Compare StocksAXP vs NDAQ

American Express Company (AXP) vs Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ)

AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
NDAQ
Nasdaq, Inc.
$86.27

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.
NDAQ
  • Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $10.58 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
  • PEG ratio of 0.59 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.
NDAQ
  • Share count has increased by 16% over the past 4 years, diluting existing shareholders.
  • Insiders have sold $67.7M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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AXP
NDAQ
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$1.67B
N/A
FCF Yield
3.39%
19.19
Trailing P/E
27.92
14.64
Forward P/E
19.70
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
9.06%
31.97%
ROE
14.62%
63.47%
Gross Margin
100.00%
1.16
PEG Ratio
0.59
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
0.78
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
2.86
1.29%
Dividend Yield
1.25%
AXP: 3Ties: 3NDAQ: 3
AXPNDAQ

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.

NDAQ

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
NDAQ
$10.58
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$2.38B
Δ Market Cap
+$25.19B
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
38.6% Margin of Safety
Price is 38.6% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $294.93
Fair Value: $480.21
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
NDAQ
22.7% Overvalued
Price is 22.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $86.27
Fair Value: $70.31
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.

NDAQ

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $86?

+14.3%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +15.3%

The market implies +14.3% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +15.3%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
NDAQ
53/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency 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

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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.
NDAQ
-2.58
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 22.2%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.
NDAQ
Insiders 10.9%Institutions 86.9%Retail & Other 2.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,537
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)
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
NDAQ
2
Buys (3M)
2
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $16.79M
TORGEBY JOHAN
Director
$958,320
@ $79.86 · 2026-02-17
INVESTOR AB
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$15.84M
@ $79.18 · 2026-02-13
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)
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
NDAQ
6
Sells (3M)
24
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $73.18M
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$8.36M
@ $90.08 · 2026-03-06
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$523,440
@ $87.24 · 2026-03-02
DALY MICHELLE LYNN
Officer
$352,934
@ $81.34 · 2026-02-19
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$29.07M
@ $96.91 · 2026-02-02
ZECCA JOHN
Officer
$450,045
@ $100.01 · 2026-01-06
FRIEDMAN ADENA T
Chief Executive Officer
$28.92M
@ $96.39 · 2026-01-02
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$419,611
@ $90.57 · 2025-12-01
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$190,650
@ $90.57 · 2025-12-01
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$179,767
@ $85.40 · 2025-11-03
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$185,703
@ $88.22 · 2025-10-01
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$196,228
@ $93.22 · 2025-09-02
BEGLEY CHARLENE T
Director
$289,800
@ $96.60 · 2025-08-04
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$201,006
@ $95.49 · 2025-08-01
DALY MICHELLE LYNN
Officer
$812,174
@ $93.45 · 2025-07-25
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Chief Technology Officer
$1.02M
@ $88.87 · 2025-07-02
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$187,703
@ $89.17 · 2025-07-01
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$340,880
@ $85.22 · 2025-06-06
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$178,840
@ $85.00 · 2025-06-06
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$87,694
@ $83.28 · 2025-06-02
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$664,240
@ $83.03 · 2025-05-27
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$85,841
@ $81.52 · 2025-05-12
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$47,179
@ $71.81 · 2025-04-04
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Chief Investment Officer
$174,646
@ $75.67 · 2025-04-02
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$237,078
@ $75.70 · 2025-04-02
YOUNGWOOD SARAH
Officer
$1.10M
@ $73.68 · 2025-03-17
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$289,730
@ $82.78 · 2025-03-03
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$1.36M
@ $79.79 · 2025-02-26
TAL COHEN
Officer
$749,981
@ $83.75 · 2025-02-06
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$285,460
@ $81.56 · 2025-02-03
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$976,485
@ $80.88 · 2024-12-09
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$950,906
@ $78.75 · 2024-11-18
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$940,636
@ $79.58 · 2024-11-13
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$798,600
@ $79.86 · 2024-11-11
GRIGGS P C NELSON
President
$444,086
@ $77.34 · 2024-11-06
SKULE JEREMY
Officer
$935,040
@ $77.92 · 2024-11-06
TAL COHEN
Officer
$806,651
@ $74.11 · 2024-11-01
GRIGGS P C NELSON
Officer
$758,460
@ $75.85 · 2024-10-29
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$1.03M
@ $75.32 · 2024-10-28
ZECCA JOHN
Officer
$791,670
@ $71.97 · 2024-09-12
PETERSON BRADLEY J.
Officer
$2.71M
@ $67.79 · 2024-08-09
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$181,826
@ $59.89 · 2024-05-01
SMITH BRYAN EVERARD
Officer
$465,534
@ $62.91 · 2024-04-01
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(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.
NDAQ
FearGreed
😐Neutral(54/100)

"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 (42)
NDAQ
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 (54)
View AXP Full AnalysisView NDAQ Full Analysis
American Express Company (AXP) vs Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io