American Express CoSTU:AEC3.PFD 78 Net Margin % is 15.71% as of Mar. 2026, which is 6% above its 10-year median of 14.83. GuruFocus rates STU:AEC3.PFD with a GF Score™ of 78/100. The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 534 Credit Services companies, American Express Co ranks better than 51.5% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for American Express Co's Net Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
STU:AEC3.PFD'
s Net Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 7.45 Med: 14.83 Max: 18.68
Current: 15.13
STU:AEC3.PFD's Net Margin % is ranked better than 51.5% of 534
companies
in the Credit Services industry
Industry Median: 14.52
vs STU:AEC3.PFD: 15.13
American Express Co (STU:AEC3.PFD) Net Margin % Explanation
Although Net Income and Earnings-per-Share (EPS) are the most widely used parameter in measuring a company's profitability and valuation, it is the least reliable. The reason is that reported earnings can be manipulated easily by adjusting any numbers such as Depreciation, Depletion and Amotorization and non-recurring items.
But the long term trend of the net margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
American Express Co Net Margin % Related Terms
American Express Co Net Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for American Express Co's Net Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
STU:AEC3.PFD vs COF, PYPL, AFRM: Net Margin % Comparison
For the Credit Services subindustry, American Express Co's Net Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Net Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
American Express Co Net Margin % vs Credit Services Industry
For the Credit Services industry and Financial Services sector, American Express Co's Net Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where American Express Co's Net Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
American Express Co (STU:AEC3.PFD) has a Net Margin % of 15.71% as of Mar. 2026. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on American Express Co and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 14.83. Over the past decade, American Express Co's Net Margin % has ranged from 7.45 to 18.68. According to the industry distribution chart, American Express Co ranks #259 out of 534 companies in the Credit Services industry, placing it in the top 48.5%.
Is American Express Co's Net Margin % too high?
American Express Co's current Net Margin % of 15.71% is near median its 10-year median of 14.83. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 7.45 to a high of 18.68. The Credit Services industry median Net Margin % is 14.52. American Express Co's value of 15.71% is 8.2% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, American Express Co ranks #259 out of 534 companies in the Credit Services industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, American Express Co has a GF Score™ of 78/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Express Co's Net Margin % compare to COF and PYPL?
According to the Credit Services industry distribution chart, American Express Co ranks #259 out of 534 companies for Net Margin %. This puts American Express Co in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Net Margin % is 14.52. American Express Co's value of 15.71% is 8.2% above this benchmark. Historically, American Express Co's own Net Margin % has ranged from 7.45 to 18.68 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 14.83 vs. the industry median of 14.52, American Express Co has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Net Margin % for a Credit Services company?
The median Net Margin % among Credit Services companies is 14.52, based on 534 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Net Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Net Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. American Express Co's current Net Margin % of 15.71% is 8.2% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Net Margin % mean?
A high Net Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Net margin is the ratio of total net income to net sales. View historical data on American Express Co and its competitors. For the Credit Services industry, the median Net Margin % is 14.52 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. American Express Co's current Net Margin % is 15.71%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 14.83. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is American Express Co stock overvalued right now?
American Express Co (STU:AEC3.PFD) has a current Net Margin % of 15.71%. The current Net Margin % is 15.71%, which is near median its 10-year median of 14.83 and 8.2% above the Credit Services industry median of 14.52. American Express Co's overall GF Score™ is 78/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Net Margin % calculated?
Net Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Express Co (STU:AEC3.PFD), the current Net Margin % is 15.71% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
American Express is a global financial institution, operating in about 130 countries, that provides consumers and businesses charge and credit card payment products. The company also operates a highly profitable merchant payment network. It operates in four segments: US consumer services, US commercial services, international card services, and global merchant and network services. In addition to payment products, the company's commercial business offers expense management tools, consulting services, and business loans.
78GF Score
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