Computed head-to-head · 6 dimensions
AXP vs MA
American Express Company versus Mastercard Incorporated — yield, safety, growth trend, cost, scale, and tax treatment.
AXP and MA are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
Scorecard at a glance
| Dimension | AXP | MA | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 1.19% | 0.66% | AXP wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 | AXP wins |
| Growth trend | +0.09% vs 5y | +0.12% vs 5y | Tie |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.06 | 0.73 | MA wins |
| Scale | $216.5B | $476.8B | MA wins |
| Tax efficiency | Qualified-eligible | Qualified-eligible | Tie |
| Overall | 2 wins | 2 wins | Tie |
Dimension by dimension
AXP wins on yield (1.19% vs 0.66%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $53 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
AXP's higher yield (1.19%) looks attractive but investors should weigh whether the extra income compensates for any additional risk versus MA's 0.66% — especially if the higher yield is driven by covered calls or a falling share price.
AXP wins on safety (8.3/10 vs 7.8/10)
Our score combines yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size. AXP scores better on the weighted average of those factors.
AXP (8.3/10) scores 0.5 points higher than MA (7.8/10). A higher safety score means lower historical indicators of dividend cut risk — payout ratio, yield zone, and trend all factor in.
Yield trends are similar
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
MA is less volatile (beta 0.73 vs 1.06)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
MA is 2.2× larger by market cap
Larger companies tend to have tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and lower closure risk.
Both pay qualified-dividend-eligible distributions
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
How we compare these
Every comparison on this page is computed from current public data, not written by hand. Yield comes from the most recent dividend distribution annualized over current price. Safety scores combine yield zone, payout ratio, trend vs 5-year average, instrument type, and size — see our methodology for the exact formula. Tax-efficiency flags identify covered-call ETFs, REITs, and mREITs which distribute primarily as ordinary income.
This is educational, not investment advice.Scores reflect a snapshot of public data on the "as of" dates shown on each ticker's safety page. Verify on the issuer's investor relations page or your brokerage before making decisions.
Frequently asked
Which is better for income, AXP or MA?
AXP and MA are evenly matched (2–2 across six dimensions) — the right pick comes down to which dimension you weight most.
AXP vs MA: which has a higher dividend yield?
AXP yields 1.19% and MA yields 0.66%. On a $10,000 investment that's about $53 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is AXP or MA a safer dividend in 2026?
AXP scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MA scores 7.8/10 (Solid). AXP is the safer pick on our scoring model.
Which has better dividend growth, AXP or MA?
Both tickers' current yields sit close to their 5-year averages, suggesting comparable dividend-vs-price trajectories.
AXP vs MA: which is more tax-efficient?
Neither is structurally flagged for ordinary-income tax treatment. Most distributions should qualify for the lower long-term capital gains rate if holding-period requirements are met.
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