In the spirit of World Cup competition, we're holding our own tournament in search of the Better Stock Today. We're pitting 32 companies against each other, and you, the reader, will determine the winner.

Celgene takes on American Express for this first round-robin match up in our search for the better stock today.

Health-care analyst David Williamson believes the No. 1 reason Celgene (CELG) should win this match is its ability to open new sales possibilities for already approved drugs. By expanding indications -- i.e., having drugs used for multiple diseases -- management expects to double earnings from 2013 to 2017. Headlined by megablockbuster Revlimid, this big biotech is an oncology and autoimmune powerhouse stock that's showing no signs of slowing down.

Financials analyst Tyler Riggs believes the No. 1 reason American Express (AXP -0.84%) is the strongest buy in the field is the company's extremely strong competitive position and -- most importantly -- what this means for the future of credit cards and payments. In terms of strength, American Express is unmatched in the credit card industry, with its focus on just a key segment of cardholders: those who are more affluent, which means less risk and more spending. In addition, the company's unique closed-loop system puts it in an incredible position to capitalize on the changing payments landscape.

Vote here to determine the winner of this match, and sound off in the comments. Check back to Fool.com to see who advances in the tournament.