Compare Stocks › AXP vs ISRG
American Express Company (AXP) vs Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG)
AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
ISRG
Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
$479.93
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.
ISRG
- ★Intuitive Surgical, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
- ★Gross margin of 66.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★Intuitive Surgical, Inc. scores 89/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
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.
ISRG
- ⚠FCF yield of 1.3% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 3.67 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
- ⚠8 insider sales totaling $3.0M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
ISRG
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$2.27B
N/A
FCF Yield
1.33%
19.19
Trailing P/E
60.98
14.64
Forward P/E
41.92
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
13.24%
31.97%
ROE
15.93%
63.47%
Gross Margin
66.00%
1.16
PEG Ratio
3.67
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
0.01
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
-1.62
1.29%
Dividend Yield
N/A
AXP: 4Ties: 2ISRG: 2
AXPISRG
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.
ISRG
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
ISRG
$15.51
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$6.98B
Δ Market Cap
+$108.24B
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
ISRG
79.7% Overvalued
Price is 79.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $479.93
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $267.02
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
ISRG
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $480?
+22.2%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +25.3%
The market implies +22.2% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +25.3%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
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.
ISRG
89/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability 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 5 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.
ISRG
-2.42
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.
ISRG
Insiders 0.6%Institutions 89.1%Retail & Other 10.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,257
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
ISRG
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
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
ISRG
8
Sells (3M)
34
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $78.64M
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$51,865
@ $493.95 · 2026-03-10
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$630,475
@ $487.61 · 2026-03-09
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$1.82M
@ $496.19 · 2026-03-05
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$181,915
@ $495.68 · 2026-03-03
WADORS PATRICIA L.
Officer
$109,936
@ $499.71 · 2026-02-27
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$65,830
@ $494.96 · 2026-02-11
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$65,523
@ $520.02 · 2026-01-29
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$122,500
@ $532.61 · 2026-01-27
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$2.72M
@ $547.47 · 2025-12-15
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$2.63M
@ $547.36 · 2025-12-12
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$58,230
@ $559.90 · 2025-12-10
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$71,124
@ $568.99 · 2025-12-01
GUTHART GARY S
Officer and Director
$13.02M
@ $570.89 · 2025-12-01
CHARLTON HENRY L
Officer
$7.96M
@ $580.00 · 2025-11-12
BARRATT CRAIG H
Director
$435,000
@ $580.00 · 2025-11-12
MILLER BRIAN EDWARD
Officer
$2.01M
@ $575.00 · 2025-11-10
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$58,800
@ $560.00 · 2025-11-10
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$1.14M
@ $550.00 · 2025-11-05
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$4.22M
@ $548.34 · 2025-10-29
ROSA DAVID J
Chief Executive Officer
$13.41M
@ $547.55 · 2025-10-24
BARRATT CRAIG H
Director
$1.20M
@ $548.01 · 2025-10-24
LADD AMY L
Director
$305,588
@ $455.42 · 2025-09-04
GUTHART GARY S
Officer and Director
$13.87M
@ $472.49 · 2025-08-29
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$2.22M
@ $492.48 · 2025-07-25
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$242,182
@ $561.91 · 2025-06-06
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$355,139
@ $550.60 · 2025-06-04
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$23,596
@ $561.81 · 2025-05-16
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$36,886
@ $558.88 · 2025-05-14
SAMATH JAMIE E.
Chief Financial Officer
$483,074
@ $527.95 · 2025-05-02
NACHTSHEIM JAMI DOVER K
Director
$1.25M
@ $520.00 · 2025-05-01
LADD AMY L
Director
$4.44M
@ $505.55 · 2025-04-30
DESANTIS ROBERT
Officer
$508,509
@ $513.65 · 2025-04-29
LOEB GARY
Officer
$872,406
@ $513.18 · 2025-04-25
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$2.05M
@ $513.18 · 2025-04-25
DESANTIS ROBERT
Officer
$5.76M
@ $499.22 · 2025-03-13
MILLER BRIAN EDWARD
Officer
$6.37M
@ $493.44 · 2025-03-12
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$260,725
@ $533.18 · 2025-03-07
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$824,991
@ $558.94 · 2025-03-06
ROSA DAVID J
President
$9.20M
@ $557.52 · 2025-03-05
WIDMAN FREDRIK
Officer
$464,762
@ $573.78 · 2025-03-03
BROSIUS MARK PRESTON
Officer
$282,300
@ $573.78 · 2025-03-03
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$1.75M
@ $577.30 · 2025-03-03
SAMATH JAMIE E.
Chief Financial Officer
$106,585
@ $566.94 · 2025-02-28
CURET MYRIAM J
Officer
$1.39M
@ $581.00 · 2025-02-27
SAMATH JAMIE E.
Chief Financial Officer
$61,652
@ $570.85 · 2025-02-26
LOEB GARY
Officer
$1.52M
@ $583.79 · 2025-02-12
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.
ISRG
😐Neutral(44/100)
"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)
ISRG
⚪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 (44)