Compare Stocks › AXP vs VRSN
American Express Company (AXP) vs VeriSign, Inc. (VRSN)
AXP
American Express Company
$319.68
VS
VRSN
VeriSign, Inc.
$272.44
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.
VRSN
- ★Gross margin of 88.3% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
- ★VeriSign, Inc. scores 100/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency 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.
VRSN
- ⚠PEG ratio of 2.64 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of -5.16 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
VRSN
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$1.07B
N/A
FCF Yield
4.31%
19.96
Trailing P/E
30.10
15.90
Forward P/E
25.58
Quality & Moat
12.37%
ROIC
50.72%
31.48%
ROE
N/A
62.76%
Gross Margin
88.35%
1.13
PEG Ratio
2.64
Balance Sheet Safety
1.78
Debt / Equity
N/A
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.06
1.19%
Dividend Yield
1.19%
AXP: 3Ties: 2VRSN: 2
AXPVRSN
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.
VRSN
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
VRSN
$0.31
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Destroyer
Σ Retained
$2.21B
Δ Market Cap
+$694.3M
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
VRSN
31.8% Overvalued
Price is 31.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $272.44
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $206.68
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
VRSN
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $272?
+13.9%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +10.4%
The market implies +13.9% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +10.4%, 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.
VRSN
100/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency 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.
VRSN
-3.13
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.
VRSN
Insiders 10.6%Institutions 91.0%
No. of Institutional Holders1,232
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
VRSN
1
Buys (3M)
4
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $28,912
ARMSTRONG COURTNEY D.
Director
$4,912
@ $223.27 · 2026-02-27
ARMSTRONG COURTNEY D.
Director
$3,980
@ $265.33 · 2025-11-25
GORELICK JAMIE S
Director
$16,051
@ $267.52 · 2025-05-29
ARMSTRONG COURTNEY D.
Director
$3,969
@ $283.50 · 2025-05-28
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$4.10M
@ $204.71 · 2025-01-03
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$15.57M
@ $203.62 · 2024-12-30
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$28.55M
@ $199.05 · 2024-12-24
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, INC.
Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
$45.40M
@ $193.77 · 2024-12-19
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
VRSN
7
Sells (3M)
47
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $44.02M
MCPHERSON DANNY R
Officer
$1.36M
@ $271.02 · 2026-04-28
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$134,490
@ $270.06 · 2026-04-14
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$136,452
@ $274.00 · 2026-04-07
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$124,500
@ $250.00 · 2026-03-25
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$79,886
@ $240.62 · 2026-03-10
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$115,426
@ $231.78 · 2026-03-03
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$36,394
@ $219.24 · 2026-02-10
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$124,042
@ $249.08 · 2026-02-03
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.24M
@ $248.45 · 2026-01-15
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$123,859
@ $248.71 · 2026-01-13
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$41,500
@ $250.00 · 2026-01-09
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$79,956
@ $240.83 · 2026-01-06
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.19M
@ $243.06 · 2025-12-18
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.20M
@ $244.00 · 2025-12-11
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$125,285
@ $250.07 · 2025-12-09
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$126,563
@ $252.62 · 2025-12-02
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.24M
@ $248.73 · 2025-11-20
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.25M
@ $249.88 · 2025-11-13
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$165,821
@ $248.24 · 2025-11-12
CALYS JOHN D
Chief Financial Officer
$242,955
@ $242.71 · 2025-11-07
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$81,670
@ $244.52 · 2025-11-04
MCPHERSON DANNY R
Officer
$592,175
@ $236.87 · 2025-10-31
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.36M
@ $262.18 · 2025-10-23
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.38M
@ $264.40 · 2025-10-16
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$131,723
@ $262.92 · 2025-10-14
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$135,706
@ $270.87 · 2025-10-07
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$575,925
@ $287.96 · 2025-09-18
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.01M
@ $287.67 · 2025-09-17
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.56M
@ $284.36 · 2025-09-11
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$141,422
@ $282.28 · 2025-09-09
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$135,500
@ $270.46 · 2025-09-02
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.43M
@ $269.68 · 2025-08-21
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.39M
@ $265.18 · 2025-08-14
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$132,514
@ $264.50 · 2025-08-12
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$135,020
@ $269.50 · 2025-08-05
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.54M
@ $281.70 · 2025-07-17
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.58M
@ $286.22 · 2025-07-10
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$143,837
@ $287.10 · 2025-07-08
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$145,373
@ $290.17 · 2025-07-01
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.55M
@ $282.87 · 2025-06-18
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.50M
@ $278.29 · 2025-06-12
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$140,541
@ $280.52 · 2025-06-10
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$137,995
@ $275.44 · 2025-06-03
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$141,282
@ $282.00 · 2025-05-27
BIDZOS DEMETRIOS JAMES
Chief Executive Officer
$2.53M
@ $280.73 · 2025-05-22
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$141,172
@ $281.78 · 2025-05-20
BUCHALTER YEHUDA ARI
Director
$170,274
@ $283.79 · 2025-05-06
CALYS JOHN D
Officer
$112,788
@ $281.97 · 2025-05-02
CALYS JOHN D
Officer
$103,590
@ $231.74 · 2025-02-24
MCPHERSON DANNY R
Officer
$1.27M
@ $230.73 · 2025-02-18
COTE KATHLEEN A
Director
$690,000
@ $230.00 · 2025-02-18
MCPHERSON DANNY R
Officer
$402,573
@ $192.43 · 2024-12-02
CALYS JOHN D
Officer
$198,800
@ $186.49 · 2024-11-07
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$233,320
@ $190.00 · 2024-10-15
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$466,640
@ $190.00 · 2024-09-27
INDELICARTO THOMAS C
General Counsel
$699,960
@ $190.00 · 2024-07-29
MCPHERSON DANNY R
Officer
$204,168
@ $170.14 · 2024-05-17
BUCHALTER YEHUDA ARI
Director
$272,023
@ $170.01 · 2024-05-10
BUCHALTER YEHUDA ARI
Director
$170.00
@ $170.00 · 2024-05-07
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.
VRSN
😐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)
VRSN
⚪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)