Compare Stocks › AXP vs MCD
American Express Company (AXP) vs McDonald's Corporation (MCD)
AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
MCD
McDonald's Corporation
$309.58
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.
MCD
- ★McDonald's Corporation has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
- ★McDonald's Corporation scores 84/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Dividend yield of 2.40% with a consistent or growing payout over the past 4 years.
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.
MCD
- ⚠FCF yield of 2.8% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 3.16 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
- ⚠7 insider sales totaling $23.7M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
MCD
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$6.30B
N/A
FCF Yield
2.85%
19.19
Trailing P/E
25.91
14.64
Forward P/E
21.62
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
17.46%
31.97%
ROE
N/A
63.47%
Gross Margin
57.41%
1.16
PEG Ratio
3.16
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
N/A
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
3.70
1.29%
Dividend Yield
2.40%
AXP: 4Ties: 1MCD: 2
AXPMCD
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.
MCD
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
MCD
$0.82
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Mediocre Allocator
Σ Retained
$9.30B
Δ Market Cap
+$7.67B
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
MCD
152.0% Overvalued
Price is 152.0% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $309.58
Strongly undervalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $122.86
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
MCD
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $310?
+18.3%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate
Market pricing in significantly higher growth than history — aggressive.
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.
MCD
84/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Margin Stability 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.
MCD
-2.52
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.
MCD
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 75.6%Retail & Other 24.1%
No. of Institutional Holders4,410
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
MCD
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
MCD
7
Sells (3M)
25
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $43.80M
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$862,221
@ $328.34 · 2026-03-10
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$110,033
@ $330.43 · 2026-02-23
BANNER JONATHAN
Officer
$2.07M
@ $333.32 · 2026-02-23
KEMPCZINSKI CHRISTOPHER J
Chief Executive Officer
$17.47M
@ $332.44 · 2026-02-13
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$1.55M
@ $331.00 · 2026-02-12
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$854,106
@ $325.25 · 2026-02-10
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$805,079
@ $306.58 · 2026-01-12
RALLS-MORRISON DESIREE ANN
Officer
$795,520
@ $320.00 · 2025-12-16
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$207,270
@ $315.00 · 2025-12-12
STEIJAERT MANUEL JM
Officer
$2.01M
@ $305.50 · 2025-12-01
BORDEN IAN FREDERICK
Chief Financial Officer
$5.31M
@ $310.00 · 2025-11-21
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$977,095
@ $305.82 · 2025-11-14
STEIJAERT MANUEL JM
Officer
$3.95M
@ $300.42 · 2025-11-05
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$315,000
@ $315.00 · 2025-09-02
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$1.49M
@ $315.00 · 2025-08-20
BANNER JONATHAN
Officer
$310,000
@ $310.00 · 2025-08-19
RALLS-MORRISON DESIREE ANN
Officer
$770,970
@ $310.00 · 2025-08-06
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$296,216
@ $303.50 · 2025-08-01
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$281,221
@ $299.49 · 2025-07-23
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$300,000
@ $300.00 · 2025-07-10
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$270,920
@ $288.52 · 2025-06-23
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
President
$295,851
@ $315.07 · 2025-05-23
STEIJAERT MANUEL JM
Officer
$1.92M
@ $319.66 · 2025-05-20
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$299,072
@ $318.50 · 2025-04-23
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$287,616
@ $306.30 · 2025-03-24
BOYD TIFFANIE L
Officer
$309,270
@ $309.27 · 2025-02-27
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$286,395
@ $305.00 · 2025-02-24
STEIJAERT MANUEL JM
Officer
$3.23M
@ $308.71 · 2025-02-24
GROSS MARION K
Officer
$334,871
@ $304.71 · 2025-02-21
BANNER JONATHAN
Officer
$456,495
@ $304.33 · 2025-02-21
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$962,432
@ $300.76 · 2025-02-19
BANNER JONATHAN
Officer
$2.83M
@ $307.41 · 2025-02-13
KEMPCZINSKI CHRISTOPHER J
Chief Executive Officer
$3.26M
@ $310.05 · 2025-02-11
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$84,225
@ $280.75 · 2025-01-23
GROSS MARION K
Officer
$436,134
@ $290.95 · 2025-01-02
RALLS-MORRISON DESIREE ANN
Officer
$1.98M
@ $289.89 · 2024-12-31
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$319,919
@ $291.10 · 2024-12-23
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$321,458
@ $292.50 · 2024-11-25
GROSS MARION K
Officer
$441,470
@ $294.51 · 2024-11-01
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$321,326
@ $292.38 · 2024-10-23
FLATLEY EDITH MORGAN
Officer
$727,260
@ $310.00 · 2024-10-14
KEMPCZINSKI CHRISTOPHER J
Chief Executive Officer
$2.83M
@ $305.00 · 2024-09-27
KEMPCZINSKI CHRISTOPHER J
Chief Executive Officer
$5.51M
@ $300.02 · 2024-09-24
BORDEN IAN FREDERICK
Chief Financial Officer
$1.78M
@ $300.04 · 2024-09-23
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$328,128
@ $298.57 · 2024-09-23
KEMPCZINSKI CHRISTOPHER J
Chief Executive Officer
$1.18M
@ $300.00 · 2024-09-16
BORDEN IAN FREDERICK
Chief Financial Officer
$397,500
@ $300.00 · 2024-09-16
GROSS MARION K
Officer
$428,967
@ $286.36 · 2024-09-03
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$316,993
@ $288.70 · 2024-08-23
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$285,740
@ $260.00 · 2024-07-23
GROSS MARION K
Officer
$371,893
@ $248.26 · 2024-07-03
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$285,480
@ $260.00 · 2024-06-21
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$291,378
@ $265.13 · 2024-05-23
BANNER JONATHAN
Officer
$220,016
@ $275.02 · 2024-05-10
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$303,751
@ $276.64 · 2024-04-23
ERLINGER JOSEPH M
Officer
$312,534
@ $284.38 · 2024-03-22
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.
MCD
😐Neutral(48/100)
"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)
MCD
⚪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 (48)