If You Invested $1000 in American Express a Decade Ago, This is How Much It'd Be Worth Now

How much a stock's price changes over time is a significant driver for most investors. Not only can price performance impact your portfolio, but it can help you compare investment results across sectors and industries as well.Another factor that can influence investors is FOMO, or the fear of missing out, especially with tech giants and popular consumer-facing stocks.What if you'd invested in American Express (AXP) ten years ago? It may not have been easy to hold on to AXP for all that time, but if you did, how much would your investment be worth today?American Express' Business In-DepthWith that in mind, let's take a look at American Express' main business drivers.Founded in 1850, NY-based American Express Company is a diversified financial services company, offering charge and credit payment card products, and travel-related services worldwide. AmEx earns revenue through both transaction fees and interest income, supported by a closed-loop payment network. Unlike open-loop peers (e.g., Visa or Mastercard), its integrated system allows AmEx to engage directly with both merchants and cardholders. This setup enables deeper customer insights, targeted marketing, and strong customer loyalty.Its range of products and services include charge card, credit card and other payment and financing products; Merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, and point-of-sale marketing and information products and services for merchants; Network services; other fee services, including fraud prevention services and the design and operation of customer loyalty programs; Expense management products and services and Travel-related services.AmEx’s reporting segments are as follows:U.S. Consumer Services (USCS): (47.7% of 2024 total segment’s revenue net of interest expense) It issues a varied array of proprietary consumer cards. The segment also extends travel and lifestyle services and banking and non-card financing products to U.S. consumers.Commercial Services (CS): (24%) This unit offers a wide range of proprietary cards, payment and expense management services coupled with banking and non-card financing products to U.S-based corporates and small business clients.International Card Services (ICS): (17.4%) It issues a diversified range of proprietary consumer, small business and corporate cards outside the United States. Offering services to the international customers of American Express and managing specific international joint ventures as well as its loyalty coalition businesses are among the segment’s functions.Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS): (11.3%) It operates a global payments network that processes and settles card transactions, acquires merchants and extends multi-channel marketing programs and capabilities, services and data analytics through leveraging its integrated network capabilities. Bottom LineAnyone can invest, but building a successful investment portfolio requires research, patience, and a little bit of risk. So, if you had invested in American Express, ten years ago, you're likely feeling pretty good about your investment today.A $1000 investment made in November 2015 would be worth $5,014.04, or a gain of 401.40%, as of November 11, 2025, according to our calculations. This return excludes dividends but includes price appreciation.In comparison, the S&P 500's gained 228.21% and the price of gold went up 264.42% over the same time frame.Looking ahead, analysts are expecting more upside for AXP.American Express' third-quarter earnings beat estimates. It is benefiting from sustained revenue growth driven by new product launches, strategic partnerships and a rebound in travel and entertainment spending. It expects revenues to rise 9-10% YOY in 2025. Strong cash generation and disciplined capital returns underscore its financial strength. It returned $2.9 billion in 3Q25 through dividends and buybacks. In the past year, its shares have outperformed the industry. AXP's focus on increasing tech-savvy customers positions it for long-term growth. However, persistently rising expenses continue to weigh on margins. Loan loss provisions remain elevated due to macro uncertainty. The company carried a heavy debt load of $59.2 billion, which induces the incurrence of high interest expenses. As such, the stock warrants a cautious stance.The stock is up 13.85% over the past four weeks, and no earnings estimate has gone lower in the past two months, compared to 8 higher, for fiscal 2025. The consensus estimate has moved up as well.Beyond Nvidia: AI's Second Wave Is HereThe AI revolution has already minted millionaires. But the stocks everyone knows about aren't likely to keep delivering the biggest profits. Little-known AI firms tackling the world's biggest problems may be more lucrative in the coming months and years.See "2nd Wave" AI stocks now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report American Express Company (AXP): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks