Side-by-side comparison
American Express vs PayPal
As of Nov 11, 2026, P/E is 18.2x for American Express vs 11.3x for PayPal; P/S is 4.9x for American Express vs 1.4x for PayPal; revenue growth is 8.9% for American Express vs 4.4% for PayPal; net margin is 27.9% for American Express vs 13.8% for PayPal.
What stands out
- PayPal Holdings is cheaper on earnings: 11.3x P/E vs 18.2x for American Express.
- PayPal Holdings carries less debt relative to equity: 0.56 vs 1.64 for American Express.
Key metrics
| Metric | AXP | PYPL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $322.85 | $59.15 |
| Market cap | $216.49B | $49.13B |
| P/E | 18.2x (#2) | 11.3x (#1) |
| P/S | 4.9x (#2) | 1.4x (#1) |
| Revenue growth | 8.9% (#1) | 4.4% (#2) |
| Operating margin | — | 17.0% (#1) |
| Net margin | 27.9% (#1) | 13.8% (#2) |
| Debt / equity | 1.64 (#2) | 0.56 (#1) |
| 1-year return | -13.4% (#2) | -12.0% (#1) |
| Research score | 66/100 (#1) | 60/100 (#2) |
Higher is better for growth, margins, one-year return and overall score; lower is better for valuation and debt ratios. Ties share a rank and missing values are excluded.
Company research
- American Express Company (AXP) — Credit Services
- PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PYPL) — Credit Services