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% | 0.70% | AXP wins |
| Dividend safety | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 | AXP wins |
| Growth trend | +0.09% vs 5y | +0.16% vs 5y | Tie |
| Volatility (beta) | 1.06 | 0.76 | MA wins |
| Scale | $216.5B | $436.5B | 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 0.70%)
On a $10,000 investment that's about $49 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
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.
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 0.76 vs 1.06)
Lower beta means smaller swings vs the S&P 500 — generally a steadier hold for income investors.
MA is 2.0× 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, 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.
Does AXP or MA have a higher yield?
On a $10,000 investment that's about $49 more in annual dividend income before taxes — though higher yield often comes with higher risk.
Is AXP or MA a safer dividend?
AXP scores 8.3/10 (Strong) on the Infnits dividend safety scale. MA scores 7.8/10 (Solid). See the safety dimension above for what drove each score.
Should I own both AXP and MA?
It depends on overlap. Two ETFs in similar categories often hold many of the same companies — owning both can mean paying two expense ratios for similar exposure. Check the underlying holdings before stacking.
Already own AXP or MA? See if the other adds anything.
Connect your brokerage and Infnits checks whether adding either to your existing portfolio actually diversifies — or just duplicates exposure (ETF look-through included).
Check overlap with my portfolio →