Compare Stocks › AXP vs VST
American Express Company (AXP) vs Vistra Corp. (VST)
AXP
American Express Company
$294.93
VS
VST
Vistra Corp.
$167.37
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.
VST
- ★Share count has been reduced by 13% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $12.44 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
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.
VST
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 76.8x is 127% above the historical average of 33.9x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠High leverage (4.00x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 1.42 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →AXP
VST
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$-459.25M
N/A
FCF Yield
-0.81%
19.19
Trailing P/E
76.78
14.64
Forward P/E
14.71
Quality & Moat
9.49%
ROIC
7.26%
31.97%
ROE
14.72%
63.47%
Gross Margin
33.24%
1.16
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
1.91
Debt / Equity
4.00
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
3.75
1.29%
Dividend Yield
0.54%
AXP: 6Ties: 2VST: 0
AXPVST
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.
VST
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
VST
$12.44
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$3.66B
Δ Market Cap
+$45.50B
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
VST
15.7% Overvalued
Price is 15.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $167.37
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $144.65
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →AXP
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
VST
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
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.
VST
44/100
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.
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.
VST
-2.54
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.
VST
Insiders 0.8%Institutions 93.0%Retail & Other 6.2%
No. of Institutional Holders1,759
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
VST
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
PITESA JOHN WILLIAM
Director
$190,125
@ $126.75 · 2025-03-12
CRUTCHFIELD LISA
Director
$29,969
@ $89.46 · 2024-06-10
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
VST
1
Sells (3M)
35
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $255.87M
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$1.60M
@ $160.31 · 2026-03-09
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$3.61M
@ $162.05 · 2025-12-11
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$3.61M
@ $162.05 · 2025-12-11
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$1.42M
@ $173.35 · 2025-11-24
HUDSON SCOTT A
Officer
$9.46M
@ $168.86 · 2025-11-14
KIRBY CARRIE LEE
Officer
$10.18M
@ $174.75 · 2025-11-14
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$4.09M
@ $186.53 · 2025-11-11
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$1.85M
@ $192.30 · 2025-10-29
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$4.17M
@ $203.64 · 2025-10-27
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$7.52M
@ $191.79 · 2025-10-24
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$4.08M
@ $188.75 · 2025-10-22
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.81M
@ $206.11 · 2025-10-20
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$9.07M
@ $212.28 · 2025-10-16
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$17.21M
@ $204.51 · 2025-10-14
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.38M
@ $204.62 · 2025-10-09
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.73M
@ $204.21 · 2025-10-07
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.74M
@ $204.44 · 2025-10-03
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$7.72M
@ $197.04 · 2025-10-01
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.62M
@ $201.56 · 2025-09-29
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.63M
@ $201.86 · 2025-09-25
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.99M
@ $210.52 · 2025-09-23
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$9.07M
@ $212.34 · 2025-09-19
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$9.11M
@ $213.17 · 2025-09-17
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.82M
@ $206.32 · 2025-09-15
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$12.93M
@ $206.26 · 2025-09-11
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$6.29M
@ $180.00 · 2025-06-17
SULT JOHN R
Director
$4.29M
@ $171.67 · 2025-06-06
HELM SCOTT BRADFORD
Director
$8.64M
@ $172.75 · 2025-06-05
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$7.20M
@ $160.00 · 2025-05-27
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$5.65M
@ $161.44 · 2025-05-27
HUDSON SCOTT A
Officer
$8.79M
@ $157.00 · 2025-05-20
HELM SCOTT BRADFORD
Director
$3.14M
@ $156.80 · 2025-05-19
KIRBY CARRIE LEE
Officer
$16.95M
@ $156.98 · 2025-05-19
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$1.55M
@ $150.00 · 2025-05-13
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$6.95M
@ $140.00 · 2025-05-01
HELM SCOTT BRADFORD
Director
$2.80M
@ $139.77 · 2024-12-10
HUDSON SCOTT A
Officer
$18.88M
@ $164.16 · 2024-11-25
KIRBY CARRIE LEE
Officer
$13.79M
@ $162.28 · 2024-11-22
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$6.18M
@ $161.94 · 2024-11-22
MUSCATO STEPHEN J
Officer
$33.41M
@ $161.34 · 2024-11-22
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$2.79M
@ $80.37 · 2024-08-13
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.
VST
😐Neutral(47/100)
"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)
VST
⚪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 (47)