNEAL GLENDA G
Officer
$15.47M
@ $309.50 · 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
PICKETT DENISE
Officer
$7.25M
@ $318.69 · 2025-02-05
JOABAR RAYMOND D
Officer
$3.53M
@ $317.01 · 2025-02-05
RADHAKRISHNAN RAVIKUMAR S
Chief Technology Officer
$3.03M
@ $319.17 · 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
HERENA MONIQUE
Officer
$374,010
@ $287.70 · 2024-11-07
SQUERI STEPHEN J
Chief Executive Officer
$48.90M
@ $286.57 · 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
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
DGX
12
Sells (3M)
24
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $33.21M
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$1.15M
@ $206.21 · 2026-03-05
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$588,730
@ $206.21 · 2026-03-05
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$799,682
@ $206.21 · 2026-03-05
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$538,372
@ $204.86 · 2026-03-04
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$131,285
@ $207.73 · 2026-03-03
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$85,169
@ $207.73 · 2026-03-03
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$109,266
@ $207.73 · 2026-03-03
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$293,521
@ $204.83 · 2026-02-19
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$196,227
@ $204.83 · 2026-02-19
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$227,566
@ $204.83 · 2026-02-19
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$5.39M
@ $206.15 · 2026-02-13
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$1.16M
@ $204.00 · 2026-02-10
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$239,700
@ $191.76 · 2025-11-25
DAVIS J E CAUSEY
Chief Executive Officer
$10.59M
@ $192.22 · 2025-11-25
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$1.49M
@ $187.35 · 2025-11-18
PFEIFFER GARY M
Director
$270,317
@ $182.40 · 2025-10-22
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$42,706
@ $188.13 · 2025-09-26
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$5.33M
@ $187.12 · 2025-09-24
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$365,375
@ $185.00 · 2025-08-21
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$829,356
@ $183.00 · 2025-08-19
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$355,500
@ $180.00 · 2025-08-15
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$968,625
@ $175.00 · 2025-08-06
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$1.76M
@ $167.95 · 2025-07-31
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$306,800
@ $175.51 · 2025-05-13
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$434,350
@ $170.00 · 2025-04-02
DAVIS JAMES E
Chief Executive Officer
$6.60M
@ $168.46 · 2025-04-02
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$789,310
@ $170.00 · 2025-03-17
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$935,078
@ $174.13 · 2025-03-05
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$125,866
@ $175.79 · 2025-03-04
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$104,068
@ $175.79 · 2025-03-04
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$142,231
@ $172.61 · 2025-02-27
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$91,138
@ $172.61 · 2025-02-27
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$244,515
@ $170.51 · 2025-02-20
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$103,278
@ $170.99 · 2025-02-20
PLEWMAN PATRICK
Officer
$54,307
@ $169.71 · 2025-02-19
GREGG VICKY B
Director
$205,710
@ $164.57 · 2025-02-05
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$66,214
@ $164.30 · 2025-02-05
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$5.73M
@ $163.07 · 2024-11-29
DOHERTY CATHERINE T
Officer
$5.40M
@ $162.99 · 2024-11-27
DEPPE MICHAEL J
Officer
$2.89M
@ $154.05 · 2024-11-06
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$278,525
@ $156.92 · 2024-10-28
PREVOZNIK MICHAEL E
General Counsel
$5.04M
@ $154.97 · 2024-08-29
KUPPUSAMY KARTHIK
Officer
$304,990
@ $153.26 · 2024-08-28
DELANEY MARK E
Officer
$60,094
@ $143.08 · 2024-07-24
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(49/100)
"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.
DGX
😐Neutral(55/100)
"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 (49)
DGX
⚪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 (55)