American Express Co (XSWX:AXP) 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 3.00% (As of Mar. 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

XSWX:AXP American Express Co XSWX:AXP
80 GF Score
Price CHF290.55
GF Value CHF262.56
! 4 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is American Express Co 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio?

American Express Co XSWX:AXP +0.68% 80 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 3.00 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus rates XSWX:AXP with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of CHF262.56. The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 300 Credit Services companies, American Express Co ranks better than 93% on this metric.

Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.

5-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past five years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from five years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. American Express Co's current 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 3.00%.

XSWX:AXP's 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked better than
93% of 300 companies
in the Credit Services industry
Industry Median: -3.45 vs XSWX:AXP: 3.00

American Express Co (XSWX:AXP) 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation

A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.


Be Aware

Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.


American Express Co 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms


XSWX:AXP vs COF, PYPL, AFRM: 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison

For the Credit Services subindustry, American Express Co's 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio 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 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Credit Services Industry

For the Credit Services industry and Financial Services sector, American Express Co's 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where American Express Co's 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.


XSWX:AXP
80GF Score
American Express Co XSWX:AXP
5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

American Express Co 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation

This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from five years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with least-square regression based on the latest six years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).

Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.

What does a 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 3.00 mean?
American Express Co (XSWX:AXP) has a 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 3.00 as of Mar. 2026. The 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past five years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from five years ago to the current year. View historical data for American Express Co and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, American Express Co ranks #21 out of 300 companies in the Credit Services industry, placing it in the top 7%.
Is American Express Co's 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
American Express Co's current 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 3.00. Based on the distribution chart, American Express Co ranks #21 out of 300 companies in the Credit Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, American Express Co has a GF Score™ of 80/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does American Express Co's 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to COF and PYPL?
According to the Credit Services industry distribution chart, American Express Co ranks #21 out of 300 companies for 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This places American Express Co in the top 7% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio for a Credit Services company?
A good 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Credit Services industry context. However, 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past five years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from five years ago to the current year. View historical data for American Express Co and its competitors. American Express Co's current 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 3.00. 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 (XSWX:AXP) has a current 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio of 3.00. The stock's GF Value™ is CHF262.56, compared to a current price of CHF290.55 — trading 10.7% above its estimated fair value. The current 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 3.00. American Express Co's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For American Express Co (XSWX:AXP), the current 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is 3.00 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.

Is American Express Co (XSWX:AXP) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, American Express Co stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of CHF290.55 is trading 10.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of CHF262.56.

Key valuation signals for XSWX:AXP:

  • 5-Year Share Buyback Ratio: 3.00
  • GF Value™: CHF262.56 vs. price of CHF290.55 (10.7% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 80/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the XSWX:AXP stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


American Express Co Business Description

Address 200 Vesey Street, New York, NY, USA, 10285
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.
80GF Score

Get the complete analysis for XSWX:AXP

5-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

CHF290.55
Price
CHF262.56
GF Value