Side by sideMastercard (MA) and Amex (AXP)Memos of October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026
Mastercard vs Amex stock: the numbers side by side (October 2026)
How do Mastercard and Amex compare?
| Mastercard MA | Amex AXP | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 16.4%Year to Dec 2025 | 9.5%2025 |
| Free cash flow | 17,159US$ millions · Year to Dec 2025 | 16,002US$ millions · 2025 |
| Free cash flow yield | 3.3%Today (Oct 9, 2026) | 7.6%Today (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Dividend yield | 0.6%Today (Oct 9, 2026) | 1.2%Today (Oct 13, 2026) |
| P/E, last 12 months | 31.6xToday (Oct 9, 2026) | 18.9xToday (Oct 13, 2026) |
| P/E, next 12 months | 24.9xToday (Oct 9, 2026) | 15.5xToday (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Weighted price forecast, about 1 year | 628.65 (+10 %)October 2027 | 359.41 (+17%)October 2027 |
| Weighted price forecast, about 3 years | 718.71 (+27 %)October 2029 | 432.19 (+43%)October 2029 |
Who leads on what?
| Leads | The lead is | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | Mastercard | The higher figure |
| Free cash flow | Mastercard | The higher figure |
| Free cash flow yield | Amex | The higher figure |
| Dividend yield | Amex | The higher figure |
| P/E, last 12 months | Amex | The lower figure |
| P/E, next 12 months | Amex | The lower figure |
| Weighted price forecast, about 1 year | Amex | The higher weighted return |
| Weighted price forecast, about 3 years | Amex | The higher weighted return |
What does each company do?
Mastercard connects cardholders, merchants and their banks through branded payment programs and a shared network.
Mastercard (MA), from our memo of October 10, 2026 · Mastercard stock forecast
American Express sells payment cards, credit and membership services to consumers and businesses, and connects cardholders with merchants.
Amex (AXP), from our memo of October 13, 2026 · Amex stock forecast