What is American Express Company's average annual return?

Since 1973, American Express Company (AXP) has returned about 9.7% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 14.3%.

What were American Express Company's best and worst years?

Over 1973–2026, the best year was 2009 (+126.1%) and the worst was 2008 (-63.7%).

How often is American Express Company up in a year?

38 of the 53 full years since 1973 were positive — about 72% of the time.

AXP

American Express CompanyStock · Financials

$351.96+$3.96 (+1.14%)as of market close, Jul 2, 2026

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AXP returns by year

American Express Company has returned +9.7% annually (CAGR) since 1973. Calendar-year, monthly and weekly total returns for American Express Company (AXP) below, through July 2, 2026 — the most recent year is year-to-date.

Annualized (CAGR)

+9.7%

1973–2026

Average year

+14.3%

53 full years

Best year

+126.1%

2009

Worst year

-63.7%

2008

Positive years

38/53

72% up

American Express Company returns by year (1973–2026)#

Calendar-year returns with each year's path and its dividend contribution (dividend return = total minus price return).

American Express Company annual returns by year
Year	Start price	End price	Dividend	Total return
2026YTD	$369.95	$351.96	+0.5%	-4.4%
2025	$296.79	$369.95	+1.3%	+26.0%
2024	$187.34	$296.79	+1.9%	+60.3%
2023	$147.75	$187.34	+1.9%	+28.7%
2022	$163.60	$147.75	+1.2%	-8.5%
2021	$120.91	$163.60	+1.6%	+36.9%
2020	$124.49	$120.91	+1.7%	-1.1%
2019	$95.32	$124.49	+1.9%	+32.5%
2018	$99.31	$95.32	+1.4%	-2.6%
2017	$74.08	$99.31	+2.1%	+36.2%
2016	$69.55	$74.08	+2.1%	+8.6%
2015	$93.04	$69.55	+1.0%	-24.2%
2014	$90.73	$93.04	+1.1%	+3.7%
2013	$57.48	$90.73	+2.0%	+59.8%
2012	$47.17	$57.48	+1.7%	+23.6%
2011	$42.92	$47.17	+1.7%	+11.7%
2010	$40.52	$42.92	+1.9%	+7.8%
2009	$18.55	$40.52	+7.6%	+126.1%
2008	$52.02	$18.55	+0.6%	-63.7%
2007	$60.67	$52.02	+0.9%	-13.4%
2006	$51.46	$60.67	+1.2%	+19.1%
2005	$49.34	$51.46	+1.0%	+5.3%
2004	$42.22	$49.34	+0.7%	+17.6%
2003	$30.94	$42.22	+1.2%	+37.7%
2002	$31.24	$30.94	+1.1%	+0.2%
2001	$48.09	$31.24	+0.5%	-34.5%
2000	$48.51	$48.09	+0.5%	-0.4%
1999	$29.91	$48.51	+1.2%	+63.4%
1998	$26.04	$29.91	+0.8%	+15.7%
1997	$16.48	$26.04	+1.9%	+59.9%
1996	$12.07	$16.48	+3.2%	+39.8%
1995	$8.61	$12.07	+1.6%	+41.9%
1994	$7.95	$8.61	+0.0%	+8.3%
1993	$6.40	$7.95	+0.0%	+24.1%
1992	$5.28	$6.40	+0.0%	+21.3%
1991	$5.31	$5.28	+0.0%	-0.6%
1990	$8.98	$5.31	+0.0%	-40.9%
1989	$6.86	$8.98	+0.0%	+31.0%
1988	$5.89	$6.86	+0.0%	+16.4%
1987	$7.29	$5.89	+0.0%	-19.2%
1986	$6.82	$7.29	+0.0%	+6.8%
1985	$4.84	$6.82	+0.0%	+40.9%
1984	$4.20	$4.84	+0.0%	+15.3%
1983	$4.14	$4.20	+0.0%	+1.6%
1982	$2.84	$4.14	+0.0%	+45.6%
1981	$2.59	$2.84	+0.0%	+9.6%
1980	$1.92	$2.59	+0.0%	+34.7%
1979	$1.87	$1.92	+0.0%	+2.6%
1978	$2.31	$1.87	+0.0%	-18.8%
1977	$2.61	$2.31	+0.0%	-11.4%
1976	$2.37	$2.61	+0.0%	+10.2%
1975	$1.67	$2.37	+0.0%	+41.4%
1974	$2.89	$1.67	+0.0%	-42.1%
1973	$4.17	$2.89	+0.0%	-30.7%

Total return by period

-100%-50%+0%+50%+100%

'73'78'83'88'93'98'03'08'13'18'23

Methodology#

Returns are total returns (dividends reinvested), computed from AXP's split- and dividend-adjusted closes. The bar chart switches between annual and monthly periods. Annualized return is the compound annual growth rate over the full period. The current year is year-to-date. See also the periodic table of returns. Past performance does not predict future returns; not investment advice.

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FAQ

What is American Express Company's average annual return?: Since 1973, American Express Company (AXP) has returned about 9.7% a year (the compound annual growth rate) and an average calendar-year return of 14.3%.
What were American Express Company's best and worst years?: Over 1973–2026, the best year was 2009 (+126.1%) and the worst was 2008 (-63.7%).
How often is American Express Company up in a year?: 38 of the 53 full years since 1973 were positive — about 72% of the time.