Compare StocksAXP vs GM

American Express Company (AXP) vs General Motors Company (GM)

AXP
American Express Company
$319.68
VS
GM
General Motors Company
$75.77

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.
GM
  • Share count has been reduced by 35% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • FCF yield of 32.9% is historically attractive — the business generates significant cash relative to its price.
  • PEG ratio of 0.34 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings 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.
GM
  • Gross margin of 11.1% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • General Motors Company scores only 27/100 on the Economic Moat Score, suggesting limited durable competitive advantages.
  • Trailing P/E of 27.7x is 157% above the historical average of 10.8x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.

Key Valuation Metrics

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AXP
GM
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$22.47B
N/A
FCF Yield
32.88%
19.96
Trailing P/E
27.65
15.90
Forward P/E
5.39
Quality & Moat
12.37%
ROIC
7.06%
31.48%
ROE
4.92%
62.76%
Gross Margin
11.14%
1.13
PEG Ratio
0.34
Balance Sheet Safety
1.78
Debt / Equity
1.99
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
5.71
1.19%
Dividend Yield
0.95%
AXP: 6Ties: 1GM: 2
AXPGM

Historical Fundamentals

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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.

GM

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

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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
GM
$1.56
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$16.93B
Δ Market Cap
+$26.42B
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

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

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AXP
34.4% Margin of Safety
Price is 34.4% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $319.68
Fair Value: $487.58
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
GM
Insufficient Data
Enter initial FCF to calculate intrinsic value
Current Price: $75.77
Fair Value: $0.00
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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AXP

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

GM

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $76?

+23.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies -5.6%

The market implies +23.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding -5.6%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
GM
27/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.

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

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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.
GM
-2.36
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

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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.
GM
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 88.1%Retail & Other 11.7%
No. of Institutional Holders2,014
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

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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
GM
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
KELLY ALFRED FRANCIS JR.
Director
$607,920
@ $50.66 · 2025-01-30
JACOBSON PAUL A
Chief Financial Officer
$1.10M
@ $44.11 · 2024-07-26
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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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
GM
1
Sells (3M)
13
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $122.13M
REUSS MARK L
President
$38.71M
@ $80.52 · 2026-02-17
HATTO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$556,128
@ $72.00 · 2025-11-12
HATTO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.10M
@ $70.00 · 2025-10-28
REUSS MARK L
President
$17.32M
@ $66.45 · 2025-10-22
HATTO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$1.43M
@ $61.01 · 2025-09-26
HARVEY RORY
Officer
$408,870
@ $61.95 · 2025-09-26
REUSS MARK L
President
$9.80M
@ $60.10 · 2025-09-25
BARRA MARY TERESA
Chief Executive Officer
$46.61M
@ $59.95 · 2025-09-24
BARRA MARY TERESA
Chief Executive Officer
$1.77M
@ $59.92 · 2025-09-12
HARVEY RORY
Officer
$267,317
@ $59.95 · 2025-09-12
HATTO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$865,353
@ $59.00 · 2025-08-27
HATTO CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$2.03M
@ $55.10 · 2025-08-13
HARVEY RORY
Officer
$1.27M
@ $53.01 · 2025-08-05
HARVEY RORY
Officer
$535,229
@ $60.01 · 2024-11-25
GLIDDEN CRAIG B
General Counsel
$21.70M
@ $56.63 · 2024-11-18
BARRA MARY TERESA
Chief Executive Officer
$11.91M
@ $57.60 · 2024-11-11
REUSS MARK L
President
$6.75M
@ $55.16 · 2024-11-06
BARRA MARY TERESA
Chief Executive Officer
$27.03M
@ $53.33 · 2024-10-23
HARVEY RORY
Officer
$502,671
@ $54.01 · 2024-10-23
HARVEY RORY
Officer
$736,061
@ $48.76 · 2024-08-26
BARRA MARY TERESA
Chief Executive Officer
$29.87M
@ $47.69 · 2024-06-11
REUSS MARK L
President
$2.31M
@ $46.24 · 2024-06-10
BLISSETT JULIAN G
Officer
$714,465
@ $45.00 · 2024-05-31
BARRA MARY TERESA
Chief Executive Officer
$27.22M
@ $43.46 · 2024-05-28
REUSS MARK L
President
$6.52M
@ $43.44 · 2024-05-28
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

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AXP
FearGreed
😐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.
GM
FearGreed
😐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

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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)
GM
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)
View AXP Full AnalysisView GM Full Analysis
AXP vs GM: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io