American Express (AXP +0.76%) is a top Warren Buffett holding, with Berkshire Hathaway owning 21.8% of the company's outstanding shares. This should prompt the average investor out there to consider taking a look at the credit card giant. This is certainly a high-quality business that has rewarded shareholders over time.
If you'd invested $10,000 in this top financial stock five years ago, here's how much you'd have today.
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American Express stock has significantly outperformed the S&P 500
In the past five years, American Express shares have produced a total return of 260% (as of Oct. 20). So, a $10,000 starting investment would be worth $36,000 today. This is a wonderful gain that comes up significantly ahead of the S&P 500, which would've slightly more than doubled investor capital.
NYSE: AXP
Key Data Points
The company has registered strength with key performance metrics
American Express has performed extremely well from a fundamental perspective since the fall of 2020. Revenue (net of interest expense) is up 111% in the past five years (from Q3 2020 to Q3 2025), driven by higher spending volume and a 36% increase in active cards across the globe. This remains a premium credit card brand.
Those gains have lifted diluted earnings per share, which have climbed at a compound annual rate of 218% during the same time.
